Making Disciples
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Slide #1
Characteristics of Life
Characteristics of Life
Slide #2
In biology there is this idea of the characteristics of life. In other words how do we know if something is living?
Life is Ordered
Life is Ordered
There is an order to life. Living things have enormously complex organization.
Life Can “Work”
Life Can “Work”
Life takes in energy from the environment and transforms that energy to survive.
Life Grows and Develops
Life Grows and Develops
This goes beyond replication and getting larger. It involves rebuilding and repairing.
Life Can Reproduce
Life Can Reproduce
Life can only come from other living creatures
Life Can Respond
Life Can Respond
Life responds to stimuli
Life Can Adapt and Respond
Life Can Adapt and Respond
Life responds and adapts to its environment
Characteristics of Life in Scripture
Characteristics of Life in Scripture
This natural and organic process of life is witnessed every day in our lives and was put in place by our Lord and Creator.
Throughout scripture we can see these characteristics playing themselves out.
Slide #3
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Slide #4
A seed that is planted in the ground responds to its environment, gathers energy from the soil, responds to the sun shining on the soil, and grows and develops into a plant that reproduces itself in more seeds that can be planted, and so the process continues.
And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
This process of development and growth is also true for the church and specifically for human disciples.
Slide #5
But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
As much as scientist today have tried, there are no shortcuts in the life process. As much as they have attempted to create life, they have failed. Creating life is complex. There are no shortcuts.
Slide #6
Making Disciples
Making Disciples
In the same way, there are no shortcuts in making disciples. Disciples must be developed naturally and intentionally just as Jesus did when we was here.
In the same way, there are no shortcuts in making disciples. Disciples must be developed naturally and intentionally just as Jesus did when we was here.
Jesus showed us a pattern to follow, something I am sure the scientists wish God would share with them for creating life.
Jesus left us an instruction manual for how to make disciples. But we need to examine it closely because it was His life that instructs us.
The easiest way to identify the pattern Jesus wants us to follow is to look at the major challenges He issued to His followers.
But before we look at these challenges there are a couple of things we must keep in mind.
Keep In Mind
Keep In Mind
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
First, we are commanded to make disciples of all nations. This means that we are to make disciples who can make disciples.
We are not to spend our lives in discipleship, which is what we usually do with other Christians and involves deeper Bible studies, but our mandate it disciple-making, which is the whole process from unbeliever to fully-trained, reproducing disciple-maker.
Second, Jesus recognized that people are at different stages in the disciple-making journey. Jesus started where people were and intentionally moved them to deeper levels of growth and maturity.
Jesus started with seekers, moved them to believers, in time challenged them to become workers in the harvest field, and finally fully trained reproducing disciple-makers.
An Overview
An Overview
We are going to use 4 chairs to represent the 4 challenges that Jesus gave.
Challenge 1: Come and See
Challenge 1: Come and See
The first challenge is given in
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
Jesus invites John and Andrew to “come and see” when they ask were He is staying.
The Greek word for “come” literally means to just show up. This is a n important first step for seekers to take. They must be willing to show up in order to learn more.
Andrew and John were obviously spiritual seekers. When John the Baptist told them that Jesus was the Lamb of God, it peaked their interest. They follow Jesus and He spends at least 2 hours talking to them and at the end Andrew declares
He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
Spending time with seekers and inviting them to “come and see” is the first step in making disciples. It is a step that is easy to duplicate.
After spending time with Jesus Philip invites Nathaneal to come and see.
Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
The Samaritan woman at the well returned to her village and invited everyone to come and meet Jesus.
“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”
In the book of Acts, the apostles took the Gospel first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. They focused their attention on those who were curious and were investigating spiritual things. Paul sought out Gentiles who were responsive to the Good News of Jesus Christ.
This simple challenge of “come and see” is based upon the premise that God is drawing people to Himself through the Holy Spirit in
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
It is not a difficult first step, it simply requires us to be willing to be used by God to give the gift of time and show the love of Christ to those who are seeking God.
Challenge 2 - Follow Me
Challenge 2 - Follow Me
The second challenge was given to many people in various ways. We first see it in
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
This is what moves the seeker from chair 1 to a believer in chair 2.
This move implies that the person has made a decision about Jesus. An inner transformation has taken place. A seeker has been moved by the Holy Spirit to “repent and believe” and trust Jesus for their salvation.
This is a big step for the seeker. There is a lot at stake.
And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
The word “follow” in Greek is akoloutheo, which means to come behind, follow in my foot steps, to learn from me, and to join me in the journey as a disciple.
“Come and see” was curiosity, but “follow me” means commitment. This is a challenge to go deeper. Due to a change of heart and turning to Christ, the disciple has a desire to know Christ more and become a disciple.
“Follow me” is a practical and simple step we can take as we invite people into our lives and spend time with them, which allows them to get to know us and for us to get to know them.
It requires living people as we love God.
Challenge 3 - Follow Me and I Will Make You Fishers of Men
Challenge 3 - Follow Me and I Will Make You Fishers of Men
The third challenge is the most misunderstood and least lived-out of the teachings of Jesus.
There are two passages that help us understand this challenge. and -20
In both of these passages, Jesus is walking along the Sea of Galilee and presents this challenge to both Simon Peter and Andrew. This is not the first time Jesus asked them to follow Him. They had been following Him for several months and He was now challenging them to go even deeper.
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
This challenge is strategic and relational. Previously Jesus had challenged them to follow Him, but now He was going to invest even more time in these men, who would later become part of the twelve apostles.
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Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
This challenge is very intentional. Jesus say, “I will make you.” There is a clear goal and a clear plan for developing these men into disciple-makers.
Jesus shortly takes them on “fishing trips” to teach them how to reproduce their lives in others. On each “trip” the disciples are learning how to share their faith as they watch Jesus.
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These trips are strategic, relational, intentional, and missional.
Jesus mission was not to reach the world, but to leave behind a movement that would reach the world.
This challenge is more demanding, but the rewards are exhilarating.
Few people make ti to this level because it requires intentionality.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
The workers are few, but the harvest remains plentiful.
Challenge 4: Go and Bear Fruit
Challenge 4: Go and Bear Fruit
The fourth challenge came late in Jesus’s ministry.
After the Passover meal, Jesus is heading to the Garden of Gethsemane and stops in a vineyard to give this final challenge.
In this challenge, Jesus has moved His disciples into a more intimate relationship. He no longer calls them servants, but friends.
He does this because He is going away soon and He wants them to go and do what He has done. They are to repeat the process.
This is not an easy challenge.
Fruit bearing requires that we abide in the vine (Jesus) and allow the vine to produce fruit in us. Our task is abiding. The more we abide in Him, the more fruit we will produce.
Take the Challenge
Take the Challenge
Jesus knew that people are at different stages of the disciple-making journey. They are in different chairs.
Jesus started with people where they were and intentionally moved them to a deeper level of growth and maturity.
Jesus always desired fruit, and fruit was a metaphor for multiplication.
Jesus knew he could not reach everyone, so he chose a few who would repeat the process and become a major force in advancing His Kingdom.
He wants to do the same in our lives today and teach us to repeat the process in others.
Let’s pray