Shortly before Jesus left this earth to return to heaven he had some final words to give to His disciples. Matthew 28:18-20 is often called the Great Commission passage and it says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This is called the great commission because it is like the final marching orders given to the followers of Jesus. You probably have heard this passage preached on many times. Often at missionary services where there is the call to “Go.” However, that is not a correct understanding of the passage. The emphasis is not on the “going” but rather on “making disciples.” It is beyond the scope of this article to look at the Greek wording and dissect these verses but the emphasis in these verses is the main verb that is translated “make disciples.” That is the driving thought in these words. Jesus was telling his followers “as they go along in life they are to MAKE DISCIPLES by baptizing and teaching others to obey.” This is what discipleship is all about.
Every one of us is to be involved in discipleship if we are followers of Jesus Christ. This is not just for those with the spiritual gift of teaching or evangelism. This is for all of us. Just remember that disciples are made not born. So how do we make disciples? Much of the New Testament is written to explain discipleship and in this article I will give 7 tips on discipleship. These are in no particular order and are not an exhaustive list but the 7 tips discussed below are essential to true discipleship.
Live a Christ-Centered Life:
To live Christ centered is to truly find Life the way it was meant to be lived. This is the life in which Jesus Christ and a relationship with Him is the center of our life. When our relationship with Christ is the center, it will impact every area of life and that is what it was meant to be like!
Modelling: Lead By Example
Modelling for your disciple is so important. This does not mean that we are perfect and that the disciple we are investing in will see us that way. No what it means is that we can show another person how important that Christ is to us by watching the way we live. This may involve going out to lunch together and bowing for prayer in a busy restaurant. Invite them to your house for a night of fun watching football or a show of your choosing. People can learn how important that Christ is in us in the way we treat our spouse or even in the way we interact with a waiter or waitress.
Be a Humble Servant
Humility is near and dear to the heart of Jesus. This is often one of the hardest characteristics for even long-time Christians to be consistent in. We can show our humility in many ways. In the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, Jesus includes both humility and meekness in His description of a mature Christian. When we humble ourselves and put the needs of other’s before your own, it is then God’s responsibility to take care of you. He will give you favor with Him and with man (Proverbs 3:3-5).
Accountability
True discipleship requires accountability. If you are going to disciple someone, this must be more than a social gathering where you get caught up on the things of life. Have fun but don’t forget why you are meeting together and that is to make disciples. One practical way to do this is by having a set of questions that both you and your disciple knows you are going to discuss each meeting. Questions like…what did you read this week? Were the internet sites you looked at this week pleasing to God? How was your prayer time this week?
Practice Spiritual Disciplines
Christians over the years have learned that certain disciplines and practices help them keep the spiritual channels open and help keep the heart turned toward God. These disciplines cannot bring you salvation; they can’t even make you a holy person. But they can heighten your desire, awareness, and love of God by stripping down the barriers that you put up within yourself and some that others put up for you. What makes something a ‘spiritual discipline’ is that it takes a specific part of your way of life and turns it toward God. A spiritual discipline is, when practiced faithfully and regularly, a habit or regular pattern in your life that repeatedly brings you back to God and opens you up to what God is saying to you. Christian devotional practice is squarely centered on Jesus Christ as found in the New Testament.
Faithfulness: Be there for them
A discipling relationship needs to be a faithful relationship. It is important to meet regularly with them and to be someone they can count on. Be reliable and committed to them. This will be very evident for them to see if you are committed to meeting and being with them or if it is just something that you are trying to fit into your schedule. If you give your disciple something to do (like homework of reading a certain Scripture passage or maybe sharing their faith one time over a week period), please remember to check if they did it. This will let them know you are committed to their spiritual well being.
Faithfulness in any of the areas that are most important in life requires that we discipline ourselves for the long haul, not the quick fix. Another way of putting it is: life is a marathon, not a sprint. Whether in our marriage, a job, a diet, or our relationship with God, sticking to it day after day, week after week, and doing it right, is a challenge.
1 Cor. 4:1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
Prayer and Scripture Reading
Your discipling relationship must be bathed in prayer and the reading of God’s word. This will keep all of the other tips in balance and to make sure that this relationship is not just earthly wisdom from you and your life experiences but rather a committed relationship where Christ and the Word of God is at the center of everything that you do.
Prayer is so important also. Make sure that you pray before you meet and pray when you meet. Depending on the spiritual maturity of the one that you are discipling, you may pray when you meet in the beginning of the relationship. This is fine initially but slowly transition into having both of you pray. Pray for individual needs and requests.
One thing missing from many church bodies today is individual discipleship. Many churches do a great job at hosting larger events such as spiritual retreats or great Sunday school classes where people can learn but individual accountability and discipleship is so very important. My prayer for you today is that you think about a life that you can invest in for the Kingdom of God. Pray about the right person for you and then talk to them about it. They probably will not approach you. You will be blessed by God in working with another believer in Christ. Investing in the Kingdom of God has eternal benefits.
Praise God that he desires to use sinners like you and me to accomplish his eternal plan!
Bless,
Jacinta.
>>Congratulations! You have made a life-changing decision! Perhaps you are asking, “Now what? How do I begin my journey with God?” The five steps mentioned below will give you direction from the Bible.
1. Make sure you understand salvation.
1 John 5:13 tells us, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” God wants us to understand salvation. God wants us to have the confidence of knowing for sure that we are saved. Briefly, let’s go over the key points of salvation:
(a) We have all sinned. We have all done things that are displeasing to God (Romans 3:23).
(b) Because of our sin, we deserve to be punished with eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23).
(c) Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus died in our place, taking the punishment that we deserved. His resurrection proved that Jesus’ death was sufficient to pay for our sins.
(d) God grants forgiveness and salvation to all those who place their faith in Jesus – trusting His death as the payment for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:1; Romans 8:1).
That is the message of salvation! If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are saved! All of your sins are forgiven, and God promises to never leave you or forsake you (Romans 8:38-39; Matthew 28:20). Remember, your salvation is secure in Jesus Christ (John 10:28-29). If you are trusting in Jesus alone as your Savior, you can have confidence that you will spend eternity with God in heaven!
2. Find a good church that teaches the Bible.
Don’t think of the church as a building. The church is the people. It is very important that believers in Jesus Christ fellowship with one another. That is one of the primary purposes of the church. Now that you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, we strongly encourage you to find a Bible-believing church in your area and speak to the pastor. Let him know about your new faith in Jesus Christ.
A second purpose of the church is to teach the Bible. You can learn how to apply God’s instructions to your life. Understanding the Bible is key to living a successful and powerful Christian life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
A third purpose of the church is worship. Worship is thanking God for all He has done! God has saved us. God loves us. God provides for us. God guides and directs us. How could we not thank Him? God is holy, righteous, loving, merciful, and full of grace.Revelation 4:11 declares, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
3. Set aside time each day to focus on God.
It is very important for us to spend time each day focusing on God. Some people call this a “quiet time.” Others call it “devotions,” because it is a time when we devote ourselves to God. Some prefer to set aside time in the mornings, while others prefer the evenings. It does not matter what you call this time or when you do it. What matters is that you regularly spend time with God. What events make up our time with God?
(a) Prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. Talk to God about your concerns and problems. Ask God to give you wisdom and guidance. Ask God to provide for your needs. Tell God how much you love Him and how much you appreciate all He does for you. That is what prayer is all about.
(b) Bible Reading. In addition to being taught the Bible in church, Sunday School, and/or Bible studies – you need to be reading the Bible for yourself. The Bible contains everything you need to know in order to live a successful Christian life. It contains God’s guidance for how to make wise decisions, how to know God’s will, how to minister to others, and how to grow spiritually. The Bible is God’s Word to us. The Bible is essentially God’s instruction manual for how to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him and satisfying to us.
4. Develop relationships with people who can help you spiritually.
1 Corinthians 15:33 tells us, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” The Bible is full of warnings about the influence “bad” people can have on us. Spending time with those who engage in sinful activities will cause us to be tempted by those activities. The character of those we are around will “rub off” on us. That is why it is so important to surround ourselves with other people who love the Lord and are committed to Him.
Try to find a friend or two, perhaps from your church, who can help you and encourage you (Hebrews 3:13; 10:24). Ask your friends to keep you accountable in regard to your quiet time, your activities, and your walk with God. Ask if you can do the same for them. This does not mean you have to give up all your friends who do not know the Lord Jesus as their Savior. Continue to be their friend and love them. Simply let them know that Jesus has changed your life and you cannot do all the same things you used to do. Ask God to give you opportunities to share Jesus with your friends.
5. Be baptized.
Many people have a misunderstanding of baptism. The word “baptize” means to immerse in water. Baptism is the Biblical way of publicly proclaiming your new faith in Christ and your commitment to follow Him. The action of being immersed in the water illustrates being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures Christ’s resurrection. Being baptized is identifying yourself with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4).
Baptism is not what saves you. Baptism does not wash away your sins. Baptism is simply a step of obedience, a public proclamation of your faith in Christ alone for salvation. Baptism is important because it is a step of obedience – publicly declaring faith in Christ and your commitment to Him. If you are ready to be baptized, you should speak with a pastor.
