Developing A Discipleship Ministry: Part 2

Jesus was the greatest disciple-maker who has ever lived. How did He make disciples?

Jesus gave His all to a handful of men and He personally discipled them. His brand of discipleship required that His disciples enter into a personal relationship with Him and His Father. Jesus called His disciples to be “with Him.”

“He appointed twelve - designating them apostles - that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mark 3:14,15).

You cannot grow any higher than your headship, nor can you go anywhere that your head does not first lead. Similarly, we teach what we know - we impart who we are. Teaching is not the same as imparting. Impartation is more than academia in that it is a relationship proven in time in faith. Jesus did not assign to some other minister or ministry His responsibility to make disciples. He is the head of the Church, Sovereign Lord and King, and yet, He rolled up His sleeves and imparted life to a band of brothers for more than three years. He did this because this is what His Father told Him to do. Day in and day out, through thick and thin, winter and summer, hot and cold, rain or shine, early and late, on the sea or in the Temple, Jesus taught these men. He knew His Father and this knowing is what He imparted. Everything He did, He first saw His Father doing. In such way, He demonstrated to His disciples not only the what, but most importantly, the Whom. Jesus knew the Father. This knowing was much more than intellectual assent. This kind of knowing is realization, awareness, knowledge, perception, resolution, understanding, and intimacy. It was this kind of knowing that Jesus imparted and prayed for His disciples: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

A disciple-maker knows God, has walked with Him, and then imparts this life in a proper relationship to others. This includes accountability, encouragement, correction, support, and service. It involves deep character refinement. Only those who have come to some level of spiritual maturity in these areas can truly impart such to others. Hearing a sermon, reading a book, going to a seminar, or attending a study cannot learn these things. They can only be imparted from one who has experiential faith - faith fired in the coals of life - to another who is willing to learn. These are not classroom subjects to be sniffed at as much as they are life lessons to be digested. They can only be shared in the context of doing life together. The daily faith road provides all the subject matter any seasoned disciple-maker requires to further build on Christ’s foundation.

And just as is true today, this does not mean that the disciple-maker must be present with his or her students 24/7. Jesus purposely went away or sent His disciples away at various times. Often times He would give them tasks to attend to. Jesus’ teaching methodology is similar to parenting skills in that He would first tell and show them, supervise them, and then release them to attempt the task themselves. He knew that they would learn, and though He knew they might fail, He was not fearful of their failure. He knew that there must be given equal opportunity for success and failure. How many parents have attempted to teach their children to ride a bicycle knowing that the child would inevitably crash? Does this mean that the parent is insensitive? No. A good parent will tell their child how to ride a bike, show them, supervise them, and then let go. However, like so many enabling parents in today’s culture, many disciple-makers never learn to let go. This is not the way of the Master Teacher.

And how did these ordinary men given the unique opportunity to birth the church turn out? “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

People are always amazed at what being with Jesus will do. We live in a time of wholesale consumer skepticism. We are schooled in the belief that unless your pedigree is from the best of Christian thinking, you certainly cannot have much to say. Yet, in God’s economy, a changed life convinces people of Christ's power more than all the titles anyone will ever afford. The most simple and profound testimony a disciple can ever provide is the difference others see in his or her life and attitudes since believing in Christ Jesus.

Jesus’ disciples walked with Him, talked with Him, watched Him, prayed with Him, ate with Him, and rested with Him. They saw how He lived, where He lived, and why He lived. They heard His voice, how He reacted, saw Him weep, laugh, suffer, pained, tempted, and tried. They heard Him pray, watched Him cleanse a temple, heal the sick, cast out demons, feed the hungry, minister to the outcast, raise the dead, walk on water, come to their defense, eat on the Sabbath, teach unforgettable lessons, handle popularity, foretell His death, His transformation, eat with Pharisees, bless children, suffer His betrayer, wash feet, face desertion, eat a final meal, be arrested, examined, condemned, mocked, beaten, shamed, scorned, hung on a Cross, pierced, forsaken, die, buried, resurrected and heard His final Commission to go and make disciples just as He patterned before He Ascended. Then they received the Holy Spirit and they understood and continued to do and teach as He did. They became committed. What they knew was imparted by Whom they knew.

Jesus prayed that, “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23). As a result, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35)

Disciple-makers should live in such as way that others take pattern from them, and live after their copy. They should guide with their lips and their lives, go before them in the way of the Kingdom, and should never be content with just pointing toward the destination. Disciples should follow the pattern as far as they are absolutely convinced that they are following Christ Jesus in faith and in practice, never violating God’s written Word, character, or their own conscience. Paul said, “Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15).

Jesus says of discipleship:

"Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour” (John 1:39).

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mth. 11:28).

”Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Mth. 19:21).

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).

Continue this series:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6