Developing A Discipleship Ministry: Part 6

Today we complete our series on Developing A Discipleship Ministry as we review the chronology of Jesus’ discipleship model.

I begin by providing an insightful article by Dr. Matt Friedeman, Professor of Evangelism and Christian Education, Wesley Biblical Seminary, who recently wrote regarding discipleship in Nigeria: “If you want to draw a crowd - a really big crowd - this is the place to be. But why would you want one? A friend who ministers here in Nigeria was asked by an evangelist for help in setting up some evangelistic meetings. My friend understood the interest. The evangelist had heard reports about tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, even millions (if you have major U.S. television presence) of people attending preaching and healing services. Having been here for at least a little while, I have newfound respect for the missionary's advice: "Anybody from the U.S. with a little bit of name recognition and organizational skills can get people - and a lot of them - to a crusade. What is needed is discipleship and training."

Continuing, Dr. Friedeman writes: “Discipleship and theological training aren't nearly as exciting as a million shouting Nigerians with hands lifted to heaven in pursuit of healing, financial prosperity, and divine help to make it through another day, week, or year in their very difficult situation. But, exciting or not, it is the real need of the hour in Africa and the developing world in general, Nigeria in particular. John Wesley - truly one of the great evangelists of all time - said that he would not strike one evangelistic stroke where he could not follow that blow with small group encouragement, accountability, and training. He noted that in Pembrokeshire, where he had once preached with apparently great success, "nine in ten of the once-awakened are now faster asleep than ever." He mended his method. He changed England.”

Friedeman goes on to say, “Nigeria is not being changed. Or, rather, the social and political structures are not being effectively impacted by the Church. And Islam is on the march as never before. If Christianity here does not take serious disciple-making to heart, it will find itself, every bit as much as Wesley's Pembrokeshire, defeated. Utterly defeated. And yet, there is hope. A young man who is church planting in this area told me that "too many talk about the prosperity of the gospel; we are talking about holiness. And that is what the church and this nation need." So, he is planting a different kind of church. And he intends for these new churches to change the nation: not with big crusades and promises of prosperity, but with love and righteousness, justice and purity.”

Now, let us review Jesus’ discipleship model. Chronologically, Jesus’ discipleship included 3 strands: The 3, the 12, the 72 – we call this the CORE, the Cell, and the Crowd.

The 3 (Peter, James and John):
At Jesus’ calling, these three men left everything and followed Jesus. This took place during Jesus’ Galilean ministry about A.D. 27 (Luke 5:1-11). These three received personal experiences that were profoundly life transforming. They were with Jesus when He was glorified on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mth. 17:1-9), when He raised Jairus' daughter from the dead (Mark 5:37-43) and when He wrestled with the agony of His upcoming crucifixion in the Garden (Mark 14:33,34). These three were Jesus' closest and intimate friends. They shared His joys and His struggles. These three are all named by Paul in Galatians 2:9 as being the pillars of the Jerusalem Church. James was the main leader of the early church in Jerusalem. Peter became the apostle to the Jews (Gal. 2:8), preached the message on the day of Pentecost that resulted in the first major harvest of souls (Acts 2) and was the first apostle to officially share the Gospel with the Gentiles (Acts 10). Jesus had His closest, most intimate relationship with John. As the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20), John laid his head on Jesus' chest (John 13:23). John assumed responsibility for Jesus' mother after His crucifixion (John 19:25-27), maintained the longest ministry of all the apostles, and under the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit, gave us possibly the most mature and revealing insight of God’s love.

The 12 (Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot):
The 12 were selected after a night of prayer taking place during Jesus’ Galilean ministry about A.D. 28 (Luke 6:12-16). The 12 received special teaching (Mth. 20:17; Mark 9:35), special experiences (Mark 14:17ff; Luke 9:1-4, 12-17; John 6:67) and personal communication and fellowship with Jesus (Mark 3:14). The 12 became the foundation of the entire church (Acts 6:2, 4; Eph. 2:20).

The 72 (Many of these were most likely the companions of the 12, whom we read of in Acts and the Epistles):
This calling out took place during Jesus’ last Judean and Perean ministry about October, A.D. 29 (Luke 10:1-24). These disciples received Jesus’ basic teaching, learned by watching His example, and were directly commissioned by Him to their ministries – this commissioning took place just 6-8 months before Jesus’ final week of work at Jerusalem (death/resurrection). Interestingly, these 70 received similar instructions as given to the 12. The 72 accomplished much in Jesus' name (Luke 10:1-20).

How Does This Impact Your Ministry?
1. We think: "The need is so great we must train thousands of leaders. How can we quickly produce more leaders?" Jesus chose the 3, the 12, and the 72. He invested the majority of His ministry with these men. Wesley called this triad the bands, classes, and societies. What we discover is that it is far better to do a lot with few than a little with many. Jesus focused on quality, not quantity in developing His disciples.

2. As noted, Jesus maintained three levels of discipleship training all of which were cohesive, integrated, intentional, and relational.

3. Jesus’ discipleship model is the pattern we should follow.

4. Pray long and choose well – God calls people into discipleship. Jesus spent much time in prayer before calling His disciples (Luke 6:12-13).

5. Jesus called His disciples His friends.

6. Jesus’ discipleship changed the world.

7. We are commissioned to do the same.

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