Making Disciples
What does it look like to make disciples of Jesus Christ? After all, this is the command that Jesus has left us with...to make disciples of all peoples on the earth! So, what does it look like?
The first thing that i see from Acts 14:21-25 is that making disciples of Jesus requires PREACHING THE GOSPEL! When Paul and Barnabas went to Derbe they preached the gospel to that city. So, in order to have a disciple, we have to have a convert. One will not fully follow Jesus unless one first comes to believe the Good News of salvation, forgiveness and reconciliation through the blood of Jesus. So, the first order of business in the ministry of making disciples requires preaching the gospel.
But, what else is necessary to make a disciple? What did Jesus say in Matthew 28? "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!" So, once someone has come to believe the gospel preached to them, the next step is for that person to be baptized! Baptism is the believers initiation into the Body of Christ. It is the public sign of the inward, spiritual, invisible reality of what takes place through the power of the Gospel...the "old man" goes into the watery grave and dies...giving birth to the "new resurrected man", made alive in Christ Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit! This "new man" has a new identity, new desires and a new calling...and, it's all wrapped up in Jesus Himself! And, although we don't read that happening here in Acts 14...we can be sure that these new believers were baptized in Jesus Name because it happened everywhere else new believers were made and it was a given part of what it meant to "make disciples".
So, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and baptizing into His Name...but, what else? Jesus finished His command in Matthew 28 with this last aspect of "disciple making"..."teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you." Preaching, Baptizing and Teaching...and teaching is what we find Paul and Barnabas doing when they are not doing the other two. And, look at what their follow up teaching consists of in V. 22..."Hey guys, the way to Heaven is going to be really tough! We will have to go through many trials and tribulations to enter God's Kingdom! Don't think it's going to be easy...it wasn't for Jesus, it's not for us and it won't be for you either!" Talk about honesty and reality...this is much different than what we can hear in some circles in the West today. "Come and receive Jesus and you will have the best life possible! He will bless you and meet all your needs and everything will be great!" Now, while this is true in some ways, it's not an accurate picture of the Christian life! And, part of making disciples of Jesus Christ is teaching them that the road is going to be tough! Will He be with you all the way giving you everything you need to make it through? YES! Will it be worth it? YES! But, it's not about here and now...it's about the Kingdom of God! Your best life here is not the goal...entering the Kingdom of God bringing as many people with us...that's the goal. So, a lot of the time that P and B spent "making disciples" was spent teaching and exhorting these new believers how to continue in the faith!
And lastly, we see from V.23 that the last part of "making disciples" is found in releasing them to do the work of the ministry! Paul and Barnabas realized that they couldn't "pastor" and "oversee" all of the believers in every city that they preached...so, they went back to each city and appointed elders in every church! These men were to continue their ministry in their absence. So, once recognized, P and B prayed and released these guys to continue doing the work of the ministry! These who had been "discipled" by Paul and Barnabas would now be released to "make disciples" of others...and, on and on it's gone all the way to me sitting here on Youversion encouraging you this morning!
So Father, help me to be about "making disciples" wherever i am! Today, that i would see my role as this: to preach the gospel, to baptize new converts, to teach and exhort them to continue on in the faith and obedience to Jesus, and to release "elder disciples" to help do the work of the ministry! PREACH, BAPTIZE, TEACH and RELEASE.
Created over 2 years ago
