Thursday is for Discipleship
How does the simplicity and obviousness of certain passages escape our notice? Perhaps we are just too familiar with some passages. We grow dull of eye and ear and neither see nor hear what is so obvious. Take the “Great Commission” of Matthew 28 for an example.
“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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:19-20)
Heres the phrase I want to zero in on: “…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you …”
- Doesn’t this phrase imply that our disciple-making task is more than cognitive?
- Doesn’t this mean that there is an indispensable behavioral component to disciple-making?
- Doesn’t this mean that there is a certain amount of “meddlesomeness” in people’s lives to help them mature as followers of Christ?
- In short, how is it possible to be faithful to Christ’s command to make disciples if we don’t hold people accountable to live a different kind of life than before they became Christians?
So how are you doing it at your church? I’m not interested in diatribes by people about how this church or that church isn’t doing it right. I’m interested in finding out how your church is doing this so that all of us can learn from one another.
If all of us want to do this, indeed, if all of us must do this because it is commanded by Christ, how are you doing it? How are you developing disciples, from babes to maturity?
Because our aim should be the same as the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:5 “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
For other links on discipleship see
ChosenRebel's Blog 
Step 1 is to demonstrate the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ in my life so that what I say is supported by what I do.
Step 2 is to demonstrate the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ in my life so that what I say is supported by what I do.
Step 3 is to …
Step n is to answer the question of 1 Peter 3:15! Matthew 28:19-20 sends us out on a “Go and Show” mission not a “Come and Listen” mission
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John, once again I love the succinct wisdom you bring with each post. I love the pithy summary at the end as well, not “come and listen” but “go and show.” I completely agree that this is step 1 with a continuous present. It is step one, two, three … it never stops. the Life of a Christian has to be credible. We have far to many Christians who are living lives that are in-credible. There is nothing to commend them.
But even credible disciple-makers will run into men an women who claim to know the Holy One whose lives don’t match. Obviously, I’m not talking about perfection, we all have feet of clay. But what is the process for helping men and women make progress in the areas with which they struggle to follow God? I hope we can get some more people to join the discussion at that level.
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> But what is the process for helping men and women make progress in the areas with which > they struggle to follow God?
I believe that we need to get to the point that someone is willing and inquisitive enough to ask the 1 Peter 3:15 question, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” And this is not just unbelievers but perhaps more importantly, those that profess belief for they are the witnesses to the world.
My experience in taking someone aside and lecturing on the evils of … has always been unsatisfactory. But if I am diligent in praying for a brother then the Holy Spirit will begin to exercise him. I must remember that I am not Paul issuing a corrective to the church at Corinth, but a somewhat hammer-headed and stubborn Dutchman with a tendency to be very aggravating in his attempts at constructive criticism.
The exception to the above is that when another brother and I have covenanted with each other to mutually mentor, encourage and hold accountable, then the other brother obviously knows of my tendencies and is obligated by the soul friendship to respond in love and forgiveness. Or quoting my Scots grandfather, “Taint easy, McGee.”
Sorry, I lost my brevity 🙂
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Continuing..
A brother with whom I have a soul friendship came to me yesterday morning with a heart wrenching tale of sin. When we first entered into our soul friendship, the story would have been replete with excuses, “I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing, etc” Yesterday, the conversation began with repentance and remorse and ended with thanksgiving that the Holy Spirit has been sensitizing my brother’s conscience. Will my brother trip again? I am praying that he has been released from this bondage! But if he does, once again my responsibility to him is to seek to guide him into a series of spiritual disciplines to replace sinful behavior with God glorifying behavior.
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John,
Again, more sage wisdom. And I think your example and model are great patterns. Avoiding the lecture that berates a brother when he is down, clearly the path of wisdom.
But … who else wants to weigh in with some thought?
John, Really looking forward to meeting in early December when I am up that way.
Marty
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We have been highly influenced by an “I got mine” attitude in the world. God forgive us and help us be influencers of gospel change armed with power and grace.
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