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.
Matthew 28:19-20
What is a Disciple?
The word disciple means a student, learner, or follower. Influence is
inevitable. People are actually ‘making disciples’ all the time, but the question is, disciples of what? Teaching others about the greatness of Apple products, Cross-fit, a keto diet, or environmentalism is essentially discipling them; helping to shape their worldview and actions.
Make Disciples
Jesus’ clear command to his followers is to make disciples (Matthew
28:19-20). God’s plan for spreading his message throughout the world is accomplished by his people. Making disciples simply means showing and teaching others about Jesus in your everyday life. This requires intentionality, humility, and grace.
Paul says God makes his appeal through us, his people. A follower of Christ is an ambassador, tasked with the mission of teaching others about him. (2 Corinthians 5:11-21). This means helping unbelievers become believers by showing them Christ, and helping other believers mature in the faith.
“We live out our nature as God’s ambassadors to the world, in which we
(Eric Mason, Missional Discipleship, rightnowmedia.org)
join him in his effort to reach people.”
Here are some other biblical truths about making disciples:
Discipleship is rooted in love for Christ, his love for us, and his love for them. (Matthew 22:36-40, Deuteronomy 6:5)
“Being a disciple and discipling others means looking at Jesus with such
(Jani Outland, Cracking the Code of Discipleship, Aug 15, 2013, reviveourhearts.com)
intensity and delight that you actually begin to reflect his beauty in
everyday life. The most important way you can disciple others is by
enjoying Christ yourself in such an irresistible way that your enjoyment
becomes contagious.”
Discipleship happens in the normal rhythms of life. (Titus 2:1-10)
“It is a life-on-life process of learning, where we see the gospel being
(Confidence Mokgatle, Discipleship, Aug 7, 2019, acts29.com)
displayed in our imperfect daily lives, desiring to see a multiplying effect of the transforming work of Jesus Christ.”
Discipleship is about growing together as followers of Jesus. (Acts 4:32-33)
“Making disciples requires not only ‘sharing our faith,’ but also sharing our lives—failures and successes, disobedience and obedience.”
(Jonathan K. Dodson, Gospel-Centered Discipleship, p15)
Discipleship requires humility. (John 3:30, Galatians 2:20)
“A disciple is one who has renounced him or herself and pledged their life to being in a lifelong apprenticeship to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
(Eric Mason, Missional Discipleship, rightnowmedia.org)
Making disciples is grounded in the community life of the Church. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
“In biblical discipleship, people are saved into the Church, marked by
(Scott Prentice, Advance Community Church)
baptism, unified by ongoing participation in the Lord’s Supper, and
matured within the context of community.”
“In a culture of discipleship, we read and speak the Word to each other.
(Mark Dever, Discipling, p68)
We spend time with each other. We pray for one another. We love. We give. We attend the weekly gathering prayerfully and with anticipation…We follow the examples of our leaders who show us how to follow Christ ourselves.”
Disciple-makers let their light shine before others, so that they’ll see good works and give glory to God. (Matthew 5:14-16)
“God gives us good things not so that they might terminate on us,
(Jen Wilkin, In His Image, p51)
but so that we might steward them on behalf of others.”