Discipleship - as part of my student leader training I have been reading two books 'Disciples are born not made' and 'Master plan of discipleship' I then wrote a report, here it is : -
“You have not done anything until you have changed the lives of men” (Disciples are born not made) There are many ways in which the world would have us change the lives of men. Jesus says “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19,20) How are we to change men’s lives we let them follow us as the result they will follow Christ - this is discipleship, following men who follow Christ.
The Gospels show us the example of Jesus how he selected his followers and how he discipled them and as a result started to evangelise the world. As we seek to follow his command of evangelising the world we must study and apply his example so that in turn our disciples will follow Jesus.
Selection - How will we put this plan into action – How will we recruit, select disciples? What did Jesus do? He saw men and he went to them and said “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18) Who were these men? They were doctors, tax collectors, fishermen from Galilee. Their background didn’t matter only their willingness to follow. How many should we disciple? He chose only 12 and he concentrated especially on three. If Jesus being perfect without the distractions of man discipled twelve and concentrated on three, then surely we should aim to disciple no more.
Now that he had chosen a small group he stayed with them – Association.
He told the new recruits “Come and follow me” He needed to be with them in order for them to follow. When one of the disciples asked Jesus where he was staying he replied “come and you will see” (John 1:39) The disciples were going to see where he lived, where he ate, where he went because they were going to do all of these things with him. He let them get to know him fully by integrating them fully into his life. His whole life and ministry involves the disciples. He spent time with them, he gave his life totally to them. He let them into his life so that they could follow him. Jesus let them watch, he let them observe his life. This means that our lives have to be Christ centred that we need to be following Christ so that they can follow us and as a result follow Christ.
The Cost - Jesus put the spiritual needs of others before his physical needs. It costs to become involved in the lives of others. Association costs - it involves giving our time, our energy, our privacy our money/processions, goals and ambitions. Our lives become our disciple’s lives as they follow us. It seems a lot to give, it is a lot but Christ gave everything for us, it is not ours to give. All of these belong to God. Jesus taught about the cost of following him and the importance of counting the cost we must also ensure that we and our disciples have counted the cost.
If I a man is going to follow as well as realising the cost he must also know who he is following. We need to be involved in this process that the potential disciple is familiar with scriptures and what it says about the plan of salvation. If the man does not have conviction and perspective then he is unlikely to continue to follow.
Role of the Holy Spirit - Before Jesus left us on earth he gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22) When Jesus left us he did not leave us alone to make disciples of all men. He gave us the Holy Spirit to help. We must let the Holy Spirit work in our lives as well as in the lives of those we disciple. Remembering it is not our work but God’s work. The Spirit of God desires for Christ to made known in all the world as the Spirit lives in us this purpose will be fulfilled through us.
Christ showed them how to live - They must see Christ at the centre of our lives centred on prayer, Bible study, evangelism, and fellowship. We must not just tell the disciple how it is done but we must show them. We must befriend them we must invite them into every part of our lives. We learn things much more effectively through example.
Jesus often prayed in the presence of his followers. He also taught his disciples to pray.
Jesus often used scripture in his conversation. This requires reading, studying and learning scripture in order to follow this example. As we are integrated and involved in a fellowship of believers we must encourage our disciples to become involved. Following the example of our leader we must befriend sinners we must not separate ourselves from worldly people. We need to become friends with non Christians. A friend is more likely to listen than an acquaintance. If we are not involved in evangelism then our disciple is unlikely to be involved in evangelism. As they follow our lives they will see how we are involved in evangelism. “Jesus was so much the Master in His teaching that he did not let His method obscure His lesson. He let His truth call attention to itself, and not the presentation…He was the method” (the master plan of evangelism p 78) He demonstrated his method through living his life.
Assigning work - By showing the disciples his life he showed them how to do his work. He didn’t need to tell them to bring their friends and family to follow they just did, how did they know this was what Jesus wanted? They were following his example. He let them get involved in practical ways, getting food, arranging accommodation. They didn’t do much but they were constantly reminded of the vision by observing their Master. After some time of observation “Calling the twelve to him, he sent them out two by two” (Mark 6:7) He gives them only a few instructions about practical matters he does not mention what he wants them to do, he doesn’t have to because they have been following him. They know what Jesus wants them to do, he doesn’t need to spell it out. We don’t need to tell our disciples what to do it should be obvious from our lives and therefore their relationship with God. We can however point them in the right direction, so that they make these decisions for themselves.
Reporting - It would seem that not that long after sending them out “The apostles gathered round Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.” (Mark 6:56) When the disciples made mistakes he corrected them telling them what they needed to do. We must also keep an eye on our disciples reviewing their work, advising them where necessary, in doing so encouraging them so that they do not get defeated. We must keep on discipling until our followers are mature, this may be a long process.
Reproduction. The result of selecting the right people those who have conviction and perspective will be reproduction. There is a huge difference between addition and multiplication. Evangelism by itself results in addition, discipleship results in multiplication. The result of following the command “go and make disciples” will be reproduction. If we follow the example of Jesus on earth his method of evangelism we will follow him, which involves training others. They will then be trained to disciple others and so the world will be evangelised. Are we reproducing? Are those who we led to Christ discipling others? If the answer is yes then we are following the Master’s plan of Evangelism as explained in the Gospels.
“You have not done anything until you have changed the lives of men” (Disciples are born not made) There are many ways in which the world would have us change the lives of men. Jesus says “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19,20) How are we to change men’s lives we let them follow us as the result they will follow Christ - this is discipleship, following men who follow Christ.
The Gospels show us the example of Jesus how he selected his followers and how he discipled them and as a result started to evangelise the world. As we seek to follow his command of evangelising the world we must study and apply his example so that in turn our disciples will follow Jesus.
Selection - How will we put this plan into action – How will we recruit, select disciples? What did Jesus do? He saw men and he went to them and said “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18) Who were these men? They were doctors, tax collectors, fishermen from Galilee. Their background didn’t matter only their willingness to follow. How many should we disciple? He chose only 12 and he concentrated especially on three. If Jesus being perfect without the distractions of man discipled twelve and concentrated on three, then surely we should aim to disciple no more.
Now that he had chosen a small group he stayed with them – Association.
He told the new recruits “Come and follow me” He needed to be with them in order for them to follow. When one of the disciples asked Jesus where he was staying he replied “come and you will see” (John 1:39) The disciples were going to see where he lived, where he ate, where he went because they were going to do all of these things with him. He let them get to know him fully by integrating them fully into his life. His whole life and ministry involves the disciples. He spent time with them, he gave his life totally to them. He let them into his life so that they could follow him. Jesus let them watch, he let them observe his life. This means that our lives have to be Christ centred that we need to be following Christ so that they can follow us and as a result follow Christ.
The Cost - Jesus put the spiritual needs of others before his physical needs. It costs to become involved in the lives of others. Association costs - it involves giving our time, our energy, our privacy our money/processions, goals and ambitions. Our lives become our disciple’s lives as they follow us. It seems a lot to give, it is a lot but Christ gave everything for us, it is not ours to give. All of these belong to God. Jesus taught about the cost of following him and the importance of counting the cost we must also ensure that we and our disciples have counted the cost.
If I a man is going to follow as well as realising the cost he must also know who he is following. We need to be involved in this process that the potential disciple is familiar with scriptures and what it says about the plan of salvation. If the man does not have conviction and perspective then he is unlikely to continue to follow.
Role of the Holy Spirit - Before Jesus left us on earth he gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22) When Jesus left us he did not leave us alone to make disciples of all men. He gave us the Holy Spirit to help. We must let the Holy Spirit work in our lives as well as in the lives of those we disciple. Remembering it is not our work but God’s work. The Spirit of God desires for Christ to made known in all the world as the Spirit lives in us this purpose will be fulfilled through us.
Christ showed them how to live - They must see Christ at the centre of our lives centred on prayer, Bible study, evangelism, and fellowship. We must not just tell the disciple how it is done but we must show them. We must befriend them we must invite them into every part of our lives. We learn things much more effectively through example.
Jesus often prayed in the presence of his followers. He also taught his disciples to pray.
Jesus often used scripture in his conversation. This requires reading, studying and learning scripture in order to follow this example. As we are integrated and involved in a fellowship of believers we must encourage our disciples to become involved. Following the example of our leader we must befriend sinners we must not separate ourselves from worldly people. We need to become friends with non Christians. A friend is more likely to listen than an acquaintance. If we are not involved in evangelism then our disciple is unlikely to be involved in evangelism. As they follow our lives they will see how we are involved in evangelism. “Jesus was so much the Master in His teaching that he did not let His method obscure His lesson. He let His truth call attention to itself, and not the presentation…He was the method” (the master plan of evangelism p 78) He demonstrated his method through living his life.
Assigning work - By showing the disciples his life he showed them how to do his work. He didn’t need to tell them to bring their friends and family to follow they just did, how did they know this was what Jesus wanted? They were following his example. He let them get involved in practical ways, getting food, arranging accommodation. They didn’t do much but they were constantly reminded of the vision by observing their Master. After some time of observation “Calling the twelve to him, he sent them out two by two” (Mark 6:7) He gives them only a few instructions about practical matters he does not mention what he wants them to do, he doesn’t have to because they have been following him. They know what Jesus wants them to do, he doesn’t need to spell it out. We don’t need to tell our disciples what to do it should be obvious from our lives and therefore their relationship with God. We can however point them in the right direction, so that they make these decisions for themselves.
Reporting - It would seem that not that long after sending them out “The apostles gathered round Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.” (Mark 6:56) When the disciples made mistakes he corrected them telling them what they needed to do. We must also keep an eye on our disciples reviewing their work, advising them where necessary, in doing so encouraging them so that they do not get defeated. We must keep on discipling until our followers are mature, this may be a long process.
Reproduction. The result of selecting the right people those who have conviction and perspective will be reproduction. There is a huge difference between addition and multiplication. Evangelism by itself results in addition, discipleship results in multiplication. The result of following the command “go and make disciples” will be reproduction. If we follow the example of Jesus on earth his method of evangelism we will follow him, which involves training others. They will then be trained to disciple others and so the world will be evangelised. Are we reproducing? Are those who we led to Christ discipling others? If the answer is yes then we are following the Master’s plan of Evangelism as explained in the Gospels.
posted by My Thai Tales at 1:07 am
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