Jesus commanded his followers to make disciples.
Mat 28:19-20
(19) 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,
(20) teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Questions:
Why is it that so few Christians are actively discipling others?
Is it possible to believe Matthew 28:19-20 yet not make disciples?
What can the church do to help more people make more disciples?
Nancy J.
August 14, 2013I believe the answer to the first question is two fold. First of all we will spend time on what we believe is important. If we believe it is important to disciple others and this is an important part of God’s purpose for our life we will disciple others. On the other side of the coin, there are people that are not interested in someone discipling them, or do they desire to grow as a Christ follower. Jesus does tell us to count the cost.
I believe that it is possible to believe that Matthew 28:19-20 is true and not carry it out. In the U.S.A. I believe the general population, (I am taking a wide sweep using the word general) believes they are to busy with other things in life.
I believe the church (we as the church) will make a difference one by one and day by day. Those who disciple others must be an example to others. For instance, if leaders teach from the premise of; take a step and disciple one, and not think large groups. Example: My life is in transition and I disciple 1 young adult. We are both very busy and she is a University student. BUT our connecting once per week, is intentional. We intentionally set up time to get together. Many times it is on skype and others times may be by phone.
To sum up my thoughts, leaders in the church must begin to teach from the premise of pray for God to give each one of us ONE person to disciple, not a crowd.
Caleb
August 14, 2013Nancy, I think business does play a big role in this. It seems to me business is an excuse we can use for a lot of things.
How great that you are using the opportunities God has given you to disciple someone! Blessings to you in your efforts!
floyd
August 14, 2013Convicting post… If you’re doing what you do, certainly I can do more than I am… A painful but needed reminder.
Caleb
August 14, 2013Even as I study theses verses I’m convicted, we have such a clear job that we need to focus on and it’s so easy to get distracted.
Rick Dawson
August 15, 2013I believe them, and do my best to live out the commission. This is an issue that has been near to Joy’s heart as well as my own for a long time – and we will not overcome church culture by railing about it, but by doing something about it. We do that when we work to make disciples – as you are doing.
Great post, Caleb – and good to finally be able to put a voice to the face 🙂
God bless you and your family!
Caleb
August 16, 2013Rick, you’re right we just need each one of us do something about it if we are going to make a difference. Thanks for your input!
Rick Dawson
August 16, 2013Linking this one up in the shortcuts – it needs a wider audience 🙂
Caleb
August 16, 2013Awesome! Thanks so much!
Dave Arnold
August 16, 2013Oh, good question. I don’t think it’s possible to be following Christ in the truest sense of the word without making disciples & influencing others. I’m not saying people aren’t saved if they don’t but believe in Christ as Savioe; they’re just not following in full obedience to our comission.
Caleb
August 16, 2013Dave, it’s hard to draw a hard and fast line on this. I suppose there can be desire to disciple but little or now knowledge of how to do it, or little opportunity. Either way I think we need to encourage every follower of Jesus to become active in making disciples.
Dan Black
August 18, 2013Good post! I agree, not many people are not making disciples. I think we have gone away from the example Jesus showed when He was on earth. The action of every Christian is to make disciples. God calls us to share the gospel and equip others.
Caleb
August 20, 2013Right on Dan! Making disciples is what every follower of Jesus is called to do!
TCAvey
August 20, 2013This has been on my heart lately. I’ve even been asking God to show me what I can do to help change this. Seems to me Jesus spent MORE time out mingling in the world with sinners than He did IN the temple. So why do we pack pews but neglect to teach people how to go out and change lives?
I agree we need to get personal with people. We need others to see Jesus in us. Jesus needs to be inside as well as outside the church.
I could go on and on…as I said, this is on my heart.
Caleb
August 20, 2013Great point about Jesus spending time mingling with people. On my recent trip to Russia that’s what we decided to do. Every day we just went into town and walked around and talked with people. I and my friend usually went to the sports field where we knew young people would be. We didn’t just start in with Jesus but got to know them first. We also did sports with them, played basketball and did street workouts. It’s amazing how you can get to know people that way and the opportunities that it opens up.
TCAvey
August 20, 2013That sounds great! Learning to connect with people, to see them as individuals instead of “projects” or “needing saved” can make all the difference.
Jesus knew what He was doing…best example I’ve ever found!
Thanks so much, Caleb for LIVING for Christ and helping other Christians see that it’s not impossible.
Loren Pinilis
August 21, 2013As I think about the application of this verse, I don’t necessarily think it means that every Christian has to go to the nations to make disciples – although I believe every Christian should be participating in it. In other words, some are “goers” and some are “senders” who pray and support. However, I do think that making disciples doesn’t have to be something done only internationally. This is a good challenge to all of us to consider what WE are doing to make disciples.
Caleb
August 28, 2013Right on, some are goers and some are senders and all should be disciple makers.
Barb Raveling
August 27, 2013I didn’t have a desire to disciple others until several years after I’d reached a point in my walk with God where He was really first in my life. At that point I could disciple from an authentic position – where I was relying on Him, growing, and thoroughly appreciating Him and all He had done for me.
Before that point, if I had discipled, it would have been out of guilt and I wouldn’t have discipled well because I wasn’t experiencing a life-changing walk with God even though I considered myself a strong Christian. I’m guessing I’m not the only one who was experiencing that type of walk with God – that’s why I think more people aren’t discipling others. I’m also glad no one rushed me into it before I was ready – which is what i think the church often does with teenagers.
Caleb
August 28, 2013Barb, you make an interesting point about discipling out of guilt. Of course that would not be a good thing. It seems to me that discipling ought to be a natural outflow of our relationship with Christ. Nevertheless sometimes we may need a little kick in the pants to get going!
Thanks for sharing!
The Irish Atheist
August 27, 2013I would suspect it has something to do with hypocrisy. After all, Christians are constantly fighting the presence of gay individuals in public. “I don’t care if you’re gay, just don’t shove it in my face. I don’t see why the gays think they can just flaunt their sin. I don’t want my children to have to be around that perversion.”
And of course the same thing is said about Muslims, Buddhists, atheists, etc.
And yet, when you tell your Christians to ‘go and make disciples of all nations,’ you are telling your followers to do EXACTLY what you bemoan about others. You’re rubbing something we don’t agree with or don’t like in our faces. Even the most devout, dense, blinkered Christian will usually get a small wiggle of their conscience when they realise that they’re doing exactly what they despise in others.
But, as the history of the Christian Church shows us, hypocrisy isn’t hypocrisy when there are tribes of people who have never heard about Christ and happen to have a supply of gold or natural resources.
Caleb
August 28, 2013I think you’re right on, it is hypocrisy, unfortunately many Christians don’t see that.
The Irish Atheist
August 28, 2013If it’s hypocrisy, why are you advocating for it?