Make Disciples

I know I've said it before but sometimes I really believe the messages that God gives Daniel to preach were written for me. I don't mean this in a prideful way because I know God is using D in great ways to reach many, but like last nights message..... it was crunch, crunch on Candace's toes. It was a challenge to me. A wake up call for me.... if no one else got it... I sure did.

The title of the message: Making Disciples. I have heard him preach this many times and yet it's still that convicting. Since we started at Millington, D has been going through a series on Wednesday nights calling it Square 1. He's been going through the basics.The purpose of this is to lay the foundation for the students so they not only know what D believes but so they can see what scripture says about loving God, knowing God and making him known.

The message comes from Matthew 28:18. A verse we all know well. Unfortunately, we don't really understand it because if we did our lives and the lives of the people around us would be different.

"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
  

Whats the imperative verb here? Most would say Go and that is important, but here make disciples is more imperative. In the greek, its translated with great urgency as if someone was yelling MAKE DISCIPLES. Its assumed we'll go and we'll baptize, but the imperative here is to MAKE DISCIPLES.

Who? Who's responsibility is it? the church's... believers. Jesus is giving this command not to the lost or unchurched, but to his followers.

What? Make disciples- as easy as...  1 Cor. 11:1 "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ"
-first step is evangelism- share Jesus with them.... that leads to baptism
-second step is teaching- simply training others how to know, love, and serve Jesus. We don't have to be theologians or teachers to do this. Simply teaching them what God's been teaching you. You hear a sermon, take notes, and reteach it. 


This verse says make disciples, but doesn't stop there or say make disciples in America... it says to make disciples of all nations. Some give excuses about there's no way they can reach other nations when they can't even afford to go on a mission trip. Well, let me introduce you to Herb Hodges. A great man in the Memphis area who has a heart for discipleship. Because he sees the importance of discipling others, he discipled a guy named will who then discipled D. D is now discipling students. Though D or these students may never meet Herb, their lives are greatly impacted by him. Same for reaching the nations. Herb discipled a group of men who felt called to a foreign country... Sudan I think. So these mean after being discipled by Herb went to Sudan and began discipling pastors there who began to disciple the people of Sudan. So hundreds are being impacted in Sudan and it began with ones man's passion for discipleship. Herb may have never even stepped foot in that country but is still having a huge impact on it. 


When? We don't arrive at a point in our lives that make us ready to disciple others... if we're waiting to arrive at this point we'd never get there. We are to disciple "as we go." Living life with people... encouraging them, challenging them.


How? You disciple others by first spending time with them. Its as simple as taking a hobby and using it as a tool. One of our leaders loves to fish.... and so do a number of the guys in his class. This is a way to disciple his guys. He takes them fishing, but its so much more than just a fishing trip.


Why? Why should we make disciples? Because we are commanded to... it isn't a suggestion but a command. It also is effective... it works. D and I can't personally reach 100 high school students, but we can invest in our leaders and they can disciple their students. Or we can invest handful of students, who could then invest in a handful, who then could invest in a handful... and our students are being discipled and multiplying for the kingdom. This method is effective.


I hear many who say but I screw up too much. Thats ok. We are all screw ups deserving death and hell but b/c God loved us so much he sent his son to redeem us. Here on earth though we will still make mistakes, but as long as we are progressing closer to Christ then we are on the right track. It's about progress, not success. Its ok to admit you mess up. In fact you gain credibility when people realize you aren't perfect.


What now? Truely follow Jesus. Don't merely say it, back it up with your life. If your life doesn't look any different then you don't really know Jesus. So... as you go... as you live your life.... MAKE DISCIPLES.