Disciple Making

Sometimes I wonder about things great and small. Today I was wondering about disciple making. I mean, I know the great commission in Matthew 28 tells us to make disciples. But, it doesn't tell us HOW to make disciples. In fact, there isn't anywhere in the Bible that gives us the formula for making disciples . . . so, how are we supposed to do that? And, why would the greatest designer ever . . . God, give us an instruction and then not tell us how to accomplish it. Here's the great commission . . . see if you agree:

But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age."

See, no description of how to make a disciple, just instructions on who they are to be . . . all the nations . . . and what we're supposed to do . . . baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; and then teach them to obey all that Jesus commanded. So, I've been wondering . . . if I'm a disciple, and I am, since my baptism . . . have I been doing what I'm supposed to be doing ?

To answer my own question, I started with what the word disciple means. It simply means to be a learner. For Matthew, his understanding of a disciple was one who learned to conform to Christ's examples . . . well, now that's a horse of a different color isn't it! If that is the answer, then we have more examples than we need, on what it means to make or rather be a disciple.

What did Jesus do after all? In Matthew's gospel, Jesus went to the lost sheep, cast out demons, preached good news declaring that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. In Matthew's gospel Jesus was meek, humble, merciful, faithful and persecuted. If the only Jesus we represented to the world was the Jesus of Matthew's gospel . . . wow . . . that alone, would be something to behold wouldn't it!

I wonder, what would I look like to the world, if I sought for lost sheep and I loved those outside the boundaries of the acceptable. Who would I be if I lived as though the Kingdom of Heaven wasn't just coming, but was here right now! And furthermore, what kind of character would I have, that oozed out when the world poked me, if I were humble, meek and merciful? Would that which oozed out of me look like the blood of Christ, instead of a bad attitude, quick temper and sarcasm? You know the stuff of which I speak, right? That stuff that's deep within, but always seems to be on the surface. That ugly stuff we try to hide, but if poked, comes up and out all too quickly!

And finally, don't I have to be a disciple in order to make one? The answer is YES! And being a disciple means that I will be feeding hungry people, dealing with those who are possessed by forces from hell, and loving them. It means that I will be found spending more time with lost sheep than I am with the found. It means that I will be busy with those who need healing, those who are in prisons of their own making and that my character WILL reflect Jesus. It means I am a learner of the nature of Jesus and doing that which I learn.

In light of that, then the idea of making disciples doesn't seem to be so tough. And, in light of Matthew's gospel and Jesus' great commission to us . . . He, Jesus, has already given us all we need to be disciples . . . He gave us Himself!