On Making Disciples

[SteveLy]

Sent to me by a friend:

ON MAKING DISCIPLES

Good Morning!

Jesus’ final command to His disciples was “Go, MAKE DISCIPLES.” (Matt. 28:18 - 20).

Tell me, are you obeying Christ’s command to MAKE DISCIPLES?

If your answer is, “I’m very busy in Christian activity”, you will have some serious answering to do at the Judgment Seat of Christ (II Cor. 5:9 - 11).

“Activity is no substitute for productivity. Productivity is no substitute for re-productivity.”

Christ MADE DISCIPLES, who in turn were commanded to MAKE DISCIPLES, who in turn were to MAKE DISCIPLES: Spiritual reproduction. He told us to do exactly the same:

“Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations…teaching them (your disciples) to observe all that I have commanded you (part of which is the making of disciples)…” (Matt. 28:19, 20)

Spiritual multiplication.

Paul put it this way, “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” (II Tim. 2:2):

Paul discipled Timothy, who in turn was to disciple faithful men, who in turn were to teach others, who were to also teach others. Spiritual multiplication. Spiritual re-production: MAKING DISCIPLES.

Tell me, are you MAKING DISCIPLES? If not, why not?

When God evaluates us for the substance of our lives, the question will be asked, “Did you lay the foundation of Christ in people’s lives?” That is the gold, silver, and precious stone that will stand the test of fire. It is called MAKING DISCIPLES. Everything else will be burned as dross (I Cor. 3:10 - 15).

Tell me, are you MAKING DISCIPLES? Or are you just busy in Christian activity?

My prayer is that you are having a great week!

Dwight Hill

 

[jcrichton]

Hi, Steve!

Wow… this sounds like one of those pyramid things…

The currency Evangelization, in my estimation, is not so much an urgency to “make disciples” as much as it is to bring the Good News to the world through Evangelization and through Fellowship:

5:12 We appeal to you, my brothers, to be considerate to those who are working amongst you and are above you in the Lord as your teachers. 5:13 Have the greatest respect and affection for them because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 5:14 And this is what we ask you to do, brothers: warn the idlers, give courage to those who are apprehensive, care for the weak and be patient with everyone. 5:15 Make sure that people do not try to take revenge; you must all think of what is best for each other and for the community. 5:16 Be happy at all times; 5:17 pray constantly; 5:18 and for all things give thanks to God, because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus. 5:19 Never try to suppress the Spirit 5:20 or treat the gift of prophecy with contempt; 5:21 think before you do anything – hold on to what is good 5:22 and avoid every form of evil.(1 Thessalonians)

So my question is how to make disciples of the Kingdom of God?

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[SteveLy]

Thanks Angel. As it seems you do, I think the process of bringing the good news and companionship to people is that disciple making process (at least in part).

One of the things though I think it’s important as to define what we mean when we say disciple. There are many ways to define it but one my friend taught me which is pretty good is that there are four characteristics.

A disciple is a person who:

1. Openly identifies as a Christian.
2. Practices the Sacraments (or Ordinances for our Protestant brethren).
3. Studies the faith.
4. Works to bring others to the faith or back to the faith.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[Eric_Hyom]

Jesus’ final command to His disciples was “Go, MAKE DISCIPLES.” (Matt. 28:18 - 20).

This may well have been the final command of Jesus. But we do seem to hold evangelisation as a greater priority than the greatest commandments.

 

[jcrichton]

Hi, Eric!

Consider what has transpired… at the onset of the splitting non-Catholics divested themselves of the Church with all (most) of her practices and history.

Yet, the urgency for Fellowship remained.

However it evolved, Evangelization, in their understanding, seemed to be the key to Fellowship… it’s the ‘all the eggs in one basket’ thing.

Catholics would be, though seen different from a non-Catholic perspective, employing the cornucopia afforded us by Apostolic Succession, which includes Apostolic Teaching; hence, our emphasis on Living the Faith as Taught by our predecessors… all the way back to Peter.

Still, there are variants and complacencies (on both parts) that continues to lend to the fabric of disunity–forcing, by default, the difference of schools and implementations.

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[PJM]

Yes I am and have been for years,

Nice of you to remind us of this OBLIGATION, but you gave to advice on HOW to do it

God Bless you,
Patrick