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The Process of Discipleship

    Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am
with you always, even to the end of the age.”

    Most ministries have Matthew 28:19 proudly displayed as their “mission statement”.
The problem is that Matthew 28:20 is almost always excluded, if not in writing, in practice:
“teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you”.

    Making disciples requires that we teach others “all” of the things that have been
passed on to us; not just the parts we think they can understand; not just the parts that
emphasize our denominational beliefs. “All things” means all things. This process of
pouring our life into other people so that they will also be able to teach others is a very
long process. It will not conveniently end at the start of deer season or summer vacation.

    How do we make disciples? Jesus said we needed to do as He did. Jesus spent a lot of
time teaching what He knew to his disciples. He constantly asked questions to make sure
they understood what He was telling them. Above all else, He used practical everyday
examples from their daily lives.

    John 13:15 “For I have you an example, that you should do as I have done to
you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is
he who is sent greater than he who sent him.”

    Christian discipleship is a process. It is the process of believers passing on spiritual
truths. In the last 100 years we have become obsessed with doing everything faster and
‘more efficient’. We have created microwaves, airplanes, computers, phones and even
cell phones all in the name of progress. Today we live in a world where you can do almost
anything with little or no effort, everything except for making disciples.

    Modern changes to the discipleship process have caused big problems for the church
and for the ‘great commission’. No longer are faithful men and women equipped to bear
fruit, much fruit and remaining fruit. We have tried to modernize the process of making
disciples and we are reaping the benefits. You can not microwave discipleship or put it on
a faster processor. Jesus said to follow His example.

    Jesus wanted to make sure we could repeat the discipleship process. First, He
documented it in the New Testament. Second, He provided a helper, the Holy Spirit. And
third, He told us to use prayer for guidance and encouragement.

    I’m glad Jesus made sure we would know how to make disciples. I’m even happier that
I didn’t need to figure it out; Jesus did. I wasn’t expected to perfect it; Jesus did. All I have
to do is copy it and pass it on to others.

    2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things that you have heard from me among many
witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

    Follow the process, make disciples. Teach faithful men and women ‘that will be able
to teach others’, that is the process of making disciples.

Jesus Is Lord
In Him
Gary Andrews