II. Make disciples
Make disciples
In recent years, ‘discipleship’ has spelled trouble. If you ever mention it in some churches, you are likely to encounter a mass retreat; many cautionary stories have circulated concerning people whose lives have been ruined by so-called discipleship.
Through fear of excessive domination of people’s lives, many have steered clear of discipleship, but how can we back off from a subject that is so clearly biblical? ‘Disciple’ is used over 250 times in the New Testament. On ten occasions John the Baptist’s disciples are mentioned, on four occasions Paul’s, while the rest are disciples of Jesus. The Twelve were not told, ‘Go and preach sermons and give out literature.’ They were commissioned to ‘go and make disciples’ ( Matthew 28:19), Jesus didn’t want His followers merely to pass on information; He wanted them involved in the formation of lives. So Paul instructed Timothy, “The things you have heard me say ... entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).
The story of Elijah and Elisha gives us an excellent model af discipleship to follow.
Through fear of excessive domination of people’s lives, many have steered clear of discipleship, but how can we back off from a subject that is so clearly biblical? ‘Disciple’ is used over 250 times in the New Testament. On ten occasions John the Baptist’s disciples are mentioned, on four occasions Paul’s, while the rest are disciples of Jesus. The Twelve were not told, ‘Go and preach sermons and give out literature.’ They were commissioned to ‘go and make disciples’ ( Matthew 28:19), Jesus didn’t want His followers merely to pass on information; He wanted them involved in the formation of lives. So Paul instructed Timothy, “The things you have heard me say ... entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).
The story of Elijah and Elisha gives us an excellent model af discipleship to follow.
Who initiates?
Elijah never thought to himself, ‘I’ve had enough of being a prophet. It’s too exhausting. I’m going to find someone else to take over from me.’ Nor did Elisha charge up to Elijah and urge him, ‘Please let me be your disciple. Let me have the cloak. Please!’ No. The initiator was God, and He spoke first to Elijah.
God worked in the same way with Moses and Joshua. Moses did not choose Joshua, but neither did Joshua force himself on Moses. It began with God, who spoke first to Moses. Then Moses, in turn, spoke to Joshua.
Timothy did not approach Paul, saying, ‘Can I work alongside you, please?’ Rather, Paul took the initiative and taught Timothy to do the same (2 Timothy 2:1-2).
If you respond to a request from anyone for discipleship training, you may not have been given the faith that it will work. You cannot say, “God started this,’ and therefore be assured of success. But when God indicates His choice, you can proceed with faith because you have responded to God's initiative. Since the undertaking is rooted in God’s will, faith and expectation for the disciple’s development will naturally run high.
If you accept any and everyone who comes to you for discipleship training, you could find yourself at the mercy of other people's expectations and demands and become vulnerable and accountable to them. Thus a relationship intended to be a joy and a privilege could in reality become an exhausting and burdensome round of activity not rooted in faith.
God worked in the same way with Moses and Joshua. Moses did not choose Joshua, but neither did Joshua force himself on Moses. It began with God, who spoke first to Moses. Then Moses, in turn, spoke to Joshua.
Timothy did not approach Paul, saying, ‘Can I work alongside you, please?’ Rather, Paul took the initiative and taught Timothy to do the same (2 Timothy 2:1-2).
If you respond to a request from anyone for discipleship training, you may not have been given the faith that it will work. You cannot say, “God started this,’ and therefore be assured of success. But when God indicates His choice, you can proceed with faith because you have responded to God's initiative. Since the undertaking is rooted in God’s will, faith and expectation for the disciple’s development will naturally run high.
If you accept any and everyone who comes to you for discipleship training, you could find yourself at the mercy of other people's expectations and demands and become vulnerable and accountable to them. Thus a relationship intended to be a joy and a privilege could in reality become an exhausting and burdensome round of activity not rooted in faith.
