Making Disciples
Matthew 28: 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority(The scope of Christ’s authority is the entire universe) in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Scripture teaches us to tell others about Jesus Christ. And while sharing the gospel is awesome, it is simply not enough. We should continue to encourage and invest in new believers.
We don’t know where to begin reading in the Bible(Suggest the Book of Ephesians/read all 6 chapters each day for a month and journal what are hearing) or how to spend time with their heavenly Father.
Of course, God takes each person’s spiritual journey seriously, and He won’t leave a seeking heart unsatisfied. At the same time, we have a responsibility to invest in the lives of spiritual brothers and sisters by sharing our understanding and experience.
This type of teaching is called discipleship, and it is both an honor and a great responsibility. Verse 28:20 teaching them to observe. Disciples are not just taught what to believe, but how to obey. Jesus taught practical holiness. As you commence this type of relationship, consider the following points.
• First, make sure to continually spend time with the Lord so that you are growing and in tune with His Spirit.
• Second, be prepared with a plan. Your friend needs to understand the basics, such as how to read the Bible, what prayer is, and where to find fellowship. New believers will have questions–answers are important, as is your ability to find resources when you are unsure of how to reply.
• Third, help the individual understand generally what to expect as he embarks on his Christian walk.
Most of us learned, struggled, and learned some more till we began to understand the basics of life in Christ. Godly mentors can be a tremendous help.
And remember, no matter how long we’ve believed, we never stop needing advice and encouragement from those farther along in the journey.
Christ’s program of missions: “make disciples of all nations.” It involves three steps: (1) “go,” (2) “baptizing them” and (3) “teaching them to obey everything”.
Lord Jesus, I thank you for all the individuals that have spoken and taught me Your Word over the years. Thank you too Lord, for my weekly male mentor and my hourly female mentor Laura, my wife, our Home Church plus all the groups we do which speaks into me also. Bless them all Lord for all the seeds they have planted-I am so so blessed. Amen