The biggest challenge. The best investment. The crying need.
No one suggests that it is easy to do. Or demands little of you. Or is guaranteed to succeed every time. But two things are for sure: the Lord Jesus commanded disciple-making and the New Testament churches practiced it.
Here is the command: “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…” (Mt. 28:19-20, nkjv). A disciple is a follower, a learner, an imitator. Making them is the church’s business. Don’t expect God to send your assembly the finished product; you must grow your own.
Our Lord selected twelve men. It was His intention that they (barring Judas) would be sent out to preach. But His first reason in calling them was: “that they might be with Him” (Mk. 3:14). So it should be with us. We must honestly convince young believers that we want to spend time with them. It will, of course, require a willingness to be transparent. Your stock will go up, not down, if you are honest.
Following Christ Leads Others to Him
How would you like to see the kind of work that Paul and his co-workers saw done on their short visit to Thessalonica? It was absolutely spectacular! Scores were rescued in a matter of weeks from a stronghold of Satan!
Notice the two linked statements in Paul’s first letter to the young saints there: “For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9). Here he recounts the remarkable turnaround in their lives. Does he give us a clue to the reason behind the campaign’s signal success? The answer is found in verse 5.
“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake” (1 Thess. 1:5). He explains that the Holy Spirit did this work, blasting these Thessalonians loose from the world’s bedrock by divine power. Yet His power remains unabated today. So was there something else?
Yes, Paul adds, “assurance”—convincing evidence to the Thessalonians that the gospel was real—was seen in the lives of the men who declared it. They were the proof that the gospel was worth trying: “what manner of men we were.”
Paul’s “home assembly” at Antioch was the school where he learned how it was done. Barnabas took the young, newly converted Saul under his wing. Some were skeptical of the former persecutor and Barnabas had his work cut out for him, grooming the volatile young Benjamite. He was just the man for the job.
We can surmise that the Antioch assembly was a very good disciple’s school because “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Christians? The word is the diminutive of Christ—little Christs, they were called. The resemblance between the One followed and the followers was so close that even the pagans noticed. It was there Paul learned the principle, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).
Can’t Do Everything? Do Something
There may be some who can take a believer right through the process from disciple to disciple-maker. But if you feel inadequate for the whole process, help with a part. Is your ministry visiting a senior’s home? Then take a few young people along and show them how to speak—clearly, directly—to the old folks. Take them out for pizza on the way home and express thanks for their involvement.
Can you share some of the books from your library that you found helpful as a young believer? (You may lose a few in process; I hope you’ll get over it.) Or show them how to use a concordance? Or give them an opportunity to ask their questions. If you don’t know an answer, it’s better not to bluff—they’ll see through it. Just say, “Let’s get the books and look it up.” They will never forget it.
So when do we need to begin? It’s already late. There are scores of young Sauls looking for a Barnabas. First show them how you do it; then let them do it with you; then watch them as they do it (gentle correction mixed with a good dose of encouragement); then inspire them to find someone to teach. Only then is the cycle complete.
And then it’s time to start again with someone else!