Luk 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
If any man come to me, and ...., he cannot be my disciple.
Act 14:20-22 ...and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught (matheteuo: make disciples) many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
It has become clear as I studied the scriptures that the Lord was calling for more than just a decision, He required a commitment, to become an adherent, a disciplined learner, one to be mentored into a new way of life.
large crowds were following and crowding Him. Bustling, pressing against, Jostling to get closer for a better look, to get a healing or something that would possibly manifest while close, these crowds made every effort at that point to be where He was. And yet, Jesus turns to them and says, "If any man would come to me,(and do certain things), he cannot be My disciple."
The crowds are there. I mean what more do you want. They want You and what Yoou can do for them. They want to rely on You. Surely that is all a ministry needs, right? No!
Jesus turns to them and says: "If any man come.... He cannot be My disciple"
He was calling for more than just desire to see and feel. He wanted this specific dimension of commitment, called discipleship. He didn't say, believer, christian or convert. He said DISICPLE!
When we understand the full impact of what this word means and the depth of its commitment, I believe it begins to change our walk with the Lord and how we view the world, how we live and how we believe.
As I studied the Book of Acts, again I did not find and reference to being 'born again, making christians or convert, but over and over again disciples are referred to. In fact, it says that they would make many disciples. that was their focus, their mission. Only once are these disciples referred to as Christians, and that only because they were so living like the Christ that the community could see it and called them that.
It is an interesting exercise to study this book and underline each reference and meditate on it for awhile and let the reference speak to your heart.
If it was imporatnt to the Lord Jesus and to the early church what role should it play in our life and ministry?
How individuals are you spending time with making a disciple? What is the PRIMARY focus of your ministry?
Monday, October 12, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Make Disciples
When the Lord called me about 30 years ago, the scripture that spoke deeply to my heart was:
Mat 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach (matheteuo: make disciples) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Initially, in my walk with the Lord, I did not get the meaning of this powerful term, make disciples. Over time, however, and especially in the ministry, the need for and the depth of what Jesus commissioned us to do here, took on a much stronger and deeper meaning for me.
After pastoring for 15 years, and being in spiritual leadership as many years, I often wondered at the fact that even though we sat week after week listening to messages being preached, and teachings being taught, we did not seem to change. There was always a struggle to see people change their lifestyles. As a pastor I resorted to all sorts of programs to get people to witness, pray, live righteously, but that always seemed to need more 'marketing', more pushing, more convincing to get people to attend, but with only some results.
What I have seen done in the name of Jesus, as Christians, is scary. The insecurities that causes individuals to manipulate and control, the pride and arrogance that was allowed in ministry, the intimidations of spouses, the deceptions in christian business, the flaky expressions of so-called spirituality, and on and on we could go.
Now understand the Lord does not require perfection of us because that is impossible. Without the the Spirit of God empowering us we have no chance of living this life the way it is meant. However, there is certain lifestyle and behaviour that the Word of God expressly lays out for us to live. There are certain things we can excuse as much as we like, but nonetheless, reveal our carnality and lack of spirituality. The Bible would not tell us to live a certain way if were not possible.
I would, week after week, cry out to the Lord for the members of our congregation, asking for their deliverance. I would spend hours and hours in counselling to try and assist the marriage problems, relationship hassles, and lack of wisdom many christians displayed in their lives. Not all though, there were always some that seemed to excel and thrive and grow as believers even though things would be tough, I should add.
I began to question the Lord regarding all these things. His answer was, "Make disciples!"
When I studied the Greek term for disciple was I ever shocked as I read what it meant, really.
To instruct and teach, not just as a scholar but as a disciplined learner, who has, through a deep intimate fellowship, based on relationship with a mentor par excellence, had a new world view imparted to them. Not learning a vocation but experiencing a change so deep that their whole behaviour is changed.
What a challenge that was to me as a pastor. I realised that my programs were not cutting it. It was just not enough to put someone through a 10 week study program and now expect them to live like Jesus did.
Being a mentor meant that I would have to walk beside the person and carry them through the process of learning to be Christlike. It meant, I would have to instruct, correct and comfort.
How was I do this?
The answer: One at a time!
But how could I one person begin to change the world like this? I mean I had been taught, win the crowds, gather large crowds, preach powerful messages of the Word and all will turn out right. But that had not been my experience.
The postings over the next few weeks, hopefully, will address these questions as we seek out what Jesus did and what the Bible says about it.
So, stay with me for a journey.
Mat 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach (matheteuo: make disciples) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Initially, in my walk with the Lord, I did not get the meaning of this powerful term, make disciples. Over time, however, and especially in the ministry, the need for and the depth of what Jesus commissioned us to do here, took on a much stronger and deeper meaning for me.
After pastoring for 15 years, and being in spiritual leadership as many years, I often wondered at the fact that even though we sat week after week listening to messages being preached, and teachings being taught, we did not seem to change. There was always a struggle to see people change their lifestyles. As a pastor I resorted to all sorts of programs to get people to witness, pray, live righteously, but that always seemed to need more 'marketing', more pushing, more convincing to get people to attend, but with only some results.
What I have seen done in the name of Jesus, as Christians, is scary. The insecurities that causes individuals to manipulate and control, the pride and arrogance that was allowed in ministry, the intimidations of spouses, the deceptions in christian business, the flaky expressions of so-called spirituality, and on and on we could go.
Now understand the Lord does not require perfection of us because that is impossible. Without the the Spirit of God empowering us we have no chance of living this life the way it is meant. However, there is certain lifestyle and behaviour that the Word of God expressly lays out for us to live. There are certain things we can excuse as much as we like, but nonetheless, reveal our carnality and lack of spirituality. The Bible would not tell us to live a certain way if were not possible.
I would, week after week, cry out to the Lord for the members of our congregation, asking for their deliverance. I would spend hours and hours in counselling to try and assist the marriage problems, relationship hassles, and lack of wisdom many christians displayed in their lives. Not all though, there were always some that seemed to excel and thrive and grow as believers even though things would be tough, I should add.
I began to question the Lord regarding all these things. His answer was, "Make disciples!"
When I studied the Greek term for disciple was I ever shocked as I read what it meant, really.
To instruct and teach, not just as a scholar but as a disciplined learner, who has, through a deep intimate fellowship, based on relationship with a mentor par excellence, had a new world view imparted to them. Not learning a vocation but experiencing a change so deep that their whole behaviour is changed.
What a challenge that was to me as a pastor. I realised that my programs were not cutting it. It was just not enough to put someone through a 10 week study program and now expect them to live like Jesus did.
Being a mentor meant that I would have to walk beside the person and carry them through the process of learning to be Christlike. It meant, I would have to instruct, correct and comfort.
How was I do this?
The answer: One at a time!
But how could I one person begin to change the world like this? I mean I had been taught, win the crowds, gather large crowds, preach powerful messages of the Word and all will turn out right. But that had not been my experience.
The postings over the next few weeks, hopefully, will address these questions as we seek out what Jesus did and what the Bible says about it.
So, stay with me for a journey.
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