Let’s review what we have studied so far on our series “Jesus Christ, Disciple-Maker.”
The first sermon in this series was “How Jesus Made Disciples.” This sermon focused on Christ’s command and how it was preceded by 3 ½ years of training by example. Jesus taught the disciples what it meant to make disciples.
The second sermon was “What is a Disciple?” We learned that in its broadest application, a disciple is a Christian. Every Christian is called to grow into deeper maturity. We asked two key questions in this sermon, the first was
Am I a disciple?” We examined 4 crucial tests:
1) The GOSPEL test. (Do you know the facts of the gospel and is your faith in Jesus alone?)
2) The FOLLOWING test (are you a follower?)
3) the LEARNING test (are you growing?)
4) the AUTHENTIC text (Do you meet the specific claims that Jesus said are required of all his disciples?)
Then, we examined a second crucial question, “Am I making disciples that are true disciples?”
Today, we want to look further as how we can make disciples that are true disciples.
FIRST - Make Sure You Understand the Instructions! Matthew 28:19-20
To get where you want, we have to know where you are going!
Yogi Berra brilliantly said“You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.” https://www.illustrationexchange.com
Let’s take a closer look at the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20
The main verb is from the root of the word “disciples” Mathetes (Greek)
The noun form mathetes is used 269 x in the NT
However, the verb form is used only 4x in the NT The following chart details this usage.
USES OF ìáèçôåýóáôå IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT
VERSE SIGNIFICANCE
Matthew 13:52 (ESV)
52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” Matthew 13 contains six parables concerning the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus instructs his followers that entrance to his eternal kingdom is received only when a person becomes a disciple.
Matthew 27:57 (ESV)
57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. Joseph is identified as a follower of Jesus.
Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, This is the only imperative use of ìáèçôåýù in the NT. It forms the central command given to the disciples, and by extension – the church.
Acts 14:21 (ESV)
21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, The first missionary journey ends with a summary of the trip’s success. This passage affirms that the validity of Mat. 28:19 as a primary objective for the church.
Now that we have a little understanding of the main verb, let’s look at the accompanying verbs in Matthew 28:19-20. These verbal forms are going, baptizing and teaching. These three words clarify what it means to make disciples.
In English, if we break down this sentence we have a compound predicate (verb) comprised of two actions: GO and MAKE DISCIPLES
Disciples becomes the Direct Object (what you are supposed to make)
Baptizing and Teaching are prepositions that compliment the verb.
The structure is slightly different in Greek.
In the original, this sentence contains a single verb with THREE prepositions.
The main verb is matheteo, the verbal form of mathetes. It means “Make Disciples”
The verb is in the aorist tense, indicating a decision that is made at a particular point in time.
It is in the Active voice, indicating that it is something that the subject must do on his or her own initiative.
It is in the imperative mood, meaning that it is a command to be followed.
Following the main verb “make disciples,” we find three participles. A participle is a verbal form that modifies a noun.
The participles are
GO
Baptizing
Teaching
In the Greek, we understand this as a key command that is explained further through the actions that accompany it. Making disciples is done as we are going. We must move from where we are and make a conscious effort to take the gospel. For some, this means walking across the street to a neighbor to share God’s love with them. It might mean going to a new lunch table to start up a discussion with a lonely student. It might mean going across an ocean to take the gospel to those who have not heard. The extent of the “going” is not specified, but the attitude of being a goer is.
Baptizing indicates that making disciples involves sharing the gospel. Baptizing is done for those who accept the message (Acts 2:41). Baptizing reminds us that evangelism is part of the Great Commission.
Teaching means that we are to train other disciples with the things that we have learned from Jesus.
The SECOND step in understanding how we make disciples is to Look for Examples
Imagine putting a new Lego toy together without the instructions, or attempting to build a 1,000 piece puzzle without a picture. A picture helps!
Are there an pictures in the Bible showing us how others made disciples?
The answer of course is yes!
One such picture is the first missionary journey: They “made disciples!”
The Great Commission is given in Matthew 28:19-20. It is one of only four NT usages of the verb form “make disciples.” The next (and last) usage of this verb is found in Acts 14:20-21, where Paul and Barnabas give an account of what happened on the first missionary journey: “When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,” (Acts 14:21, ESV)
This demonstrates that the church at Antioch regarded “making disciples” as the key mission for this missionary journey.
They Early church followed the GEOGRAPHIC INSTRUCTIONS in the Great Commission. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”” (Acts 1:8, ESV)
i. JERUSALEM/JUDEA. Acts 2
ii. SAMARIA “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.” (Acts 8:4–5, ESV)
iii. END of the EARTH: “And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” (Acts 14:27, ESV)
Examples of other churches
Victory Church in Manilla
This church grew from 165 to 2,000 (1984-1990)
From 2,000 to 4,900 ( 1990-2000)
From 4900 to 50,000 (2000-2011)
The pastor writes, “Through the years Victory-Manila has become very clear and very focused on what we are trying to do. Why have we become so fixated on a single strategy? It is, first of all, because we have embraced the Lord’s Great Commission as our own. Making disciples is the driving force behind everything we do.” (Steve Murrell, Wikichurch, (Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2011), 31.
He continues, “While it is possible to lead a small group and not actually make disciples, and it is possible to make disciples without a small group, I am convinced that the most efficient and effective way to make disciples is in small groups” (Murrell, 49).
Another contemporary example is Grace Community Church, (Dr. John McArthur)
I spoke with Justin Harris, the Membership Pastor.
They have 9 “Fellowship Groups” (similar to our BLG’s, but much larger)
Each Fellowship Group has a variety of “Bible Studies” (small groups)
They meet at different times.
They teach their people to prioritize the church’s Sunday gathering where everyone can hear the message. Then be involved in a small group.
This church is a good one for FBC to examine because it is a conservative church with a strong emphasis on Bible teaching. Although it is significantly larger (over 4,000 people) there is much we can learn from their example, They are effective at making disciples!
Application; How Can I Make Disciples?
Disciple-Makers must proclaim the gospel
Disciple-Makers must teach others
Disciple-Makers must be INTENTIONAL
Doesn’t mean you have to become a missionary, but you do have to have a plan.
It could be something like Evangelism Explosion
It could be other ministries like Code Blue or Family Promise
Perhaps teaching or leading in our children’s ministry
TEENAGER - do your next speech or paper on something related to your Christian faith
EMPLOYEE- commit to pray daily that a friend would come to Christ
PARENT - be intentional about the spiritual lessons you want your children to know. Write a goal list of the spiritual attributes that you would like to see in your child at the ages of 8, 12 and 16.
GRANDPARENTS - pray daily for your grandchildren. Ask them about their spiritual lives. Tell them about God’s blessings in your life.
If God hasn’t called you as a missionary, pray for our missionaries. Support them in prayer, e-mails, and finances.
Have a plan for how you are going to obey the Great Commission to Make Disciples:
Going (intentionally)
Proclaiming the Gospel
Teaching believers to grow.
