Discipleship: The Heart of God's Mission

The call to make disciples is not just one of many tasks for the church—it is the very heart and pivot of God’s purpose for His people. Jesus, after receiving all authority in heaven and on earth, commanded His followers to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything He had commanded. This is not a peripheral activity, but the central mission entrusted to us. Every spiritual gift, ministry, and anointing is given for this one purpose: to raise men and women who will become like Jesus, so that Christ might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Discipleship is not a modern invention, nor is it a short-term class for new believers. It is a lifelong process of transformation, where the life and character of Christ are formed in us. Unlike mentoring or coaching, which may impart skills or knowledge, biblical discipleship is about life rubbing on life, with the goal of Christlikeness. The idea of “graduating” from discipleship is foreign to the New Testament; rather, we are continually being shaped from one degree of glory to another, until Christ is fully formed in us.

Jesus Himself modeled this method. Though He had the power to draw crowds effortlessly, He invested His deepest teachings and time in a few, pouring His life into them. The most profound doctrines and instructions—on prayer, faith, the second coming—were given in the context of close, personal relationship with His disciples, not in public seminars. The multiplication of disciples, not the gathering of crowds, is God’s strategy for reaching the world and fulfilling His eternal purpose.

Discipleship is God’s family training scheme, the means by which spiritual children are raised to maturity and prepared to inherit all that God has for them. It involves discipline, training, and submission to tutors and governors—men and women appointed by God to mirror Christ’s life and guide others into the fullness of His image. This process is not about events or slogans, but about a deliberate, systematic, and cumulative impartation of life.

The only adequate response to the Great Commission is to return to this biblical strategy: making disciples who will, in turn, make others. This is the most rewarding labor, the surest way to multiply the life of Christ in the world, and the only path to true spiritual maturity and fruitfulness.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Discipleship as the Central Mission God’s primary agenda for His people is not a list of activities, but the making of disciples who become like Jesus. Every spiritual gift and ministry is given for this purpose, and anything that does not lead to the formation of Christ in people is outside God’s syllabus. This focus realigns our priorities and ensures our labor has eternal relevance. [05:06]
• 2. The Lifelong Nature of Discipleship Discipleship is not a short-term program or a class for new converts; it is a lifelong journey of transformation. There is no “graduation” from discipleship, as we are continually being shaped into Christ’s image from one degree of glory to another. True discipleship is dynamic, ongoing, and never stagnant. [07:28]
• 3. Life-on-Life Transformation, Not Mere Mentoring While mentoring and coaching may impart skills or knowledge, biblical discipleship is far deeper—it is life imparting life, with the goal of Christlikeness. The process involves close relationship, intentional modeling, and the transfer of character, not just information or ability. This is why discipleship cannot be reduced to modern trends or slogans. [08:48]
• 4. Jesus’ Method: Depth Over Crowds Jesus, though able to draw great crowds, focused His deepest teachings and time on a few disciples. The most profound truths—on prayer, faith, and the end times—were shared in private, relational contexts. This model shows that multiplication of disciples, not crowd-gathering, is God’s strategy for lasting impact and world transformation. [27:54]
• 5. Discipleship as God’s Family Training Scheme God’s way of raising His children to maturity is through discipleship, placing them under tutors and governors who guide, discipline, and train them. This process prepares believers to inherit all that God has for them, moving them from spiritual infancy to maturity. Without this, many remain spiritual orphans, never entering into their full inheritance in Christ. [57:48]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:39] - Reading Matthew 28:18-20
• [02:07] - The Great Commission’s Central Focus
• [03:39] - Jesus’ Model of Disciple-Making
• [05:06] - Discipleship: Not a New Testament Invention
• [06:43] - Lifelong Nature of Discipleship
• [08:08] - Discipleship vs. Mentoring and Coaching
• [10:19] - The Challenge of Biblical Discipleship
• [12:36] - Realigning with God’s Will
• [14:01] - Christ’s Method of Growing the Church
• [16:57] - The Power and Limits of Crowd Ministry
• [19:45] - The True Goal: Making Disciples
• [21:09] - Jesus’ Deepest Teachings in Discipleship Context
• [27:54] - The Private Context of Profound Truths
• [35:18] - Multiplication Through Discipleship
• [41:12] - Defining Biblical Discipleship
• [47:09] - The Process and Cost of Discipleship
• [49:41] - God’s Eternal Purpose: Christlikeness
• [56:55] - Discipleship as God’s Family Training Scheme
• [59:58] - The Role of Human Agents in Discipleship
• [64:21] - Apprenticeship Under Christ and His Delegates
• [66:31] - Closing and Contact Information

Bible Reading

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) — > And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Luke 6:40 (ESV) — > A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Galatians 4:1-2 (ESV) — > I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.

Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 28:18-20, what specific instructions does Jesus give to His followers? What is the main action He commands?
2. According to Luke 6:40, what is the end goal of discipleship?
3. In Galatians 4:1-2, what is the role of guardians and managers (tutors and governors) in the life of an heir?
4. The sermon says, “Discipleship is not a short-term program or a class for new converts; it is a lifelong journey of transformation.” What evidence from the Bible or the sermon supports this idea? [[06:43]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus place such a strong emphasis on making disciples, rather than just gathering crowds or converts? [[19:45]]
2. The sermon distinguishes between mentoring/coaching and biblical discipleship. What is the difference, and why does it matter for the church today? [[08:48]]
3. How does the process of being “under tutors and governors” (Galatians 4:1-2) relate to spiritual maturity and inheriting what God has for us? [[57:48]]
4. The sermon says, “There is no ‘graduation’ from discipleship, as we are continually being shaped into Christ’s image from one degree of glory to another.” What does this mean for how we view our own spiritual growth? [[07:28]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon says, “God’s primary agenda for His people is not a list of activities, but the making of disciples who become like Jesus.” What are some activities or ministries you are involved in that may need to be realigned with this focus? How can you make sure your efforts are leading to Christlikeness in yourself and others? [[05:06]]
2. Discipleship is described as “life rubbing on life.” Who in your life has helped you grow to be more like Jesus through close relationship? Is there someone you could intentionally invest in this way? [[08:48]]
3. The sermon points out that Jesus shared His deepest teachings in private, relational settings with His disciples. How can you create or seek out these kinds of relationships in your own walk with God? [[27:54]]
4. The idea of “no graduation” from discipleship means we are always learning and growing. What is one area of your life where you sense God wants to shape you more into Christ’s image right now? What step can you take this week to cooperate with Him? [[07:28]]
5. The sermon says, “Without this [discipleship], many remain spiritual orphans, never entering into their full inheritance in Christ.” Are there areas where you feel like a spiritual orphan—lacking guidance, support, or growth? What would it look like to seek out a “tutor or governor” in your faith journey? [[57:48]]
6. Jesus’ method was to focus on a few, not just the crowds. Is there a temptation in your life to value numbers or popularity over depth and real transformation? How can you resist this and follow Jesus’ example? [[19:45]]
7. The sermon challenges us to “return to this biblical strategy: making disciples who will, in turn, make others.” What is one practical way you can begin to make disciples, starting this month? Who might God be putting on your heart to reach out to? [[38:56]]