Intentional Disciple-Making: Know, Grow, Go

How did we steward the grace of God in our lives? How did we steward the gifts and the talents that we personally been given? Did we obey the great commission? How did we bear fruit and so prove that we are Jesus' disciples? So we are called to learn from and become more like Jesus. So let us not only obey what he said, but imitate him and intentionally help others become his disciples. We're talking about everyday disciple makers, not just this not just for pastors or missionaries. [01:03:25] (37 seconds)  #EverydayDiscipleMakers

Yoking your life to Christ, and in being in the yoke with him, you learn from him and his example. So an important part of Jesus' discipleship plan for his followers was to model for them a godly life. And that's because an important part of god's plan for our salvation is that by his enabling grace, we become more and more like Jesus. My favorite verse one of my favorite verses of scripture, second Corinthians three eighteen, which I think I just referred to maybe even last week, and we all with an unveiled face now, beholding the glory of the lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory for another, and this comes from the Lord who is the spirit. [00:47:18] (45 seconds)  #BecomingChristlike

Arrange your schedule to make regular time to meet with people. You you have to. You can't. This doesn't just happen. Third, help dis disciples know what their aim is. What is their aim for them? Help them know what a disciple is. Pray for them. Pray for them in the in these the the ways they need to grow. Make time to do some life events with them. Right? Don't just get together for an hour and a half once a week and just study the thing. You know, do some things outside of that. Take an interest in their lives and model a godly life. It's not rocket science. [01:08:55] (38 seconds)  #MakeTimeForDiscipleship

But listen, all the gifts are for the purpose of the edifying and the building up of the body of Christ, which includes the mission that Christ has for us, and we're all called to participate. But it takes intentionality. So I mentioned Tom McElroy, who you'll get to know more in a few weeks because he's gonna bring one of these messages. He said this, living a disciple making life requires intentionality and usually some life rearranging. Our hearts can be very earthbound, distracted by desires for other things, but there is immense joy in living a life of eternal impact. [01:05:54] (40 seconds)  #IntentionalKingdomLiving

So the first step in discipleship is that, is helping people to come to know. It's evangelism. It's sharing the good news. This is what leads someone to believe in and trust in Christ, be born again, be immersed, that is baptized and into the life of God, receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit, knowing God truly, not just knowing about him, but knowing him in a relational way. The spirit of God uses the word of God then to draw people to know God through belief in his son. Faith comes from hearing and hearing the words of Christ. [00:51:50] (38 seconds)  #ShareTheGoodNews

So first, Jesus modeled it for them, then he equipped them and empowered them, and then he sent them out to do the work. Fifth, and finally, Jesus intentionally modeled a godly life for his disciples. We read in John thirteen fifteen, for I have given you an example, he said, that you should also do as I have done to you. That's a few verses after what we just read, and in that context, he served them in a very humbling way and washed their feet. But he's he's saying, I provided you an example. [00:46:25] (40 seconds)  #LeadLikeJesus

But regardless of how many were present on that day, what is evident for sure throughout Acts and other New Testament passages is that the great commission was not just for those first 11, but it's for all who Christ followers, all disciples. And, yes, the apostle had a special place in Jesus' plan. Right? But the job of making disciples was not just for them. It is the central task, the central mission of the church, every church in whom Jesus is the head. [00:32:51] (33 seconds)  #GreatCommissionForAll

Well, the first thing related to Jesus is that Jesus was intentional about making disciples. Right? This is not rocket science. He not only made it clear in his culminating his ministry with commissioning his disciples to go and make disciples as we've been considering the last couple weeks, but he repeatedly stated his purpose, and he modeled it throughout his earthly ministry. In Luke nineteen ten, we read, for the son of man came, intentionally, right, to seek and to save the lost. Jesus knew his purpose, and he lived it out, and he knew that he was to pass it on to his disciples. [00:40:50] (41 seconds)  #SeekAndSaveTheLost