Making Disciples

by NEELY, E. | Category: Principles Of Church Growth | Jun 2002

Our charge and focus:

The spiritual growth of churches of God depends on various conditions, many of which are the topics of both past and future articles in this series. The numerical growth that we long to see is dependent largely on disciples making disciples. The charge of the Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples was: '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.'(1) They were to go as sent ones,(2) assured of the presence of the Lord Jesus;(3) they were sent as the Father had sent Him, a Lamb into the midst of wolves;(4) they would need a heart-yearning for souls that would drive them on though death threatened,(5) and an urgency in the task ahead, knowing that the time was short.(6) They were the few who turned the world upside-down.(7) They preached and made disciples and churches were planted and carried on the work both locally and on a broader scope.(8) The early Christian believers were intensely focused on their task. Christian believers in churches of God today will need similar intensity motivated by the love of God, an intense desire not only for numerical increase, but also to fulfil the Lord's commandment. Paul told the Corinthians that, 'Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men,'(9) for he realized that he must stand at the Judgement Seat of Christ to answer for deeds done in the body, but he also said, 'the love of Christ compels us.'(10) A healthy desire not to disappoint the Master and a great love for Him and His desires are sound motivation for soul-winning. The wise win souls, (11) and the heart of wisdom searches for the direction of the Spirit of God as to where and how to fulfil the directive. Scripture indicates that God does not necessarily work everywhere at once.(12) A wise piece of advice that I have tried to follow is to try to work where the Lord gives evidence that He is working, rather than asking the Lord to bless where I think He should, perhaps having received no indication that that is the place or circumstance of His choice.

Defining discipleship:

But once souls are saved they are to be directed towards discipleship. What is it? A disciple is simply a learner. Moses had his disciples, as did John the Baptist, as does the Lord Jesus. We learn from Him through His Word, by the direction of the Holy Spirit, and through teachers that He has appointed who rightly divide the Word of truth and break it down for us. Evidence of divine appointment is seen in their effectiveness as teachers and in their strict adherence to the Word as to what is taught. Teachers find assurance about their particular ability from the appreciation and recognition of their brethren. There are, of course, false teachers. (13) We must be careful from whom we learn. What do we learn? To follow the teaching, rather than the teacher. What will that teaching involve? All the truth. (14) The rules of living under the Old Covenant were called the law; the rules of living under the New Covenant are called the faith or the truth. These will involve showing out the various characteristics of Christ outlined by Paul as the fruit of the Spirit.(15) As well as behavioural attributes they will include such vital components as reading and meditation on the Word, prayer, baptism, fellowship with like-minded believers, keeping the Lord's commandments concerning the breaking of the bread, and a willingness to learn to make more disciples.

This whole learning procedure is gradual. Paul, learned man in the Scriptures as he was, firstly went to the desert of Arabia to learn about Christ, His Person and His will, before the Spirit thrust him into what was to be his life work.(16) Those who successfully evangelize today will need to 'learn Christ' before trying to inculcate that teaching in others. And when we are ready, where do we start?

Our starting point:

We love our families and all who are given to us by blood relationship. They are one of the greatest areas of outreach available to us, and they are so near us. The family is also Satan's target for some of his fiercest conflict. If Satan can hold onto our families he has greatly reduced our own effectiveness by discouragement. Making disciples starts here, with prayer, example, words wisely spoken and earnest expectation of a success aimed at by directing our children toward goals that will not conflict with discipleship. We live in a world that espouses success at almost any price; many educational pursuits might direct our children away from the pathway of discipleship. Mothers, as those who normally spend more time with their young, particularly need prayer support as they give earnest attention to this part of busy motherhood.

Then we have friends and neighbours who need to hear the Word. One company of believers has a sign that is read as you leave their meeting place parking lot: You are now entering the mission field! While the whole world beckons, we need to remember that salvation is offered freely to those that are near at hand as well as those who are far off. Pray the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth labourers into His harvest, but you must be prepared to fill a little place if God be glorified.

Our urgency and breadth of vision:

Both individual disciples and the collective entity, churches of God, need to feel the urgency of reaching the lost. Our time, at best, is limited and souls enter eternity by the minute. Some in churches of God have been gifted with a passion and ability for evangelism.(17) These need to be supported in prayer and financially by those in the home base of local assemblies as they go out in this vital work of making disciples. Paul said that it was God's will that all should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, and to this end he was both a preacher and a teacher, a preacher of the Gospel, a teacher of the truth.(18) The early apostles were sent out with all the world as their eventual target.(19) The aim of the disciple today must also include this worldwide vision. Where our feet may not go, our voices and our printed material can certainly penetrate. We shall be gratified as we see God using such means of broadcasting the seed to bring forth abiding fruit to His glory. As on the pillars before the temple there is hidden fruit as well as visible (Jer.52:23 NASB): that eternity alone will reveal.

One of our most fruitful works has been among children and youth. Years after the work seems to be completed and young ones have moved on, the lives of the taught ones can exhibit the desired effect, and in many cases adults testify gladly to the blessings of the Sunday school or week night class, or to the camp work or follow-up effort.

The secret of disciple-making:

The often unseen powerhouse of disciple-making resulting in church growth begins in the secret place where godly saints pray for the lost and those who endeavour to win them. In private, this is often a function of older sisters, women who have been drawn close to the Lord through life's hardships, women who have a very vital part of the work that brings God glory. This partnership in prayer is not limited to any group of believers in the church, and the church itself will grow in relation to its prayer life. The prayer meeting of a growing church will exhibit vitality and faithfulness. It is the arena where many a spiritual battle is won. Eternity alone will reveal the part that praying souls have had in any victory for the Master. Brethren also need to learn to wait upon the Lord for clear direction as to just where to work. While it is true that we are to sow beside all waters, it is manifestly true that we might better seek the Lord's face as to where He is working than supplicating Him on behalf of our own ideas as to where we think He should be working.

Someone has said that to do the same things over and over and to expect different results is futile. If the things we do are the result of tradition or bygone success, there is a need to look to the Lord for ways to change our outreach that do not in any way circumvent His will. Where what we do is laid down for us in the Word, we must strictly adhere to it.

Finally, in spite of a becoming humble attitude about what we are engaged in, saints should not be reticent to share information about their involvement in evangelistic work. With knowledge others may pray intelligently about the effort, bringing help for the witness and glorifying God in the process.

(1) Mat.28:19,20 (2) John 20:21 (3) Mat. 28:20 (4) Mat. 10:16 (5) 2 Cor. 11:23 (6) 2 Cor. 6:2 (7) Acts 17:6 (8) 1 Thes. 1:8 (9) 2 Cor. 5:11 (10) 2 Cor.5:14 (11) Prov. 11:30 (12) Acts 16:7 (13) 2 Cor.11:13-15 (14) John 16:13 (15) Gal. 5:22,23 (16) Gal. 1:16,17 (17) Eph. 4:11 (18) 1 Tim. 2:4,7 (19) Mark 16:15

NEELY, E. | Jun 2002
Principles Of Church Growth