The imperative command of The Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20) is make disciples. Jesus did not say “make converts” or “make Christians.” Rather, he said, “make disciples.” Many good things happen when a disciple is made (Once again a disciple isn’t born!):
1. Disciple making makes sure a healthy growth of one’s spiritual life.
2. Disciple making makes Christ’s disciples more aware of living a holy life due to mutual accountability.
3. Disciple making encourages reproduction. Some disciples become disciple makers, resulting in multiplication.
4. Disciple making encourages intimate relationship.
5. Disciple making fulfills Christ’s command.
6. Disciple making makes us prioritize the focus of church ministry. Who or what is first?
7. Disciple making forces us to think small and build slowly.
8. Disciple making encourages a discipler to live a life that is worthy of His calling, for discipling relationship is always associated with following.
9. Disciple making requires concrete action and commitment. In the process, it truly shows one’s faith. As the Bible says, “…What’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone” (James 2:14).
10. Disciple making is to win as many as possible, to develop as many as possible, and to multiply as many as possible.
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Discipleship Letter 6 April 13, 2008
“Being a disciple of Christ involved far more than a joyful acceptance of the Messianic promise: it meant the surrender of one’s whole life to the Master in absolute submission to his sovereignty” (Robert E. Coleman, The Master Plan of Evangelism, 52.). It is no way to follow Christ without forsaking sin. It is illusive for disciples to follow Christ on the one hand and to enjoy a particular sin on the other. Jesus said, “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other…” (Lk. 16:13).
Thus, to follow Christ requires determination:
1. To determine to serve Him only.
2. To determine to walk away from sin and to keep forsaking sin.
3. To determine to know more about Him and to put that understanding into daily life.
4. To determine to spend time with Him through his Word on a daily basis.
5. To determine to submit my will to His will.
6. To determine to help others to do the same.
7. To determine to invest time and energy into the lives of others in order to help them to do the same.
Being a genuine disciple is demanding, yet meaningful and challenging.
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