Disciples Disciple

Matthew 28:18-20

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."

Matthew 28:18-20 (Fill in the Blank)

And ___________ came and said to them, "All ___________ in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ___ therefore and make _______ 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."

Acts 11:26

And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

There is no distinction between Christians and disciples in Scripture, so there should be no distinction in our theology.

It's time for transformational discipleship to overflow into transformational discipling.

Discipling

Discipling - Deliberately doing spiritual good to someone by helping them follow and obey Jesus.

Acts 16:1-3

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers… Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him…

2 Timothy 3:10-11

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

The Timothy Example

You have followed

Follow closely, carefully, and attentively.

My teaching

What the Bible says so Timothy can obey what it says.

My conduct

His choices, habits, responses, and character.

My aim in life

He knew who he belonged to and what he was living for. Purpose.

My faith

What it looks like to depend on Jesus.

My patience

How he responded to difficulties of life.

My love

A love for Jesus that overflowed into love for people.

My steadfastness

When it was costly, he stayed the course.

My persecutions and sufferings

Kept his eyes on the prize.

2 Timothy 2:2

and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Goal for Timothy - become the kind of disciple who can make disciples who can make disciples.

Christian discipleship is a long chain of ordinary people saying, follow me as I follow Christ.

Objection 1: I Am Not Qualified

Karate Image

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Objection 2: I'm Going Through a Difficult Season

2 Corinthians 4:8-11

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Objection 3: I Don't Have Time

Who is King, convenience or Christ?

Objection 4: Seems Scary and Like a Lot

You don't disciple someone instead of the church. You disciple someone as part of the church.

Objection 5: I Don't Know Where to Start

Planning for something doesn't make it less spiritual, but it usually demonstrates how much we value it.

Small Group Questions

• Why do you think it's easy for Christians to think of discipleship as optional or only for especially mature believers?
• Paul invited Timothy close enough to observe his "teaching, conduct, aim in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness." If someone followed your life closely, what would they learn about following Jesus?
• What changes when we realize we don't have to be a "black belt" Christian to help someone who is a few steps behind us? What is one thing Jesus has taught you that you could pass on to someone else right now?
• What objections or hesitations come up when you think about discipling someone else?
• "I don't know enough." "I'm not mature enough." "I don't want it to feel forced or like a program." "I wouldn't know who to ask." Which one resonates most with you, and what might it look like to move past that hesitation?
• Who has helped disciple you? What did you learn by watching their teaching, conduct, faith, love, or perseverance—not just by listening to what they said?
• If every disciple of Jesus took the command to "make disciples" personally, how do you think it would change our church?

YouTube Blurb

Disciples Disciple

In this message, we look at what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and to intentionally help others follow Him. Through the example of Paul and Timothy, we'll see that discipleship isn't reserved for experts, pastors, or people who have it all together. It's ordinary followers of Jesus inviting others to follow Him alongside them.