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How Do Non-Preachers Make Disciples?

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 (ESV)

Believers are called to help other believers grow in their faith. This is called making disciples of others. This devotion takes a look at what this can entail and why it is important.

Nuggets

  • The definition of disciple is someone who is a “learner” or “pupil” of someone else.

  • We need to go to people where they are and encourage them to grow in Christ.

  • This will entail building a trusting relationship with them, one where we may have to share experiences that we would rather not.

To read devotions in the What It Means to Be a Believer series, click the appropriate button below.

What Is Our Job Description as a Believer?
How Is Our Living Sacrifice a Sacrifice of Worship?
How Can We Be Instruments of Worship?
What Are the Patterns of the World?
How Are We Different from the World (Part 1)
How Are We Different from the World (Part 2)
How Do We Renew Our Minds?
How Do We Determine God's Will?
How Do We Work Out Our Salvation?
How Do We Bring God Glory?
How Do We as Non-Preachers Proclaim the Gospel?
How Do Believers Love Others?
Flowers with title How Do Non-Preachers Make Disciples?

What We Talked About in the Past

To read
Who Were the Disciples/Apostles?
and
What Believers Are Still Being Commissioned?,
click on the appropriate button below.

Who Were the Disciples/Apostles?
What Believers Are Still Being Commissioned?

We have talked about what the definition of disciples was and what making disciples meant. We have said that the definition of disciple is someone who is a “learner” or “pupil” of someone else — in this case Someone else. Jesus taught the Twelve through the discussions they had together and His preaching to others.

In another devotion, we talked about “making disciples” as implying a change is made. We aren’t just going to seekers to make them feel better and tell them to keep doing what they have been doing. Becoming Jesus’ disciples means that we have to change our lifestyles to reflect the types of lives He wants us to live.

What Does Making Disciples Entail?

Mark 16: 15 tells us that we need to go to people where they are. We need to go even as far as “… in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Ac. 1: 8 NIV).

Jesus expects us to share with others. John 15: 16 says, “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name” (NLT). We need to share what He’s done in our lives.

Titus 2: 3 reminds us of the importance of making sure those who will be mentoring others lead by example. When we work to encourage others to grow as disciples, we need to make sure that our lives are showing them how to live.

One thing I heard a couple of times on our missions trip was that we should share our story with others. We may not think we have a story that will be convincing enough to show them why they need Jesus as their Redeemer. We see Paul’s conversion, but we feel we have had nothing in our lives that has the Hollywood splash like that. We have boring, everyday circumstances.

We’ve got to make it personal. We have to show others what it means to seek God in today’s society. We have to show them how to live for Him today.

Why Is It So Important That We Share?

Let’s face it. Reading the Bible can be confusing at times, especially for those who haven’t been involved in a community of believers. We need to help them to understand.

Paul said it this way: “How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? 15 And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news” (Rom. 10: 14-15 CEV). We’ve got to be willing to go so seekers can hear.

Will It Be Difficult?

The relationship that we build with those we are making disciples should be a trusting relationship. They have to be comfortable sharing with us things that are difficult to them.

We may have to share some things we rather wouldn’t. Sometimes we may be asked personal questions. Sometimes they may ask about things we would rather stay between God and us.

We would rather these questions not be asked because we want to protect ourselves. We don’t want the embarrassment, hurt, and uproar being found out would cause.

What we think will happen is, if people know everything about us, our witness will be wrecked. That is a realistic concern.

Also, in today’s world, it feels like followers of Christ are expected to be perfect. We have to treat everyone with the world’s definition of perfect (even if it contradicts God’s Word). We have to do be perfect in doing all the do’s and not doing any of the don’ts.

That isn’t going to happen. But at times, it seems we are the only ones to realize that.

That is why we would just rather keep our sins private. Don’t ask any private questions so we have to tell you that we aren’t answering that.

But God gives us these experiences to use when talking with others. Everything that happens in our lives happens because God has allowed it to and will be used to further His kingdom.

To read Can God Use Just One Person to Accomplish His Plans, click the button below.

Can God Use Just One Person to Accomplish His Plans?

Making the Connections

Seekers are probably going to have a lot of questions. We should be ready to mentor them. We should be ready to use our experiences to help them understand things.

Jesus said, “… If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (Jn. 8: 31 ESV). His Word says we are to help others to become disciples. When we obey at command, we are truly imitating Christ.

How Do We Apply This?

Find someone who is struggling in their walk with God. Build a relationship with them. Encourage them to keep learning about God and what He is revealing to them. Allow yourself to be used by God to further His kingdom.

Loving Father. You used believers to share Your gospel with us. Use us to share with others. Sometimes, this may stretch us. Help us to be willing to do whatever it takes to strengthen other believers in their walk with You. Amen.

What do you think?

Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.

If you don’t understand something and would like further clarification, please contact me.

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