As with most things, it’s easy to say “I want to make disciples,” but much harder to do.
On a practical level, what does that really mean?
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. […]”
Here we have the main “make disciples” verse. From v20, we can extract three key areas.
- Knowing
- Obeying
- Teaching
Knowing
First off, you can’t teach jack squat if you don’t know anything about what you’re teaching. To teach God’s commandments, we have to know them. That means eating, drinking and farting the Bible.
It’s the single greatest physical tool God has given us. Take advantage of it.
Memorizing some Bible verses is a good place to start.
Obeying
It’s one thing to know the Bible and have sound doctrine/theology. But ultimately, knowledge (by itself) puffs up. The true desire of God’s heart is that our knowledge would lead to obedience (action).
So as we strive to know the Word, we also need to be very intentional about obeying it.
Teaching
Knowledge has to be shared. God’s Word has to be taught.
The discipleship process doesn’t continue, doesn’t multiple, doesn’t have it’s greatest impact without imparting our collective wisdom to the next generation.
We have to teach people the value of discipleship. The value of God’s Word. The value of obedience. And the power of living a God-first life.
Those three things (knowing, obeying and teaching) are the marks of a disciple.
What other characteristics do you think mark a true disciple?
2 replies on “The Marks of a Disciple”
Don’t forget to add these:
Matthew 8:18-22:
“8 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. 19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”
20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
21 Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Don’t forget this too!
Matthew 19:16-24
[Earlier conversation about commandments]
20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Thanks for the verses!