Make Disciples the Jesus Way
At Bay Area Community Church where I served for over a decade as the Women’s Ministry Director, they used to have the saying, “Everyone a Missionary.” The word missionary comes from the Greek word, “apostolo” which means “sent one.” We find it used in John 20:21 when Jesus says to his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
He clarifies this commission to his followers in Matthew 28:18-20: “All authority in heaven on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
One author, Doug Nuenke, wrote, “The Great Commission is not just something we do. It is who God designed us to be….Sentness is in our DNA; it is who God created us to be.”
That’s why we feel discontent when our lives are solely focused on ourselves. We were made for community with others through our relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
But how do we invite others into this kind of community? Jesus shows us two ways he made disciples.
First, he invited them to “come and see” (John 1:35-39). Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Instead of just hearing you talk about your faith or your church, your neighbors need to see Jesus in the way you live what you say you believe.
During my years as a graduate student, I was invited to live with two different families, both of whom served in full-time ministry with The Navigators. Besides meeting with the wives in a discipling relationship focused on Bible study, I saw how they loved their husbands, parented their children, and handled conflicts. I wanted the kind of relationship with God that I saw they had in their homes and not just in their public ministry.
Second, he invited them to “come and follow.” (John 1:43) In Psalm 23 it says, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.” To know the Lord is my Shepherd is to answer the question, “Whose doing the following?” To follow Jesus means we let Him do the leading, not us. What does your relationship with God tell others about the gospel? Whose doing the following?
In Scripture, sometimes we see the disciples bring their ideas for how Jesus should use them. Remember when James and John asked if Jesus wanted them to call down fire from heaven because the Samaritans didn’t welcome Jesus? (Luke 9:51-55) He strongly rebuked them. Or the time Mark abandoned Paul and this led to a disagreement with Barnabas about whether Mark should go with them again. And so they decided to go their separate ways. (Acts 13, 15) All of us can think of times we have initiated plans that were either stopped completely like Jesus did with James and John. Or times when Jesus used our failures for good to further advance his kingdom in new ways. Paul and Barnabas chose to travel separate missionary journeys with Barnabas including Mark. God allowed Paul to minister with Mark as we see later in his life. (Col.4:10, Philemon 23) What a beautiful picture of the gospel that brings reconciliation not only to our relationship with God but also to each other. What do your relationships with others tell others about the gospel? Is there someone you need to forgive and welcome back into your life?
When God redirects us as his “sent ones,” we need to surrender to his will. After much preparation for a short-term missionary trip to India, my visa did not get approved in time. Instead of sending a team of 4, only 2 left that day on the plane. A friend reminded me that Paul and his fellow missionaries were “kept by the Holy Spirit from the preaching the word in the province of Asia.” But later, God sent them to Macedonia instead where Lydia and others became followers of Jesus. (Acts 16:6-15). God had another plan to take the gospel to Europe.
Much as I was disappointed with my visa delay, God had another plan for me too. A few years later God opened the door for my husband and me to serve together for the first time with a short-term team to Malaysia. Dave used his business skills to help some missionaries with strategic planning for their language school while the rest of our team taught English to some muslim immigrants. The trip opened our hearts for the first time to people of another faith whom God loves, and wants to come, see, and to follow Him too.
To make disciples like Jesus means we have to first come and see the kind of love He has for all people (including us!) and to invite them to follow Him too. You and I were made for this! Let’s make disciples like Jesus did.
