The Lost art of Disciple-making

The Lost Art of Disciple Making

“Go then, and make disciples of all nations”- Jesus (His parting words)

In our fast paced world of microwave church services and fast food sermons, I thought I would spend a few months writing on the subject of discipleship. I have been realizing over the past few months how very slow and tedious the process of disciple making really is. In 2010 our network began to focus more on the realities of life on life reproduction and less on church planting. What we discovered is that when you invest in others and make disciples, churches are the by-product

of that, instead of planting churches and then trying to make disciples.

The reason I say that disciple making is an art is because it truly is. A closer look at the word “make” reveals much about discipling. Before we look at the word “make”, consider this: Jesus had a legacy. His legacy was 12 men. That was it. No books, no monuments we can look to. Think of the reality of 12 men. He entrusted all He taught: His lessons, His miracles, and all that He was to these 12 men. In my opening sentence, I referred to microwave services and fast food sermons. This isn’t a criticism of any one. It’s just a statement. These two elements are what the western church hangs its hat on for discipleship. If we keep ‘em coming, and keep preaching better, we will produce better and more effective Jesus followers. Well? Have we? Just a question. As you read, ask yourselves this question: how did 12 men turn the world upside down in a matter of 40 years? I am convicted and humbled thinking of this.

So how does one make a disciple? Glad you asked! Disciple is an interesting word that Jesus used here. The greek word is

the word “Mathaeno”. It means to teach and to be taught, to instruct and to be instructed, and to learn and be a learner. It seems that all disciples have these elements in their journey. They teach and are willing to teach others, and they are instructed and instruct others. I hope that you understand

the point.

Allow me to be practical for a bit. Consider the people in your life, the places you frequent, and the people you hang out with. These are your harvest fields. They are the ones that you might want to consider a life on life process with. I am currently discipling 14 men. I meet with them on a weekly basis (when

I am not traveling). We study scripture together, we ask each other questions about our journey, we confess our sins, and we pray for each other. We ask each other who we are investing in.

As one of our young disciples named Patrick Norr recently said, “Being a disciple isn’t baking cakes with other Christians, it’s a loss of life.” (Luke 14:33)

Peace,

Mike

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Got Life?

Got Life? (Where Life Happens)

I seriously deplore milk! I mean seriously! I hate it with a passion, I can’t recall the last time that I have had a taste. I mean, think about it folks, drinking a beverage from a cow’s boob. It was meant for baby calves, for Pete’s sake. Do you remember all of those Got Milk? commercials? You know the ones with people and the milk mustaches? Regardless of how you feel about milk, one thing is for certain: the phrase Got Milk? stuck! Didn’t it?

Here comes a major curve ball. Did you ever notice how fragile life is? Seriously! In one week’s time, 3 people who I have had relational contact with over the last few years recently died tragically. They were 27, 55, and 62. Here one day, gone the next. Living and then dying. It has really provoked me to live. I mean really live. To live life to the fullest, to let my family and friends the see the life in me. So what does it look like to have life? Not just to espouse some loosely pie-in-the sky kinda of life, or using token phrases like “Earth is not my home”, or “ Heaven is my home”. I find the latter phrase interesting. Most of us, and probably all of us reading that statement have never been to Heaven. Is that where life really starts? Is that when life really begins?

I’m on a journey now to really learn to live, to love, and give life to people. Wasn’t that what Jesus did? I mean, He did it! Literally, the Life-giver. He even said that He was “Life”. To be the Life don’t you have to live?

Of all the Gospels, John has my attention. In fact, I’ve been reading 2nd and 3rd John every day since New Year’s day. John was a life fanatic, John saw life,and he saw it in Jesus. In fact, he mentions in 1st John 1 that he handled and touched life.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life, the life was manifested...”

The life was manifested! The life was manifested. What does it mean to manifest life? (To be continued next edition)