By T. W. Parker

Ecclesiology:

The Method of Christ (Ecclesiology/Personal Disciple Making) will be discussed in this post. Also, this post will cover Tools of Disciple Making. Further, this post will examine the Disciple Making Disciple process. Indeed, when Jesus Christ called the twelve, He intended to form a relationship with the disciples. Likewise, Christ spent three and a half years caring for and loving the disciples. Hence, Jesus is giving the disciples one-on-one experience in discipling others. The Scriptures say, “You were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21, New International Version). In addition, as a disciple of Christ, we must follow His example of loving others by Making Disciples that make Disciples, with the community being the intended audience.

The doctrine of Ecclesiology, according to the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, “As an ecclesiastical function, discipline is mandated by the Great Commission’s “Go and make disciples” (DeKoster 2017, 185). As a result, Christ’s program of missions for His followers flowed from His love for people. Also, while discipline requires bringing people to saving faith in Christ, it involves much more, including all the nurture they need throughout their lives. Therefore, as a believer, we must demonstrate the same pattern of discipline to be an effective disciple-maker.      

Personal Disciple Making:

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus calls His first disciples; it is also Ironic that the first two set of disciples are fishermen who happen to be brothers Peter and Andrew/James and John. Also, it is even more Ironic that Jesus tells them, “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people” (Matt 4:19). Moreover, the invitation to follow me called the earlier believers into a permanent ministry to be shared with Jesus. Further, those whom Christ called would receive special training in bringing others into the Kingdom. The former fishermen would become fishers of men! Therefore, there is no doubt that aggressive personal evangelism was and still is a significant priority in the believer’s life. Likewise, our obedience to the Lordship of Christ is evidenced by our carrying forth the mission to which He has committed us.      

In addition, throughout the Bible there are many examples of discipleship Moses and Joshua, Eli and Samuel, Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Timothy and many more. Why? Because discipleship has been a way of life for the believer since the beginning. Moses began discipling Joshua when he told him to lead the Israelite army in battle (Ex 17:8-16). Indeed, from that time forward, Moses was intentionally developing Joshua. Hence, in the book, Disciples Making Disciples the author pins, “In seeking out possible disciples, we look for those under the heat of spiritual power and presence, those who, like a kernel of popcorn, pop. Their development can be quite explosive at times. They are hungry. They are thirsty” (Moody 2021, 138). Likewise, we must personally continue to search for others who we can disciple.

Another great example of discipleship is when God called Samuel, Eli was the one who taught him how to respond, “The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli” (I Sam 3:1). Also, it was the Lord who told Elijah to “Anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as Prophet” (1 Kings 19:16). Further, it was not God’s will to judge Israel at the time. However, Elijah and Elisha would continue God’s dealings with the people until the next generation. Elisha was Elijah’s disciple and assumed the mantle that Elijah had left. Above all, one of the life lessons of this story is how important it is to serve others to become an effective disciple. We must embrace the role of being a servant first because when a believer is humbled, you place yourself in a position for God to use you; “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). Personal discipleship making requires first being an example whom others want to follow.      

The apostle Paul and Timothy met on Paul’s second missionary journey when their mentor relationship began. The apostle calls Timothy “son” because of Paul’s role in Timothy’s entrance into and progress in the faith (Acts 16:1-3). Also, as any good mentor would, Paul encourages Timothy to “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15). Timothy witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit through Paul’s ministry and servanthood. According to the book Christian Theology, “The church must display a similar willingness to serve. It has been placed in the world to serve its Lord and the world, not to be exalted and have its own needs and desires satisfied.” (Millard 2013, 987).

Tools of Disciple Making:

Jesus Christ explained that to make disciples, we must observe all He commanded (Matt 28:20). Therefore, we must read and meditate on the Word to be grounded in faith. Also, we must have a consistent prayer life and commit to the memory of the Scriptures. They rely on the Holy Spirit to foster a right relationship with God. Moreover, realizing that discipleship is not a program but a way of life, in the book Discipleship, the author penned, “Jesus’ call to discipleship makes the disciple into a single individual. Whether disciples want to or not, they have to make a decision; each has to decide alone” (Bonhoeffer 2003, 92). Accordingly, one of the discipling tools is to replicate by having you and your disciple go through the Scriptures and walk alone with you in your daily journey for hands-on experience. Hence, there must be leadership development, ministry development, Christ-centered living, pre-evangelism, and evangelism training.

Other tools of discipleship making are helping your disciples develop a Biblical worldview, assisting them with their Spiritual transformation, and allowing them to figure out who they are in Christ—also, teaching them how to have a relationship with God and others and how to feed themselves spiritually. The Scripture says, “The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing” (John 6:63). Subsequently, one cannot feed on Christ without feeding on His Words because the Spirit generates life through Jesus.               

Furthermore, another good tool for disciple-making is allowing the disciple to take the initiative to lead in a meeting or open up in prayer, making expectations clear. Passing on life and ministry skills is a must in discipleship building. Therefore, it is up to us as leaders in the church to make sure those whom we disciple have vision and intentionality. The Bible says, “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint” (Prov 29:18). Moreover, one of the primary tools we use for disciple-making is called Today in the Word, printed by Moody Bible Institute; it is a monthly booklet that covers a specific book of the Bible. Also, this booklet is free and has a commentary on every page. Accordingly, I also share support tools with my disciples when witnessing to close friends or family members.  

We also use the follow-up tools in my disciple-making process called What is Next booklets. The booklets ask four questions that every new believer should know, as found in Romans 1-8. Indeed, at the heart of discipleship and discipleship-making is proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior. Likewise, according to the book Disciple Making Is, we should “Never underestimate the power of multiplication to fulfill the Great Commission. When you commit yourself to a life of radical discipleship and making disciples, you can unleash an unstoppable force” (Early 2013, 118). However, as a disciple-maker, we must always be ready to pay the cost because Jesus said, “Those of you who do not gave up everything you have cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).  

Disciple Making Disciple:

Jesus said, “This is my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8). Disciples making disciples is rooted and grounded in the ministry of Christ. Jesus called on twelve men whom He discipled; Christ allowed them to witness Him demonstrate how to win people for the kingdom. The demonstration was part of their training for the ministry; as a result, when He knew they were ready, He sent them out and gave them power and authority (Luke 9:1). Jesus gave us six lessons to prepare disciples: 

1. He took them to a place where there was a need. 

2. Jesus taught them in real-time. 

3. Christ showed them how to connect with God and each other. 

4. They were equipped and released. 

5. Christ taught them the Word of God. 

6. He modeled discipleship to give them an example.

In addition, all believers are called to discipleship or, in other words, sharing their testimony with others to win them with the gospel of Christ. Indeed, as a believer, it is our priority to keep the commandments of Christ and disciple others so they can go and make disciples. In the book Disciples-Making Disciples, the author states, “D.L. Moody aptly said, “It is better to train ten people than to do the work of ten people, but it is harder.” Such is the nature of disciple-making—the process of training others to be a trainer” (Moody 2021, 205).

Making disciples is essential because humanity must know we desperately need a Savoir. Also, disciple-making allows us to grow into maturity and transforms us into the image of Christ. Likewise, discipleship is necessary for believers to get sound doctrine and raise leaders. Disciple-making is about living for Christ and being a doer of the Word. Here at Soldiers for the Cross we make discipling an intentional model and goal for everyday life with the intent to do our part in fulfilling The Great Commission. Indeed, Jesus Christ is the one whom we imitate because He is the fundamental expression of what it is to be a disciple-maker. Christ connected with people personally because of His love for them. Jesus’s love is motivated by His desire to see humankind live for the Father and be reconciled to Him through His blood. 

Scripture reminds us that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Love is the common denominator because Christ finished the work He had been sent to do on the cross by the Father. Love for the Creator and Savior is how we keep pressing our way daily. Telling others about His Love, drawing them with the same Love He has shown toward us, and making them disciples that make disciples. According to the authors of DiscipleShift: “The five stages of spiritual growth are: (1) spiritually dead, (2) infant, (3) child, (4) young adult, and (5) spiritual parent. If a person is saved, that person was saved for a purpose—the born-again are given a new DNA that, when developed and becomes fully grown, will result in a mature disciple who makes disciples” (Putman, Harrington, and Coleman 2013, 75).

Conclusion:

Personal discipleship and disciples making disciples is one of the Great Commandments of Jesus Christ. Therefore, whoever loves the Lord understands the church’s mission is to “Love” and “Go.” In the process of loving and going, we are to build up and train others for the work of the ministry. Multiplication is the key; we must reproduce others who will dedicate their lives to making disciples who will, in return, make disciples for the Kingdom of God. Likewise, disciplining others is the only way the church can fulfill the Great Commandment to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19). The Lord desires personal relationships with His children; however, we must be in good standing with the Father. Loving God and one another by obeying His Word to make disciples is how we please God. Therefore, we must, at all costs, live the life He has laid out before us by disciplining others who will disciple also for the glory of God because we love Him; yet He loves us first and showed us through His examples!

Bibliography 

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Discipleship. ed. Martin Kuske et al., trans. Barbara Green and Reinhard Krauss, vol. 4, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003. 

DeKoster, Lester R. Church Discipline. ed. Daniel J. Treier and Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2017. 

Earley, Dave. Discerning the Power of Multiplication. in Disciple Making Is . . .: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2013. 

Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013. 

Moody, Christopher. Disciple-Making Disciples: A Practical Theology of the Church. Franklin, TN: Carpenter’s Son Publishing, 2021. 

Putman, Jim, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman. DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013.