Lesson 3: Speaking Notes Strategies for Making Disciples: Three Leadership Skills Discipleship 101: Making Disciples Who Make a Difference I. ASSOCIATION: BE WITH THEM A. JESUS EXAMPLE 1. Jesus... called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him.... (Mark 3:13-14) 2. Keeping His disciples close to Him a. This was the essence of Jesus training program b. He became the school and curriculum- knowledge was not communicated by laws and dogma, but by His living personality c. His disciples were distinguished not by rituals but by being with Him. d. Before the disciples preached, healed, etc. they had to spend time with Him. e. Caught Versus Taught Knowledge was gained by association before it was understood by explanation One living sermon is worth a hundred explanations 3. The Concentration of His Training a. He spent more time with His disciples than everyone else in the world put together, especially during the last period of His ministry. b. They needed time alone- He would take them on a retreat to a mountainous region where He was relatively unknown. c. Half of what is written about Jesus occurred in His last month, and particularly in the last week. d. After His resurrection, every one of the ten post-resurrection appearances was to His followers, particularly the 12 apostles.
Strategies for Making Disciples 2 B. THE APOSTLES FOLLOWING JESUS EXAMPLE 1. The Life of Fellowship in the Early Church a. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47) b. Those who responded to the Gospel invitation were brought immediately into association with other persons of faith. c. Their close fellowship became the primary means by which disciples were trained. d. The church now fills the role of Christ s body in the world (1 Cor. 12:27) Just as Jesus had lived closely with his followers, so now the gathered community of believers formed an ongoing communion with His Spirit. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35). *(Loving concern for one another is a concept that appears over 50 times in the Epistle alone.) 2. The Ministry Life in the Early Church a. So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows
Strategies for Making Disciples 3 and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:11-16) b. Everyone served in some useful way 3. Follow-Up of New Believers a. There was a special effort to bring new Christians, without delay, into close relationships with other believers, both on a corporate and personal level. b. Paul s follow-up after his conversion Taken into the fellowship of the disciples at Damascus Joined by Ananias and Barnabas to give him special instruction In Jerusalem, remained with the apostles for a period of time For the rest of his life, he made it his policy to stay with beginning disciples His relationships deepened- conscious of the priority of spending time with persons for training for leadership in the church. 4. Created a Learning Fellowship a. Provided an environment for training in tenets of the Christian faith and life b. Got learners and teachers together in natural settings, where they lived and worked every day. C. FOLLOWING THEIR EXAMPLE: 1. Truth is caught a. Experienced in the shared life not taught through abstract doctrines b. The way we learn in the family c. The early church related their faith in the most elemental law of learning. 2. Every new believer must be given a Christian friend to follow until such time as he can lead another. a. Every Christian needs one to two close friends nearby to constantly encourage growth. No one was isolated- education is facilitated in community
Strategies for Making Disciples 4 Create an environment for realistic follow-up and discipleship where they minister to each other individually and collectively. b. A study by the American Institute for Church Growth (1986) found a direct relationship between the percentage of people feeling loved and the growth of a denomination. c. Relationships are best developed when it is relaxed and unpretentious. meals, doing things together... They will observe values and disciplines that mold our lives. Multiply small groups- Seoul Gospel Central Church (500,000 members with 30,000 small groups mostly in the homes) 3. Every member of the community of faith has a role to fulfill in this ministry, if they are trained and inspired. 4. Concentration- for those 2-3 disciples that you are preparing to send out, you will need to invest at least one-year of concentrated time together. Jesus had about one-and-half-years with the twelve. 5. Essential Practices: a. Study the Bible together, b. Pray together, c. Answer questions, d. Clarify the truth, e. Seek to help others. f. Give people leaders to follow. g. Build leaders by being with them.
Strategies for Making Disciples 5 II. DEMONSTRATION A. JESUS EXAMPLE- He showed them how to live 1. His Life Was An Object Lesson a. He Taught Naturally Everything became a personal lesson in reality. He took advantage of natural teaching situations that occurred naturally; therefore, they seemed realistic. Because He was constantly with His disciples, His classes were never dismissed and opportunities were abundant. b. They learned His way of living with God and people. 2. He Set an Example a. He did not ask anyone to do anything or be something which He had not first demonstrated in His own life. b. He was a teacher who practiced what He expected them to learn. c. He proved the workability and relevance of what He taught. d. Example Gives Credibility to Leadership Life precedes action We live by what we do It is better to show them, more than to tell them demonstration not explanation; caught vs. taught 3. He Demonstrated Service- Washing Their Feet a. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus replied, You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand. b. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (John 13:6-7, 15) 4. He Demonstrated the Practice of Prayer- Prelude to the Lord s Prayer a. One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, just as John
Strategies for Making Disciples 6 taught his disciples. He said to them, When you pray, say: (Luke 11:1-2) He kept praying until they got so hungry that they asked Him to teach them to pray. Jesus often let His disciples see Him conversing with the Father. b. More than twenty times the Gospels call attention to Jesus practice of prayer. It is given special mention during events of momentous decisions in His life. 5. He Demonstrated Using Scripture a. Prelude to the Parable of the Good Samaritan On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? What is written in the Law? he replied. How do you read it?.... You have answered correctly, Jesus replied. Do this and you will live. (Luke 10:25-28) b. Explanation of the Parables When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables. (Mark 4:10-11) Explaining a spiritual truth c. He took the initiative to clear up any confusion. d. He spent three times the amount of time explaining to His disciples as He did to the crowd. e. At least 66 references to the Old Testament in His dialogues with the disciples. More than ninety allusions while speaking with others. B. PAUL S EXAMPLE: Demonstrated Ministry and Prayer 1. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive. When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. (Acts 20:35-36) 2. The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join
Strategies for Making Disciples 7 with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:2-3) C. FOLLOWING THEIR EXAMPLE 1. Be a Role Model/Mentor a. Put your life on display b. Actions speak louder than words Your actions are speaking so loud, I can t hear what you re saying. c. Only ask them to do what you have done and are willing to do yourself. 2. Ask Them to Follow a. Have them follow you as you follow Christ in your daily life. b. Pray with them c. Study with them d. Ask them to serve with you
Strategies for Making Disciples 8 III. DELEGATION A. JESUS EXAMPLE GROUP REFLECTION EXERCISE: Sending Out His Disciples 1. Small Group Instructions 2. Readings a. The Twelve- When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: Take nothing for the journey no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. (Luke 9:1-6) b. The Seventy-Two- After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. When you enter a house, first say, Peace to this house. If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, The kingdom of God has come near to you. But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near. I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.... Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever
Strategies for Making Disciples 9 rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me. The seventy-two returned with joy and said, Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name. He replied, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. (Luke 10:1-12, 16-24) 3. Discussion Questions: a. Before sending out His disciples, what provisions does Jesus give them? b. What instructions does Jesus give them, make a list? Why did He give these instructions? c. What is their report when they return? How does Jesus respond? d. How does what Jesus asked them to do compare to His ministry? e. How do these stories apply to your ministry? How is this different from things you have done? 4. Group Sharing 5. Reflection Points: a. Jesus Provisions: He gave them His authority and power to do His work. Demonstration they knew what to do from watching Him, it was as if He was doing it Himself. b. Jesus Instructions: Vision and Purpose Jesus gave them a vision with the mission and reaffirmed the purpose for their lives (to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick).
Strategies for Making Disciples 10 Established Boundaries He told them where to go first (to Israel, not the Samaritans or Gentiles). He was telling the disciples to go where they would find the most susceptible audience to hear their message. Companionship two-by-two Learn to walk by faith don t become burdened with extra baggage; trust God to be faithful to supply their needs Give your services freely Receiving generosity Receiving rejection 6. Summary- Send Them Out a. Jesus was always building up His ministry to the time when His disciples would have to take over His work, and go out into the world. b. The first invitation to the disciples to follow Him said nothing about going out and evangelizing the world, although this was His plan from the beginning. c. His method was to get them into a vital experience with God, and show them how He worked, before telling them they had to do it. d. He assigned them work manual work, accommodations, baptize. B. FOLLOWING HIS EXAMPLE 1. From Demonstration To Delegation: a. I do it; you observe b. I do it; you support c. We do it d. You do it; I support e. You do it; I move on to something else 2. Assignments- Give practical projects and expect them to be carried out. 3. Remove yourself- at certain select times leave them or send them, so that they can experience trusting God and their training without depending on you.
Strategies for Making Disciples 11 4. Review- after they have served and led, have a time to share and celebrate their experiences, answer their questions, offer advice and suggestions, make corrections, and to offer emotional support. 5. Companionship- never send them out alone; build mutual, collaborative support, allow for the diversity of gifts and talents. 6. Selection- concentrate on the most promising individuals 7. Grace- expect failures, stumbles, hardships, and opposition a. For my students- I don t expect perfection; I expect progress. b. Never underestimate the strength of the enemy or the natural resistance to the Gospel 8. Evangelism is not an optional accessory to our life. It is the heartbeat of all that we are called to be and do.