| Discipleship Training Lesson #12 |
This is an ongoing work in progress. While I am writing these articles on discipleship, I am actually doing these same things with other men on a regular basis. Spiritual reproduction is my goal with them. I want them to be able to teach these things to another man that God gives to them. That is the principle of disciplemaking in 2 Timothy 2:2. "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."
Visualize if you would that you are sitting across from me in a restaurant, and we are having an exciting conversation about making disciples.
I would suggest getting a three ring binder notebook for your new disciple, print all these pages as you work with your disciple, so that they may reproduce this in the life of another.
The Purpose Driven Church Link
Navigator Bible Studies
|
|
I would like you to look at Revelation 3:15,16.
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
I thought that an alternative title to this webpage would be "Jesus wept again". I think when my Savior looks down at my life and the life on many of his children, that He weeps openly that we have departed so much from the truths of the New Testament.
His last words before He left the earth were to go into all the world and make disciples.
A good part of my life has been consumed with other things. Reading on in Revelation 3, "You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. (verse 17)
Wow, did that verse ever hit me between the eyes. Much of my adult life in the business world revolved around getting rich and acquiring wealth. But after many years of this activity, I know without a doubt that the word of Jesus in Revelation 3 are so true. Wealth and riches do take our eyes off of the real goal of the Christian life, that of making disciples in all nations.
And yet I know that I am not alone. Paul the apostle wrote of his wretchedness in Romans 7:24, "What a wretched man I am!" If this godly man felt that way thirty years into his journey, then there is hope for me. I think that the enemy's favorite trick is to get us involved in many good things that deter us from the main task that our Lord commanded to us.
And marvel at the mediocrity of many folks who do not have times for things of the Lord. Our lives are so filled with so many good and necessary things that consume us, that discipleship is crowded into the corner of our lives.
Yes, most of us admit we want to take the time to influence others with discipleship. We make commitments at emotional meetings in our churches. We promise God that we will make time in our lives to reach out to whoever God places in our path.
But week after week goes by, month after month, year after year, and one day we wake up near the end of our life, and bemoan the fact that we did not listen to the gentle voice of the Savior as He pleaded with us to give our life to the people of the world.
So one day when you reach the end of your life, what will you tell Jesus what you did with your life?
Each man and woman has to make some decisions today about that future question. That is one reason that I am taking the time to write these lessons on discipleship. What the world does with these lessons remains to be seen. I have contacts with many people in the last few weeks from several different countries. My prayer is that they will take these lessons on discipleship and share them with another and multiply this ministry around the world.
There are many good things to do with your new disciple, and I will share some of these things in future lessons. Discipleship is a lifelong task worthy of all your devotion. Mediocrity is no fun. Seeing God change the life of someone you are helping is the most exciting thing you can ever do with your life.
I would challenge you to make this commitment today. Ask God to give you someone to disciple. You do not have to have all the answers. You only need to have a heart to do what Jesus asked you to do in Matthew 28:18-20.
I would feel privileged to pray for you on a regular basis if you make that commitment. Several folks have asked me to pray for them, and I put them all in a data base on my computer and pray regularly for them.
A final word of warning. The devil does not want you to do this. He will do all he can to keep this from happening. But God is indeed more powerful than Satan and the Bible says "resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7
Your friend,
Jim
Discipleship As A Lifestyle
Discipleship Training-Lesson #1-Recruiting
Discipleship Training-Lesson #2-Feeding a New Believer
Discipleship Training-Lesson #3-The Basics
Discipleship Training-Lesson #4-Prayer
Discipleship Training-Lesson #5-Daily Quiet Time
Discipleship Training-Lesson #6-The Eyegate and the Eargate
Table of Contents-Discipleship Training Lesson #7 and following.
I welcome your comments and criticism as I develop these pages. If you want my views on any particular subject please let me know. I have not "arrived" but am a fellow pilgrim just like you.
Forward this site to a friend.
Matthew 28:18-20
 Email me and ask to be added to mail list for new pages. |