Disciples or Dropouts
Why do some people come to Christ and become vital, contributing members of the church, while others seem to fizzle out, die on the vine and leave the church after only a few months, weeks, or even days? In their book, Discipleship that Fits, authors Bobby Harrington and Alex Absolom have this to say about the task of making disciples:
Jesus kept it simple. Make disciples. That was the primary command of the Great Commission. It remains the primary responsibility of the local church. Our Savior’s call to missions and evangelism is much more than a call to share the gospel with those who do not have it. It is a call to make disciples of the nations. Evangelism and discipleship are gospel centric and inseparable.
Surprisingly, the church as a whole has not always understood the correlation between evangelism and discipleship. This misunderstanding has given rise to churches that produce large numbers of converts with little depth, converts who could hardly be called disciples of Jesus Christ.
In other words, disciple making is a two-fold process. It involves, first, evangelizing. In this we can say with reasonable certainty that the church excels. But it also requires establishing new converts in the faith and in God’s word. Col. 2:6-7 tells us how this is done: Paul writes, “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude” (NASB 1995, emphases added).
Part One – Evangelizing
Are we everyday Christians required to make disciples? The short answer is yes! Jesus said in the Great Commission: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-19).
But wait, wasn’t Jesus’ command given only to the original Apostles? Does this not tell us that the leadership of the Church are the one on whom the responsibility of making disciples falls? YES, church leaders are responsible for making disciples. However, this does not relieve any one of us from the same responsibility! Church leaders may be responsible for formal discipleship efforts, but every Christian still has a duty to be part of the disciple-making process.
The word “Go” in the Great Commission can be more accurately rendered “As you are going…” In simple terms, as you go about your usual routine, make disciples. So, what does that imply to us?
- When you’re in the grocery store – make disciples
- When you’re in a restaurant – make disciples
- When you’re with family – make disciples
- When you’re with friends – make disciples
- When you’re walking in your neighborhood – make disciples.
- GET THE PICTURE?
Part Two – Establishing
Making disciples is a continual, on-going, two-step process – evangelizing (making converts) and establishing (making disciples). Before we consider some ways that we all can be involved in making disciples, let’s look at some ways we can hinder or even defeat the process. John 11 tells us the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Familiar story, yet there is one part we may have overlooked. After Jesus has raised Lazarus, he tells the people standing around to “…unbind him and let him go.”
While this miracle describes an actual event, we can extract a Biblical principle from the story. Death can be taken as a metaphor for being in sin, separated from God, or in a “lost” state. When a person is saved, he or she emerges from that state of spiritual death into new life. Just as Lazarus was now alive but still bound in his grave graveclothes, so may the newly saved person remain bound. This is where our job as disciple makers can become tricky and difficult.
I grew up in a very legalistic church – many more “don’ts” than dos; much more advice “against” than true disciplining “toward”. These kinds of things in effect keep people “bound!” The sad thing is that many new Christians will remain bound, even after being born again unless the Church makes a conscious, intentional effort to “unbind” them.
So, how can we keep new Christians, or even seasoned ones, for that matter, from becoming Dropouts?
First, build a relationship. Take them to lunch, meet for coffee, or just make a quick phone call. Make it your purpose to get to know the person or family before you try to jump in and do formal disciple making. This may take a few days to a few weeks.
Next, learn about the person (family). Get to know their interests, their background, their previous church and spiritual experiences. This will give you a gauge as to their understanding and Biblical grounding. This will require more time, perhaps as long as a few months or even a year. In this time be observant of the person (family). Are they becoming regular attenders, do they participate in all aspects of the worship services. Where do they sit? With whom are they becoming friends? If the family has kids, do the kids seem to be fitting in? Do they express an interest in any ministry in particular? Any musical talents that could be used?
Third, consider hosting a Bible study or small group in your home. You need not be the leader if you’re not totally comfortable doing so, but opening your home is a great way to get to know people in a much smaller setting than a general church service.
Fourth, follow up is vital. While you probably cannot realistically begin to disciple everyone in the group, make it a goal to get close to at least one person, or couple or family.
Finally, do not consider yourself to have been a successful disciple maker until the ones you have discipled have become disciple makers themselves. Just teaching someone a Bible story is not enough. Paul wrote to young Timothy, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men (and women) who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).
Takeaways
- The Great Commission commands us all to be disciple makers.
- This command is not just for the leadership of the church.
- Disciple making is a process, beginning with the initial witnessing of the gospel, then following through to making disciple makers of those we have helped to disciple.
- Our disciple making can be hindered when we keep new converts “bound” by legalistic rules or things in their own past.
- Be conscious of and open to all opportunities the Holy Spirit presents to make a disciple.
