What comes first…the chicken or the egg? Who knows? I’m not sure, but I am sure about these:
What comes first?
- Discipleship or Worship
- Discipleship or Missions
- Discipleship or Evangelism
- Discipleship or Social Action
Matthew 28:19-20
“Go and make disciples (first)…teaching them (about worship, missions, evangelism, social action) to obey everything I have commanded you…”
An undiscipled life will demean the value of worship, missions, evangelism, and social action. If we are not living the discipled life, we will be seeking to do these activities in our own way and not in God’s. No doubt, many will be busy doing some very good things. But if these are done by undiscipled believers, the end result will be a hollow experience.
What did Jesus have in mind when He charged us to go and make disciples? What is He looking for in a person who loves Him? As we survey the New Testament, we can highlight at least seven qualities of a disciple who follows Jesus.
1. Jesus wants us to make disciples who have a firm foundation of GRACE.
2. Jesus wants us to make disciples who WORSHIP God in the way He desires.
3. Jesus wants us to make disciples who love to STUDY the BIBLE.
4. Jesus wants us to make disciples who PRAY.
5. Jesus wants us to make disciples who are in COMMUNITY, building RELATIONSHIPS.
6. Jesus wants us to make disciples who SERVE, using their GIFTS.
7. Jesus wants us to make disciples who SHARE their FAITH.
As believers, we are called to participate in His work--the task of making disciples of Jesus Christ.
This is my thesis, my statement for consideration: If we are fully engaged in a culture of making (and living as) a disciple, then the natural outflow of a believer following Jesus as His disciple will be one who is actively engaged in…
- Worship—a seven day a week, twenty four hour a day way of life.
- Missions—a commitment to make disciples who will reach the ends of the earth for the Gospel.
- Evangelism—a natural expression of having to share the reality of the Christian life with the lost—using both words and deeds.
- Social Action—a pledge to become salt and light, doing good works and building relationships as the Kingdom of God is extended.
I believe that “Discipleship” is so much more than just another thing to get involved in. I believe it is the thing. It is reasonable to expect: The more I grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, the more impact I will have on worship, missions, evangelism, and social action.
And how does a believer grow as a disciple, a Christ-follower? He or she embraces at least these seven qualities:
1. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she has a firm foundation of GRACE.
2. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she WORSHIPS God in the way He desires.
3. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she STUDIES the BIBLE.
4. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she PRAYS.
5. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she is in COMMUNITY, building RELATIONSHIPS.
6. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she SERVES, using their GIFTS.
7. A disciple of Jesus Christ grows spiritually when he or she SHARES their FAITH.
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