Go and make disciples.
I was fortunate. I had my good friend, Dave, who took it upon himself to help me understand what Christianity was all about. He spent time with me and answered my many questions.
After some time, it seemed to me that I must Go and find someone I could disciple. I had all this Good News… too good not to share it. Right? I even prayed and ask God for those He would like me to share it with. That didn’t take long… there were heaps of people! My immediate family to begin with.
I was excited that I, who was being discipled, could also begin to disciple someone else.
Then I thought about what it meant to make disciples. I thought about what my friend Dave had shared with me. I had to faithfully share that with another… being careful not to water it down or mess it up. I checked in with Dave, lots.
I just taught them what I had just learnt. And when they in turn successfully taught what they learnt from me, I had made a disciple. That was pretty awesome.
I realised that I must stay ahead and keep learning. Everything I learnt, I taught to my disciple. They in turn taught their disciple.
What did Jesus have in mind for His followers?
Did Jesus Christ come only to save us, and yet not train, or empower us?
I am convinced that the Lord’s ultimate purpose in the redemption of man was His replication in man.
Consider Paul’s passion. He wrote:
My little children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you.
Galatians 4:19
The goal of God, in the church, is to have Christ be formed in us – that He be functionally manifest in and through us.
Recall our Master’s words. He said:
A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.
Luke 6:40
God desires to fully train us so we will be “like [our] teacher.” Thus, Jesus promised:
Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
John 14:12
You see, our journey is not going from church to church, but to discover Christ’s life and that we:
… are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
With this in mind, I took the following command very seriously:
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
But, not everyone is as fortunate as me…
Over the years, I discovered that not everyone was as fortunate as me to have a friend, a discipler, like Dave.
So many wanted to be obedient to the commands of Jesus Christ… but where and how do I begin, they would ask?
“The Good News of New Beginnings” is designed to help you, the Discipler, to teach and disciple new believers, one on one. It will help you… even if you never had someone to disciple you personally!
“The Good News of New Beginnings” can also be used to help anyone explore and understand what the Christian Faith is all about.
“The Good News of New Beginnings” begins the Journey for your new Disciple.
“The Good News of New Beginnings” is a step-by-step method of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in a systematic and simple manner. It is written for easy comprehension.
“The Good News of New Beginnings” uses Scripture to validate every concept, idea, teaching or command.
“The Good News of New Beginnings” covers major areas of:
- Salvation – what’s that?
- What Does It Mean To Have Jesus As Lord?
- Repentance – Turning 180 Degrees?
- Water Baptism?
- Holy Spirit Baptism?
- The Holy Bible – The Word of God?
- Prayer?
- Where To From Here?