Making disciples - the importance of mentoring ministry

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus tells the eleven disciples to:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"

This command, which would come to be known as the Great Commission, would become a driving factor in the growth of the early church. Of course, in order to make disciples, we must first proclaim "repentance and forgiveness of sins... to all nations" (Luke 24:47), remembering that "we are ambassadors for Christ... implor[ing people] on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:29).

But what then?

How do we actually go about the process of making a disciple? Is it like making a cake?

Once someone repents and places their faith in Christ, how do we actually go about the process of making a disciple? Is it like making a cake? "Take one new believer, add a pound of church, a cup of Bible, stir vigorously and bake at 350 degrees"?

The word "disciple" means "one who learns", and Jesus goes on in Matt. 28:20 to tell the eleven precisely what these new disciples should learn; the eleven are to "teach them to observe all that I have commanded you." In doing so, Jesus turns His eleven remaining disciples ("one who learns") into apostles ("messenger, one who is sent").

This time, we're advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ instead of silky clean har.

Since the very last thing that Jesus has taught the eleven is to "go... and make disciples", this process becomes self-replicating. Like that annoying shampoo commercial from the 70s... "and they'll tell two friends, and they'll tell two friends, and so on, and so on." Only this time, we're advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ instead of silky clean hair.

Believer, have you ever thought about it that way? You learned about Christ from a friend, a family member, a pastor... and they learned about Christ from someone

You can trace the teaching you've learned all the way back to that mountain in Galilee!

before them... and so on, and so on, and so on... you can trace the teaching you've learned all the way back to that mountain in Galilee shortly after our Saviour's resurrection! No wonder "we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses" (Heb. 12:1), they're gathered to watch the fruit of their obedience to God!

But now it's your turn. Your turn to teach a new disciple "all that [Jesus has] commanded you." Find someone in your church, maybe someone in your Bible study or small group, who is a newer believer, someone who is still drinking spiritual milk (1 Cor. 3:2, Heb. 5:12-13) and come alongside and make them a disciple.

Or perhaps you're a new believer, and you need someone to come alongside you and help teach you "all that [Jesus] commanded". You're new to this road, grateful to God for His reaching out and saving you, but you're still confused by His word and don't know how to grow. Find someone in your church, someone who would be willing to mentor you, so that you will become "acquainted with the teaching about righteousness" and able to eat "solid food", being able to "distinguish good from evil" (Heb. 5:11-14).

Along those lines, I've been blessed to participate in a program at our church called Partners. It's a deep and challenging curriculum designed for one-on-one discipleship like what I've just been describing. I went through it - as the learning partner - last summer. Even though I've been a Christian for many years, I grew tremendously during my time in the program. Now, I'm getting to go through it again - this time as a teaching partner, helping a new brother in Christ to grow in his understanding, knowledge and love of God and His word. It is a constant reminder to me of God's grace to be able to be used by Him in this way, and I pray that He will continue to work effectively through me as I play my part in "making disciples".

Questions for discussion here in the blog:

• How long have you been a Christian?
• Have you ever come alongside a new believer and discipled him or her? Tell us about how God worked through you and the growth you saw in your partner.
  
• If you've been a Christian for awhile and you're no longer just "drinking milk", but you haven't yet "made disciples",why not? Share with us your commitment to do so and keep us posted on your progress.
  

One final note: for those of my readers who attend CBC, I would strongly encourage you to join the Partners program if you haven't already. Whether you've been a Christian for a short time, or most of your life, I assure you that you'll grow in your walk with Christ as a result. To my other readers, the curriculum that I've used is available to anyone - you can read about it here, and order it online here.