“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.” (1 Samuel 12:23)
When I consider the monumental task of helping a person become like Jesus, I quickly realize I have no power in myself (Phil 2.13). Sure, I can get people to do religious stuff but I can train a parrot to quote Scripture. Although we participate with God in the restoration process, we must never fool ourselves into believing it is our efforts that really change the human heart.
This is why prayer is so important. First, it is a declaration of our dependence on God to do a work in the individual’s heart. It is an act of humility that pleases the Father. We properly align our hearts and minds with God’s as we pray for another to do the same.
Secondly, prayer enlists God’s power to change a person at the depth of their soul. Without supernatural intervention, all change is superficial and temporary. We are not trying to help people just know and act like Jesus, we want them to be like Jesus (Lk 6.40).
It’s not difficult to learn to pray for others. We do it all the time and it’s a significant part of church life. But if you listen carefully, you almost never hear people praying for another’s spiritual wellbeing. It is normally a physical ailment or a particular trial a person is enduring. These are important, but they pale in light of spiritual needs. We need to pray for their spiritual growth and health as well. (Phil 1.9, Col 1.9, 2 Th 3.1, Phm 1.6, Heb 13.18, Jm 5.16)
Obviously, I’m familiar enough with their lives to pray through specific needs. But another way that I pray for others is to look through my quiet times and pray significant passages for them. I want to ask God to work the living Word into their lives (Heb 4.12). I pray for their future and of course, I ask them what they would like me to pray for them.
As disciplers, praying for others is not a luxury. It is the underpinning of all our labors.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. (Matthew 7:21)
One of the greatest dangers facing Christendom today is the theology that teaches a formulaic solution to man’s condition rather than the actual person of Christ. For example, I hear things like: pray this prayer and you will be saved, come forward and receive the grace of God, you need to be baptized, etc… Doing these things are an important part of following Jesus, but they are often presented as the quick ticket on the train out of Hell with only a cursory mention of Jesus as the conductor. These formulas can be taught in complete isolation from knowing Christ and thereby negating the power of salvation through a misplaced faith and loyalty. We begin to put our faith in the formula rather than the person of Jesus Christ. Then we start hearing statements of faith like, “I know I’m saved because I went to catechism, or I was baptized, or I prayed the prayer.” Rather than, “I know I’m saved because I am a follower of Jesus and He is transforming me into His image.”
As witnesses and disciplers, we need to help potential followers of Jesus understand that these religious acts are empty in themselves. We need to help them see true spirituality is directly centered on the person of Christ (2 Cor 13.5, 1 Jn 5.11-13). And, although I believe conversion is instantaneous, I also believe assurance does not come from a single religious act but rather from an active lifestyle of following Jesus. We need to spend the time required to introduce people to Jesus so they can make an informed decision. Witnessing is helping people discover Jesus not religion.The incredible side effect of sharing Christ rather than the formula is that we actually get to know Him better and become like Him.
Generational Ministry Bible Study – Biblical study on how the Life of Christ transforms people from one generation to the next. (These verses were compiled through a survey of Navigator staff and associates on generational ministry. Thanks for your participation!)
1 Cor 11:1 1 Cor. 3:6-11 1 Kings 2.2-4 1 Kings 8.25 1 Thes 1:6-9 2 Tim 2.2 Acts 5:36-37 Col 1:28,29 Dan 4:3 Deut 11:18-24 Deut 18:15,18 Deut 30:16 Deut 4:9-10 Deut 6:4-9 Eph 3.21 Ezek 22:30 Gal 3:16 Gal 3:26-29 Gal 4:1-7 Gal 4:19 Gal 4:28 Gen 1:28 Gen 12:1-3 Gen 15:1 Gen 15:1-6 Gen 17:1-2 Gen 22:18 Gen 8:15-17 Gen 9:1 Is 42:6,7 Is 43:3-7 Is 49:1-6 Is 51:1-2 Is 51:8 Is 54:2-3 Is 58:10-12 Is 59:21 Is 6:8 Is 60:21-22 Jer 5:1 John 1:12 John 10:27 John 13.15 John 15 John 15:16 John 17 John 17:18-21 John 20.21 Joel 1:3 Judg 10:2 Lam 5:19 Lk 1.50 Lk 9:27 Mark 10:45 Mark 3:14 Mark 5:19, 20 Mt 28.18-20 Mt 3:8 Mt 4:19 Phil 1:6 Ps 102:18 Ps 145.4 Ps 33.11 Ps 60.22 Ps 71:18 Ps 78:1-7 Ps 89.4 Titus 2.3-5
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This graphic, called the Discipleship Pipeline, outlines the different stages of spiritual growth for a disciple. It starts with a counterfeit disciple. This is not a natural part of the progression toward becoming a disciple-maker, but unfortunately, it is far too prevalent in our culture. The journey really begins with a baby disciple, then progresses to a maturing disciple, and finally to a disciple-maker. The graphic also shows that a disciple may become an unhealthy disciple or regress to “third soil” if they do not progress in their faith. The two ultimate goals of the discipleship process are to be like Jesus and to engage in world evangelism.
The Counterfeit Disciple
First, I will explain the counterfeit disciple. A counterfeit disciple is someone who appears to be a follower of Jesus but is not truly committed to Him.
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV)
“After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.” (John 6:66 ESV)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)
Based on these verses, we can see that a counterfeit disciple is someone who claims to follow Christ but does not truly know Him or obey Him.
The Baby Disciple
A baby disciple is someone who is a new believer in Christ and is still learning the basics of the faith.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7 ESV)
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—” (1 Peter 2:2 ESV)
This means new believers should start to live for Christ and become rooted in Him through faith and crave the Word of God to help them mature.
The Maturing Disciple
Let’s move on to the maturing disciple stage. A maturing disciple is someone who has been a believer for some time and is growing in their faith, understanding, and obedience to Christ.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40 ESV)
“And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” (Matthew 4:19 ESV)
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8:31-32 ESV)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21 ESV)
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8 ESV)
From these verses, we can see that a maturing disciple is characterized by their desire to be like Jesus, follow Him, abide in His word, love others, obey His commandments, and bear fruit for the kingdom.
The Disciple-Maker
The final stage of the Discipleship Pipeline is the disciple-maker. This is someone who is actively involved in helping others grow in their faith and become disciples of Jesus. The Bible verses associated with this stage include:
“And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” (Luke 10:2 ESV)
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)
“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2 ESV)
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV)
Based on these verses, we can see that a disciple-maker is someone who understands the need for more laborers in the kingdom, actively works to make disciples of all nations, is focused on teaching others, and equips others to teach others.
Regression and the Unhealthy Disciple
The large arrow curving back from the maturing disciple stage down towards the unhealthy disciple stage represents a potential regression where a disciple can fall back from the progress they’ve made in their faith. The “third soil” refers to the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13, where the seed falls on thorny ground. In the context of discipleship, this describes someone who may have initially seemed to grow, but their faith was choked out by the cares of the world. This regression is caused by backsliding, quitting, being stalled, unteachable, unfaithful, unfruitful, sin-laden, and worldly, among other things.
The Ultimate Goals of Discipleship
Finally, the graphic identifies “being like Jesus” and “world evangelism” as the two ultimate goals of discipleship.
To Be Like Jesus
The first goal, “to be like Jesus,” is a call to emulate Christ’s character, love, compassion, justice, and obedience. It’s about spiritual growth and transformation so that we reflect Jesus in our thoughts, actions, and attitudes. Ultimately, becoming like Jesus glorifies God because it reflects His character to the world.
World Evangelism
The second goal, world evangelism, is about sharing the good news of Jesus with others and making disciples of all nations. It’s about being active in the Great Commission and reaching every tongue, tribe, nation, and ethne to glorify God by expanding His kingdom. We are inviting more people into a relationship with Him.
Common Misunderstandings in Discipleship
One of the misunderstandings prevalent in Christianity is that there is a difference between a convert and a disciple of Jesus. Jesus made no such distinction. He commanded us in His Great Commission to “go and make disciples,” not converts. A disciple of Jesus Christ is a baseline follower of Him, not the Special Forces of the faith.
Secondly, it is a common misunderstanding that not all Christians are called to make disciples of Jesus. The early church did not deal with this misconception. Every believer was a missionary—a missionary who didn’t just share the gospel but helped others follow Jesus as their King. And although “mission” isn’t as prevalent in the rest of the New Testament as it is in the Gospels, it is clear from the early church’s activities that mission was assumed.
This is one reason the “pipeline” narrows as it progresses toward the ultimate goals. Most of those who have chosen to associate with Jesus in our culture either do not know Jesus’ requirements for becoming His disciples or are unwilling to do so. There are still reasons why some may not move towards that goal. Here are a few possibilities: First, there are those who backslide, quit, or become stalled, which means there may be a lack of perseverance. Also, there may be a lack of understanding of their specific role and how to become a disciple-maker. Finally, fear or doubt may hinder them; they might not feel equipped or worthy to lead.
The Call and Motivation from the Great Commission
All Christians are called to be disciples, and all disciples are called to be disciple-makers. Consider these three reasons from the Great Commission Jesus gave us:
The Geographical Reason
Jesus commanded His disciples to “go to all nations.” The Apostles did not reach “all” the nations. This would necessitate the following generations of disciple-makers to engage lost people on every continent everywhere. We are still in the process of reaching the nations.
The Chronological Reason
Jesus promised His disciples that He would be “with them to the end of the age.” The Apostles didn’t even make it past 100 AD. In other words, this commission is meant for successive generations until Jesus returns and the missionary work is finished.
The Logical Reason
Jesus commanded His disciples to “teach obedience to all His commandments.” This would include the last command, which is the Great Commission. A case could be made that the Great Commission is not a commission to make disciples but to make “disciple-makers.”
Conclusion: The Journey of Discipleship
The Discipleship Pipeline graphic illustrates that being a disciple is a journey that ideally culminates in becoming a disciple-maker, not just a convert. This journey is motivated by the Great Commission, which calls all disciples to go to all nations, knowing that Jesus is with us until the end of the age, and teach new disciples to obey all of Jesus’ commands, including the call to go and make more disciples. The diagram also notes two ultimate goals, which are to be like Jesus and world evangelism, which ultimately glorifies God.
But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
As the orange sunrise filled the room, Truth filled my soul. I had been living a lie. And I had lied to so many. I was lying to my Platoon Sergeant who had come to trust and respect me for my skills and leadership toward the younger guys. He didn’t know what was going on out at “The House.” I’m sure if he had, I would have been thrown out of the Army. I was a lie to my parents. Both were very successful officers. At the time Dad was a Major and Mom was a Captain. They were so proud of me because I was in one of the most elite units in the world. If they had known the real me, it would have broken their hearts. And lastly, I was a lie to myself. I thought, “as long as it didn’t affect my job, I could do anything I wanted. It wasn’t the Army’s business what I did off duty, right?” But I knew it was affecting my duties and more importantly, it was affecting my whole life. That morning it suddenly dawned on me: I couldn’t lie to God. He sees everything just as it is. In all its rawness, God saw my life as the train wreck it really was. He knew the truth.
Restoring the Image (Part 23) – Interaction with Others: Restoration begins with Explanation
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!” (Romans 10:14-15)
We previously discussed the role of the Holy Trinity in a man’s conversion. However, Scriptures are filled with admonitions for human involvement in liberation of a man’s soul. We are not only image-bearers but the message-bearers.
In God’s great kindness, He allows us to participate in building His Kingdom. I’ve given this a lot of thought. I’m sure God could choose a more efficient method to proclaim the gospel. He could rearrange the stars to spell “John 3:16” or have a big angel show up on your 16th birthday to give you the message. Instead, He allows mere men to work by His side and participate in the “Family Business.” He chooses us. What a tremendous privilege.
On the other hand, reproduction goes beyond privilege. The Father commands us to help fish become fishers of men, sheep become shepherds, and people become priests (Mt 4.19, 28.18-20, Ac 1.8). The reproductive nature of God is part of our original design. To be like God is to reproduce like God. This is not merely reproducing in the physical realm, but it must also be spiritual. The people of Noah’s day had reproduced physically, but had failed to reproduce spiritually and the wrath of God was poured out on all mankind (Gen 6.5-8).
So, we are both privileged and commanded to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others to reproduce ourselves. This has intrinsic value to our own spiritual growth. More importantly, we glorify God by imitating His reproductive nature (Jn 15.8).
He *said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. (John 1:39)
One of the most powerful ways to help someone is through a simple invitation. It is amazing to see what happens when believers intentionally ask the people around them to come to church or Bible study. We have from 2 to 5 regularly attending non-Christians in every one of our Bible studies because we encourage those who attend to invite their family members, friends, co-workers, and strangers.
I start by teaching a young disciple how to invite a person to the restoration process by sitting in the back of chapel with them and looking for the new visitors. I point visitors out and ask my disciple to watch as I invite them to a newcomer’s lunch. Once at lunch, after getting to know the person, I invite them to Bible study. The whole time my apprentice is observing how simple and relational the invitation is. This is the most effective way to teach another person to reach out. Folks usually come to church looking for ways to get connected (and you would be shocked at how many non-Christians come to church on a regular basis). After they have seen me model the invitation for a couple of Sundays, I have them take the lead and I observe.
Once he is comfortable with inviting folks from church to lunch and Bible study, it’s time to invite people to church. I have them watch me invite people in natural settings like standing in line at the burger joint or working out at the gym. I usually keep a few business cards with the time and place of the church service so people don’t have to remember. It’s really very easy. I was asking a guy about his car one day and added to the conversation, “Hey, you ought to check out this great chapel I go to” and handed him a card. The young disciple saw how natural it was to invite even a perfect stranger.
Obviously, you don’t want to come off as a salesperson. But if you genuinely care about people and invite them one at a time, they will see your heart and most will appreciate your efforts. Can you imagine what would happen to your church’s attendance if everyone in the congregation made it a goal to invite 2-3 people a week? Just a simple way to get people started down the road to restoring their image.
And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Part of our responsibility as ones being restored to the original image is to help others do the same. The writer of Hebrews tells us that we are to “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Heb 10.24). We are to assist one another in becoming more like God in the areas of love and doing good. This aid comes from premeditated planning (consider how). This is a command from the Scriptures to think beforehand as to how to help someone become more like Christ. I call this intentionality in ministry.
Intentionality has taken a bum rap in recent years because some say smacks of an agenda or program. People don’t enjoy feeling like a project. Being intentional is not the problem. The problem is in the way we go about being intentional. If all I’m concerned about is getting a person to jump through my hoops, then insincerity will be sniffed out and the efforts of restoration become stilted. On the other hand, if a person is spurred on in a manner that communicates love and the best interest of the individual, then that person is more likely to stay engaged in the process. Fellowship treats others like a person not a project. Ministry is not just a task, it’s a relationship.
Modern American Christianity does not primarily suffer from these programmatic symptoms. It has gone to the other extreme. It has degenerated into talking about the weather or the latest sports scores for fear of seeming “preachy.” Kiononia (Greek word for fellowship: sharing in common) has become mostly what we have in common with the world rather than the Word or with leisure rather than the Lord.
Our commitment should be to help each other become all that God meant us to be. We are to sharpen one another (Prov 27.17), encourage one another (1 Th 5.11), and yes, even correct one another in a loving manner (2 Tim 4.2). This is our role in the restoration process.
ToBeLikeJesus 