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How to Start a Disciplemaking Ministry (4/5) – Send Me in Coach

And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. (Luke 10:2)

As a brand new Christian, I sat in the front pew drooling as the chaplain preached. I was so hungry I hung on every word he spoke. And yet in the six months I attended, not one person spoke to me. I don’t think it was because the congregation wasn’t friendly or didn’t care. I think they were simply satisfied that I was attending.

What a tragic set of expectations. Is this our highest aspiration for ourselves and our fellow disciples that we just “show up?” No need to be involved, to teach, to comfort, to challenge, or to encourage. Nothing is expected but to fill the pews every Sunday and if they are full then there is success. Was that Jesus’ expected end-state for His ministry, to simply “pack ‘em in?”
We know from Jesus’ example and commands that He had far greater plans for His disciples than attendance. He recruited men and women to join in the work (Mt 4.19). He intentionally trained them to reproduce His ministry (Mk 3.14). And then He deployed them as the mighty army of Theophilus, God Lovers (Lk 10.1-3, Mt 28.18-20, Ac 1.8). And His goal was nothing short of spreading the love and glory of God to the entire planet. He is so intent on this goal that He commands His disciple to pray for more laborers on two separate occasions (Mt 9.37-38, Lk 10.2).

If you want to have a disciplemaking ministry, you must align your prayers and actions with Jesus. When you help people in the faith, you must see each person as a key player on the team who will make significant contributions to winning the game. They may sit the bench for a little while to learn and see the example you set. But your aim is to get them in the game! No football team has ever tried to win the Super Bowl by seeing how many people they could pack on the bench. They train the players hard and send them on the field. Are you praying for and training those who are eager to get into the game? The team is only as strong as those who are on the field, not those who are observing from the bench.

How to Start a Disciplemaking Ministry

(1/5) – First, Be a Disciple
(2/5) – Find One Other Disciple
(3/5) – Yoked Together in Ministry
(4/5) – Send Me in Coach
(5/5) – Sling ’em in the Breach

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How to Start a Disciplemaking Ministry (3/5) – Yoked Together in Ministry

And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs… (Mark 6:7)

He packed up his family, all their belongings, and moved half way across the country to join me in the ministry at Fort Benning. What ignited such commitment? It was the thrill of laboring in the Kingdom together several years earlier and we had forged the bond of brotherhood for the sake of advancing the gospel. Now Rusty and Eleanor Bean have their own fruitful ministry at Fort Bliss, Texas.

The key to Rusty and my success in starting a fruitful ministry was two ingredients: a focus on Jesus and banding together under His Great Commission. We set our hearts to labor together and learn from each another. We prayed together, studied the Word together, and raised our spiritual kids together. We practiced the “with Him” principle (Mk 3.14) and the results are clearly seen today in not just one but two ministries at Fort Benning and Fort Bliss.
Jesus underscores the principle of two laboring together when He sent the disciples out on their mission trips. He sent them out in pairs. It would make sense that if Jesus found it important to start a ministry in this manner, we ought to pay attention and follow His model.

The Book of Ecclesiastes expresses that it can be disastrous if we try to go it alone (Ec 4.9-10). On the other hand, it also suggests there is a multiplication of our efforts when we yoke ourselves with a like-minded laborer. I’ve heard that the pulling power of two oxen does not equal two; it actually equals the multiplied power of 7 1/2.

Disciplemaking is hard work and we need mutual encouragement and support. Pray that God will give you a single minded, like- hearted man to co-labor with in the Kingdom of God (Amos 3.3, Phil 2.2). You will be amazed at the difference this principle will make in your ministry.

How to Start a Disciplemaking Ministry

(1/5) – First, Be a Disciple
(2/5) – Find One Other Disciple
(3/5) – Yoked Together in Ministry
(4/5) – Send Me in Coach
(5/5) – Sling ’em in the Breach

How to Start a Disciplemaking Ministry (2/5) – Find One Other Disciple

And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came about that for an entire year they met with the church, and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26)

There were four of us at my first Ft. Benning Bible study: me, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This didn’t surprise or distress me a bit because I had started previous Bible studies in the same way (and besides, it gave me a little time to pray). A couple of weeks later, it was me and just one other man: Jim McKnight. Jim will admit to you that he thought I was going to cancel the study because only one person showed up. Instead of seeing this as a defeat, I saw it as a great victory and focused all my energy on this one hungry soul. Six years have passed and we have grown to 5 Bible studies with a cumulative attendance of over 120 soldiers and about 20 laborers to lead those studies. It all starts with just one man. But, it’s got to be the right man who wants to know and be like Jesus.

How do you find such a man? First, know what you are looking for. I help many men who just want to be helped. I have no problem with this, my Master did the same. I help people freely because I’m commanded to love them. But I’m also looking for one man who is sold out for Jesus and wants to help others (Lk 9.23). You can certainly spend the rest of your life helping people but multiplication of your efforts start when the people you are helping begin to obey the Great Commission and invest their lives in others (Mt 28.18-20). Look for a man who is not just playing defensive but offensive Christianity.

There are many places you can find such a man. Church, chapel, Bible studies, work, school, or even on the street (you’d be surprised how God provides these men). Begin to pray that the Father would just give you one person (Jn 6.44) to lock arms with in ministry to disciple (or disciple one another, a peer will work). Start reading the gospels together and practice ministry the way Jesus did (Jn 13.15). As a two man team, pray and invite others to join you. Help those God puts in your path. But always be committed to this one man. Do not despise small beginnings (Zech 4.10).

How to Start a Disciplemaking Ministry

(1/5) – First, Be a Disciple
(2/5) – Find One Other Disciple
(3/5) – Yoked Together in Ministry
(4/5) – Send Me in Coach
(5/5) – Sling ’em in the Breach

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How to Start a Disciplemaking Ministry (1/5) – First, Be a Disciple

“A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:40)

She exclaimed, “You look just like your dad!” The young barista at Starbucks where my son worked was admiring the striking similarities between Wes and me. And although he has bigger muscles and fewer wrinkles, yes, he looks a lot like me. He’s my son.

These are the marks of a follower of Jesus too. They look a lot like Him. They are His disciples (Act 4.13). It is obvious that this has nothing to do with physical appearance. But a disciple has a distinct way about him. It is the way of his Master. And I firmly believe before you can make a disciple you must be a disciple.

Jesus started His ministry as we might start. He grew and matured in His relationship with God and man (Lk 2.52). He was obedient to His Heavenly Father’s wishes. And He demonstrated His stanch loyalties to the Father when tempted (Heb 4.15). Jesus was a disciple of the Father. Then Jesus turns to us and bids us follow Him as He followed the Father (Mt 4.19, 1 Jn 2.6).

Jesus’ discipleship under the Father was marked by a commitment to know Him in prayer and the Word (Mk 1.35, Mt 4.4). He also practiced selfless love everywhere He went (Mt 14.14). To be His follower means a similar level of commitment to these spiritual disciplines. They are not obligatory habits of religion; they are the life’s blood of communications in the relationship.

Before you can even consider starting a disciple-making ministry we must begin the process of being a follower of Christ ourselves. We cannot create what we are not. And to the degree and energy that we follow Him, we can expect to reproduce the same zeal (or lack thereof). You don’t need to be an expert or perfect. But you do need to be on the path and committed to Him in order to receive His blessings and see fruit in your ministry (Jn 15.5). Look to the gospels and imitate Jesus in life and ministry. He is the ultimate example of all things including starting a disciple-making ministry.

(1/5) – First, Be a Disciple
(2/5) – Find One Other Disciple
(3/5) – Yoked Together in Ministry
(4/5) – Send Me in Coach
(5/5) – Sling ’em in the Breach

Index for Restoring the Image Series

(Part 1) – The Glory of His Image
(Part 2) – Too Much of a Good Thing
(Part 3) – We Need a Savior
(Part 4) – The Restoration Process: The Father
(Part 5) – The Restoration Process: The Son
(Part 6) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship
(Part 7) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship Continued
(Part 8) – The Restoration Process: One-on-One Discipleship
(Part 9) – The Restoration Process: Tools and Techniques
(Part 10) – The Restoration Process: Dangers
(Part 11) – The Holy Spirit: The Breath of Life
(Part 12) – The Holy Spirit: Indwelling
(Part 13) – The Holy Spirit: His Work
(Part 14) – The Word of God: Essential
(Part 15) – The Word of God: Essential but Neglected
(Part 16) – The Word of God: Setting the Heart
(Part 17) – The Word of God: Intake
(Part 18) – The Word of God: Application
(Part 19) – The Word of God: Passing it On
(Part 20) – Interaction with Others: The Image is not and Island
(Part 21) – Interaction with Others: Intentional Co-Restoration
(Part 22) – Interaction with Others: An Invitation to Restoration
(Part 23) – Interaction with Others: Restoration begins with Explanation
(Part 24) – An Evangelistic Obstacle to Following Jesus
(Part 25) – The Transforming Power of Prayer
(Part 26) – It’s Me, O Lord Standing in the Need of Prayer
(Part 27) – Reproduction: Creative like the Creator
(Part 28) – Reproduction: Helping Others Changes Us
(Part 29) – Reproduction: Changing the World
(Part 30) – Pressing On Toward the Finish Line
(Part 31) – Crossing the Finish Line
(Conclusion) – To Be Like Jesus

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Testimony 13: A Little Miracle

Chapter 13

‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ (Jeremiah 33:3)

My last six months in the Ranger battalion proved my mettle as a baby disciple. I found out who was a real friend and who was not. I don’t think I tried to convert all my buddies to my new found faith but I drew my share of fire nevertheless. As my fellow Rangers were wondering if this religious phase would pass, we were firing on the rifle range. It was raining so hard that the water would splash into the rear site aperture of my M16A1. It was impossible to continue shooting. As we hung out in the bleachers under the corrugated steel covering, the noise of the rain was deafening. Then one of the guys started to yell over the roar “Hey, why don’t we get Wood to pray that the rain would stop since he’s all religious now…” Before he could finish his sentence, the rain suddenly and completely stopped. It was like someone snapped their fingers and the clouds obeyed the command immediately. It happened so quickly there was silence in the bleachers (and a little fear). My status as a the Jesus Freak changed to a status of one who had genuinely met God. This little miracle bolstered my faith in Christ and I continued to grow.

Testimony 1: In the Beginning
Testimony 2: Jesus is Watching You
Testimony 3: Paratrooper Religion
Testimony 4: Afraid of being Left Behind
Testimony 5: The Geographical Solution
Testimony 6: The Geographical Solution Fails
Testimony 7: The Seed is Planted
Testimony 8: Spiritual Melee
Testimony 9: Seeing the Light
Testimony 10: Receiving God’s Plan for My Life
Testimony 11: A New Creature
Testimony 12: What about You?
Testimony 13: A Little Miracle
Testimony 14: An Apostle to the Soldier
Testimony 15: First Steps toward Growth
Testimony 16: Being Discipled

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Restoring the Image (Conclusion) – To Be Like Jesus

“A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:40)

As I was having my quiet time this morning, I was reminded once again how we are to live our lives. We are to be connected to the Vine and apart from it we can do nothing (Jn 15.4-5). And, if we are connected to the Vine, we will bear much fruit and glorify the Father (Jn 15.8). We will accomplish our original design: we return to the image of God. Jesus is the only way to accomplish such a monumental and magnificent undertaking (Jn 14.6).

My objective in this series has been to illuminate three basic biblical concepts: first, we are created in His image for His glory, second, we are trying to restore that broken image ravaged by our rebellion, and third, the only way to do so is by embracing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior through discipleship; becoming like Him (Lk 6.40). There are so many good things that distract us from the one great pursuit. My prayer for you and I is that we will “fix our eyes on Jesus” (Heb 12.2). And in doing so, we will become the people we were meant to be and bring God the glory He is due.

Follow Jesus!

(Part 1) – The Glory of His Image

(Part 2) – Too Much of a Good Thing

(Part 3) – We Need a Savior

(Part 4) – The Restoration Process: The Father

(Part 5) – The Restoration Process: The Son

(Part 6) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship

(Part 7) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship Continued

(Part 8) – The Restoration Process: One-on-One Discipleship

(Part 9) – The Restoration Process: Tools and Techniques

(Part 10) – The Restoration Process: Dangers

(Part 11) – The Holy Spirit: The Breath of Life

(Part 12) – The Holy Spirit: Indwelling

(Part 13) – The Holy Spirit: His Work

(Part 14) – The Word of God: Essential

(Part 15) – The Word of God: Essential but Neglected

(Part 16) – The Word of God: Setting the Heart

(Part 17) – The Word of God: Intake

(Part 18) – The Word of God: Application

(Part 19) – The Word of God: Passing it On

(Part 20) – Interaction with Others: The Image is not and Island

(Part 21) – Interaction with Others: Intentional Co-Restoration

(Part 22) – Interaction with Others: An Invitation to Restoration

(Part 23) – Interaction with Others: Restoration begins with Explanation

(Part 24) – An Evangelistic Obstacle to Following Jesus

(Part 25) – The Transforming Power of Prayer

(Part 26) – It’s Me, O Lord Standing in the Need of Prayer

(Part 27) – Reproduction: Creative like the Creator

(Part 28) – Reproduction: Helping Others Changes Us

(Part 29) – Reproduction: Changing the World

(Part 30) – Pressing On Toward the Finish Line

(Part 31) – Crossing the Finish Line

(Conclusion) – To Be Like Jesus

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Restoring the Image (Part 31) – Crossing the Finish Line

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
(Philippians 3:20-21)

Discipleship is everything and everything is discipleship. This was my motto as one of the young pastors in a large church. Some of my fellow pastors were squeamish with the statement thinking it too narrow and leaving out other essential ministries. One day one of the more senior pastors had enough of my rants and challenged me. “So, if discipleship is everything, how about a funeral, what do you think about that?!” I replied without hesitation, “That’s graduation day baby! And I certainly hope you preach the gospel to those who attend.”
And indeed it is. It is the end of the restoration process where all that is lacking is made full and we become all that God intended us to be. We call it glorification. We are perfected and will live with God for all eternity. All the years of following the example of Jesus and becoming like Him are brought to a crescendo and in the twinkling of an eye, we are made perfect. (Rom 8:17,30, 1 Cor 15:52-53, 2 Cor 5:2-4, Job 19:25-26, Jn 6:39-40)

My fellow pastor’s misconception that discipleship was merely a program or appendage of Christian living caused him to compartmentalize discipleship into just another ministry. Ministry is helping people come to and follow Jesus. He did not see the big picture. If following Jesus is the restoration process and this is the definition of discipleship, then discipleship is everything and everything is discipleship (or, following Jesus is everything and everything is following Jesus). This is true for us from beginning to end, from birth to death, from conversion to glorification.

So in the end the image will be completely restored through the person and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is our future finish line and we persevere patiently for that glorious day.

(Part 1) – The Glory of His Image

(Part 2) – Too Much of a Good Thing

(Part 3) – We Need a Savior

(Part 4) – The Restoration Process: The Father

(Part 5) – The Restoration Process: The Son

(Part 6) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship

(Part 7) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship Continued

(Part 8) – The Restoration Process: One-on-One Discipleship

(Part 9) – The Restoration Process: Tools and Techniques

(Part 10) – The Restoration Process: Dangers

(Part 11) – The Holy Spirit: The Breath of Life

(Part 12) – The Holy Spirit: Indwelling

(Part 13) – The Holy Spirit: His Work

(Part 14) – The Word of God: Essential

(Part 15) – The Word of God: Essential but Neglected

(Part 16) – The Word of God: Setting the Heart

(Part 17) – The Word of God: Intake

(Part 18) – The Word of God: Application

(Part 19) – The Word of God: Passing it On

(Part 20) – Interaction with Others: The Image is not and Island

(Part 21) – Interaction with Others: Intentional Co-Restoration

(Part 22) – Interaction with Others: An Invitation to Restoration

(Part 23) – Interaction with Others: Restoration begins with Explanation

(Part 24) – An Evangelistic Obstacle to Following Jesus

(Part 25) – The Transforming Power of Prayer

(Part 26) – It’s Me, O Lord Standing in the Need of Prayer

(Part 27) – Reproduction: Creative like the Creator

(Part 28) – Reproduction: Helping Others Changes Us

(Part 29) – Reproduction: Changing the World

(Part 30) – Pressing On Toward the Finish Line

(Part 31) – Crossing the Finish Line

(Conclusion) – To Be Like Jesus

Testimony 12: What about You?

Chapter 12

For “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” 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 10:13-15)

Before I continue with my life, let me ask about yours. Have you come to the point where you are sick or tired or sick and tired? Are you ready to acknowledge to God, “OK, I’ve made a big mess of this thing.” Maybe life is going grand and you just recognize you are missing something; and in your heart, you know that something is someone: God. You need Christ. Perhaps this has never made sense and now it does. Or you didn’t have enough data to make a sound decision to follow Christ and now you do.

Well, here it is in a nutshell: God loves you. But, we have stiff-armed God with our acts of wrongdoing. We have pushed Him away. Those acts of rebellion have caused us to die spiritually and ultimately we will be judged for them. There is a high price for our rebellion: judgment and death! But, God wants to bring us back into His love by offering to pay the price of rebellion for us. He did that by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our stead (on a cross). Then to prove that the price was fully paid, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. Jesus is God’s gift to us to make things right between Him and us. We only need to trust in this gift by following Him and receiving His love and forgiveness. We turn from our way of life and embrace Jesus’ way of life. As a result of receiving God’s gift we have eternal life with Christ and abundant life here on earth.

In your heart, you know this is right! If you have never received Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, let me encourage you to start following Jesus today. You can express this to God by praying a prayer like this…

God, I know I’ve messed up and I’m separated from you. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died for me to pay the price for my sins. Forgive me for the things I’ve done wrong and help me to change my life for Your glory. I want You to change my life. I want to follow Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I accept the free gift of both eternal and abundant life through Your Son. In Christ’s name I pray, AMEN.

Let me recommend the best way to get to know Jesus. Get a Bible and begin reading a chapter daily in the Gospel of Mark. Read for the purpose of getting to know Him as both your Savior and your Lord. Pray as you read for God to open your spiritual eyes and ears to what He wants you to know and do. When you finish Mark go to another Gospel and continue reading all the way through all 4 Gospels until you finish. Then drop me a line and I’ll guide you into an effective reading program to meet your needs in getting to know the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Testimony 1: In the Beginning

Testimony 2: Jesus is Watching You

Testimony 3: Paratrooper Religion

Testimony 4: Afraid of being Left Behind

Testimony 5: The Geographical Solution

Testimony 6: The Geographical Solution Fails

Testimony 7: The Seed is Planted

Testimony 8: Spiritual Melee

Testimony 9: Seeing the Light

Testimony 10: Receiving God’s Plan for My Life

Testimony 11: A New Creature

Testimony 12: What about You?

Testimony 13: A Little Miracle

Testimony 14: An Apostle to the Soldier

Testimony 15: First Steps toward Growth

Testimony 16: Being Discipled

Testimony 17: Life Time Mentor

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Illustration – Moses / Joshua Principle

The life of Moses demonstrates how to be a powerful influence in another man’s life. Moses had a man name Joshua. He spent time with him and eventually Joshua became a man of God like Moses. Moses’ relationship with Joshua produced an incredible leader for a nation. But the questions remains, who was Joshua’s man and what happened to the nation after Joshua?

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