Disciple making 1: The command…
From the beginning of his “public ministry” until his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus lived among the people for about three years. During that time, he healed the sick, cast out demons, resurrected the dead, and taught multitudes. And, during that time, he poured his life into a small group of people who followed him from place to place, town to town, region to region. After teaching the crowds, he would gather this small group around him, and he would meticulously explain his words and deeds of the previous day. They did not understand everything – in fact, they could not understand everything, yet. Their understanding would have to wait until the coming of the Holy Spirit. But, these people had something special – something that the crowds did not have. And because of this, they were able to understand something about Jesus that others did not understand.
Then, after his death, burial, resurrection, and just before his ascension, he gave this small group of followers a command:
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 28:19-20 ESV)
Much has been made of this command. It has even been given its own title: The Great Commission. But, what is it that Jesus commanded that small group of followers to do? Did he command them to “go”? No. Did he command them to “baptize”? No. Did he command them to “teach”? No. He commanded them to “make disciples”. Consider, for example, how the ISV translates this passage:
Therefore, as you go, disciple all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 ISV)
As we consider what it means to “make disciples”, we must begin with Jesus’ command. Whatever it means to “make disciples”, Jesus expected this small group to carry out his command. Certainly he did not intend or expect them to carry out this command on thier own; he promised to be with them always. But, they did have work to do, and that work was the work of making disciples.
The verb “make disciples” (μαθητεÏω) is only found 4 times in the New Testament, three of those being in Matthew. It general means “to be a pupil/disciple” (BDAG). Since the verb is imperative in Matt 28:19, it carries the connotation of “to make a pupil/disciple”.
So, what is a “pupil/disciple” (μαθητής)? This noun form of the verb “make disciples” (μαθητεÏω) is far more common in the New Testament. It can mean simply a “pupil” or an “apprentice”, but in the New Testament it generally means a “disciple” or an “adherent”. So, is there a difference between a “pupil” and a “disciple”?
The standard Greek lexicon (BDAG) gives the following as the definition for “pupil” as a meaning of μαθητής: “one who engages in learning through instruction from another”.
On the other hand, BDAG gives the following as the definition for “disciple” as a meaning of μαθητής: “one who is rather constantly associated with someone who has a pedagogical reputation or a particular set of views”.
The distinction is clear: a “pupil” engages in learning, while a “disciple” is constantly associated. Which did Jesus intend for his followers to make? Were they to make “pupils” or “students” by filling them with information about Jesus? Or, were they to make “disciples” who would constantly associate themselves with someone?
There is only one way to decide what kind of μαθητής Jesus wanted his followers to make – either “pupils” or “disciples”: we must study Jesus’ understanding of a μαθητής in context.
This study has become much more extensive since I started. I will continue to study this, and I will post additional blogs in this series as I am able. However, it may be several days between “Disciple making” posts.
Series:
1. Disciple making 1: The command…
2. Disciple making 2: Pupils or disciples…
3. Disciple making 3: Paul and his disciples…
4. Disciple making 4: Implications…
Love is in the air…
Don Edelen at Cerulean Sanctum writes about “The Jesus Love Revolution“. His post prompted Heather at free heart reflections to write “The word love isn’t mentioned anywhere in the Book of Acts“. These are both excellent articles, well worth reading.
I have little to add to this discussion. A few months back, I posted the following statement by Robert C. Girard: “If we fail at love, there will be nothing left.“
“Love” is not something that is “tacked on” to a believer’s life, like the perfect tie or just the right handbag. For a believer, love is everything. As Girard stated, if we do not have love, we do not have anything. Similarly, we cannot confuse this love with attraction (romantic or otherwise). Our love is not based on our response to the person being loved. Our love is not based on our own feelings. Our love is based on the response of the Holy Spirit toward others – the same love that Jesus Christ demonstrated toward us while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8). God loved the world in this way: he gave. When Jesus came, he cared, he touched, he healed, he listened, he loved… he loved with more than his words. Though Jesus taught, people did not understand his teachings. However, they did understand his love.
Unfortunately, we are now known more for teaching than for loving. Actually, the church is known more for disagreeing about its teaching among itself than it is known for loving anyone – even those within the church, much less those outside the church.
If we are having problems loving other people, the problem does not lie with the other people. The problem lies with our relationship with God through the Holy Spirit: we are quenching the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As believers, if we are not known for our love, then something is wrong with us.
Consider these passages:
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35 ESV)
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Gal 6:10 ESV)
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8 ESV)
By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:10 ESV)
Given the church’s history and contemporary culture’s attitude toward the church, we have a long way to go to convince the world that we love them. However, may that be our aim. May we demonstrate the love of God in such a way that the people around us cannot deny our love for them, even if they disagree with our beliefs. May our love be evident to all – especially those who reject our teaching.
Work in Progress?
Last night, as our family was driving through town, we saw a sign in front of a church building that sparked a great conversation. The sign read:
As a Christian, you are a work in progress.
So, we began to discuss whether or not we are “a work in progress”. It was a great discussion, and I was encouraged to hear my wife, son, and daughter explain how Scripture answers that question for us.
So, what do you say? Are we works in progress? Why or why not?
More on discipleship…
This is not the beginning of my series on discipleship. However, after I posted my blog about discipleship this morning, I found a few other people who are also discussing discipleship. Consider these excellent posts:
- Ray at Ray’s X-change – “Discipleship: Quality Precedes Quantity“
- Eli at Invite ONE Evangelism – “Non-discipleship“
- Brad at 21st Century Reformation – “Christianity by Total Immersion“
So, what is discipleship? Are you making disciples?
Discipleship in 8 weeks…
For the last few days, and for a few more to come, I have been taking a crash course in German reading. This class only lasts 8 days total, and the last day is taken up by the proficiency exam. So, in 7 days, we are supposed to learn how to read theological German. Now, it is true that we previously had to take and pass a semester-long course (approx 10 weeks) in German syntax and grammar. But, still, this is a very intensive introduction to a very complex language.
I also took two intensive courses in Greek a few years ago. Those two courses lasted 6 weeks (3 hours per day, 5 days per week, for a total of 75 hours). I learned Greek. But, in the long run, my learning Greek had little to do with those first 6 weeks of intensive introduction to the language. How did I learn Greek? I learned it my using it, translating it, studying it, etc. for the next two or three years – and I’m still learning it.
This reminded me of a conversation about discipleship that I had a few days ago with someone. In many contexts, discipleship is seen as an intensive 8 week (okay, maybe 12 week) program. A group of people get together to read a book or work through study material or watch a video series. Unfortunately, this has been called discipleship.
But, is this discipleship? I believe discipleship is much more like my experience with Greek than with my experience (so far) with German. Discipleship is a process that involves much more than imparting information – as important as that information may be.
Originally, I had planned to write this one post about discipleship. But, this is going to turn into a series. I hope to examine what Scripture says about discipleship. I look forward to interacting with you in this series. So, begin thinking now about discipleship. What is it? Who does it? How do we do it? When do we do it? What are some other questions that we need to discuss concerning discipleship?
What of the Church and Mission?
I have been fortunate to interact with Dougald and Wes on their blog Missions as Ecclesiology. They are thinking through how the church should carry out its mission cooperatively and individually. Their latest past is called “Missions and the Local Church-A look at cooperative missions and missions seding orginizations“.
1 Timothy and Life…
In December, we completed a study of 1 Timothy. I have always been taught that Paul writes this letter to Timothy instructing him how to be a good “minister”. There are certainly instructions for elders and deacons, but there are also instructions for widows, slaves, etc.
One of the things that caught my attention as I was learning and teaching 1 Timothy was the number of times that Paul reminded Timothy of the life that we have in Jesus Christ. Consider the following passages from 1 Timothy (ESV):
But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1:16)
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (2:1-2)
I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth. (3:14-15)
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (4:7-8)
For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. (4:10)
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (6:12)
I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. (6:13-14)
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (6:18-19)
According to Paul, we truly have life (life now and life to come) because God is living and he gives us life. We are to live in that true life that God gives us.
Interesting, I started studying 2 Timothy a couple of weeks ago. After reading through it a few times, I recogized that Paul sees his death as imminent. However, it was only on the third or fourth reading that a phrase in the first verse jumped out at me:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim 1:1)
Even in the shadow of his death, Paul recognized that he had the promise of life (life now and life to come) because of Jesus Christ. Paul knew that his death would not truly end his life.
May we live a life that is truly life.
Christmas ’93 and eternity
A few days ago, we celebrated my son’s 13th birthday by taking him to see the movie Eragon. He and his friends enjoyed it, though the story was a bit predictable for me.
Anyway, celebrating his birthday and preparing for Christmas reminded me of the Christmas of 1993. Our son was born on the 22nd of December that year. We brought him home on Christmas eve, stuffed in a red stocking. The next morning, we gave him his first Christmas gifts: clothes, a stuffed animal, and a full-size football (autographed by Bo Jackson, which is only important to half the population of the state of Alabama).
My wife was surprised that I would get my newborn son a football. But, he quickly outgrew both the clothes and the stuffed animal, but he can still play with the football! So, the football turned out to be a better gift than she thought at first. True, a three day old baby can do nothing with a football but drool on it. But, eventually, he grew to love football.
As I was thinking about his first Christmas and his first Christmas gifts, I wondered how often I focus on things that will truly last. I don’t even mean things that will last a few years or even a lifetime. But, how often do I focus on things that will last eternally? As I understand it, the only things on earth that are eternal are people. Do I give gifts that will make an eternal difference? Do I give things that will eventually fade? Or, do I give of myself to people who will last for eternity?
One day, I will join with multitudes around the throne of God. I hope that even this year I am giving eternal gifts.
p.s. Last year, we give our (then) 12 year old son a special gift. We asked several men who had impacted his life to write him a letter. We asked them to tell him something that they wished someone had told them when they turned 12. We then took all of the letters and bound them in an album. It turned out to be a very special gift!
Discipleship today…
Steve Sensenig has an excellent post on maturity and discipleship called “How do we measure maturity?” Consider this paragraph:
If we are to be making disciples, as Jesus told us to do, then we need to be aware of what a disciple looks like. We need to have some kind of relational sense of where someone is in their progress as a disciple. And I don’t think that can be measured solely by looking at attendance records, giving records, or even amount of involvement within the institution itself. Nor can it be measured from a distance.
Discipleship is much more about imitation than knowledge transfer. Who are you imitating? Who is imitating you? What are they imitating?
Accountability and Vulnerability…
This is a quote from Doug Pagitt’s book Preaching Re-Imagined. He draws a distinction between accountability and vulnerability. Is this a valid distinction? Can we be accountable but not vulnerable? Are we called by God to one or both of these?
When we’re not careful, our churches can lose the spirit of true hospitality and friendship that are the core of life-changing relationships. When I speak of hospitality, I don’t mean a lunch-in-the-church-basement kind of hospitality. I mean something that takes the kindness and generosity of those meals and adds a new level of vulnerability. This vulnerability is a step beyond accountability. Accountability assumes a person will do her own work as she seeks to live a Christian life while others will do what they can to keep her on track. Vulnerability is a call beyond merely asking others to hold us to living in the way of Jesus—it’s inviting them to participate in our efforts to do so.