What Does It Means To Make Disciples?

[rebeccadampier]

I love the ministry of Dallas Willard who has passed into eternity about 6 years ago. He said Jesus didn't tell us to make Christians, but to make disciples. I have been a Christian for over 25 years and I have been a member of different churches from Baptist to Charismatic and around the USA and Canada, too. I have yet to find a church whose mission it is to make disciples. Lots of churches looking for Christians, but not disciples. I still go to church because we are told not to forsake the meeting of the saints. But beyond the Bible, I am discipled through the writings of mostly dead men: Dallas Willard, A. W. Tozer, Andrew Murray, C.S. Lewis, Francis Fenelon, Thomas Merton, Derek Prince, St. Francis of Assissi, to name just a few; and a couple of dead women, too: Madame Jeanne Guyon, St. Teresa of Avila. And some live people, too: Francis Chan, John Piper, Michael Heiser, John Fenn, and yes, Michael Brown, too. One thing you will see about this list is that it is very doctrinally diverse. Ultimately it is the Lord by the Holy Spirit who leads me to teachings. God is not interested in teaching me doctrine already have a pretty good grasp on that. He is interested in showing Himself to me and wooing me to a deeper place in Him; to greater surrender; to less of me and more of Him....to a closer more intimate walk. Each of these people and more that I did not mention give me a piece of the greater picture of who God is. Each of these people are disciples themselves. I can see the heart of God in each. Sadly, I have not been able to find deeper relationships in local church. I am an oxymoron. I am a disciple who has not been discipled except through books and of course most importantly by the Spirit of God Himself. I have hope that someday I will come across other Christians whose desire it is to live Christ-centered lives. But for now I just trust and wait upon the Lord...and I enjoy the miraculous way that He has grown me and walks with me very personally and intimately in spite of the lukewarm church that surrounds me. I know that sounds judgemental and I don't mean it to sound harsh because I know very well that it is all by His grace that I am where I am in my walk. God loves His lukewarm church-- I believe He desires for them to wake up so that He can generously pour Himself out upon us all.

[kathleenwharton]

I Have Learned to Follow Jesus Very Closely through Personal Revelation..and I Share my Experiences with whoever will Hear. They Can use my experiences for Help if they so choose to. You cannot force another person to Believe. I Followed my parents.. then a church..my husband..and then Jesus Helped me Find My Own Way to Him! This has been The Most Satisfying! I do not listen to other peoples opinions much anymore.

[FRN]

Many saints say Don’t follow me, only follow Christ.
But Christ is actually vague and distant to most people.
They don’t know how to follow Christ.
So they need to follow someone who knows how to follow Christ.
All of these passages command following a leader or leaders as they follow Christ:
1 Corinthians 4:16-17
1 Corinthians 11:1-2
Philippians 3:17Philippians 4:9
1 Thessalonians 1:6
2 Thessalonians 3:7-9
2 Timothy 2:2
Hebrews 6:11-12
Hebrews 13:7

[arthurbostic]

HalleluYaH! You also have listeners that believe and think on THE NAME and hold original truth of Scripture in highest regard (SHEMOTE 20:7). I agree with all except the name of Messiah.

QUESTION: As we shall all give account one day of the words we've uttered how does one justify changing Messiah's name (Shemote 20:16)?

QUESTION: Why teach Catholicism's or the Talmuds doctrine of authority over names that are not original names but untransliterated, altered names (J) changing meaning even in their languages (SHEMOTE 20:16)?

QUESTION: Is not friendship with the world turning away from YAHUAH (SHEMOTE 20:3, 4, 5, 6)?

Question: Doesn't making disciples mean teaching original truth from Hebrew and Greek Scriptures to the level that those disciples are able to make new disciples of truth, not men's traditions (Shemote 20:16)?

[angbry]

"Someone who imitates the master teacher" I find most "teachers" (disciples so called) do not teach as Jesus or his disciples taught. Most teachers today don't teach using the same words Jesus spoke, therefore they cannot truly believe 100% what he said. Its really hard today to find a true disciple of Jesus.

[kathleenwharton]

It Means Do We Live Like Jesus Enough..that someone Will Respect us and May want to Do the Same. It Means Treating Well our enemies and the Poor. It means Giving Up..our Pride..Anger..Lust and Greed. It does Not mean nitpicking on Social Media!