The Master Disciple-Maker

Introduction: Discipleship or Disciple-Making Definitions of the term discipleship are not lacking in Christian circles. Generally speaking, discipleship is understood to mean helping younger Christians mature in Christ, whether by gaining a better understanding of the Word of God, or by becoming more committed to the cause of Christ and His church, thus being better equipped to serve Him. Another way of stating this would be that discipleship purposes to assist younger Christians to become more like Christ. The notion of discipleship has gained traction and emphasis in the last couple of decades which has led a number of Evangelical para-church organizations as well as denominations to design and/or compile materials they identify as discipleship courses. These are usually steps or lessons that a mentor, a discipler, or a mature Christian guides a newer or younger Christian to complete. They cover topics such as learning how to hear God speak; discovering the principles of spiritual growth; how to have a happy marriage, and other important aspects in the life of a Christian. The term disciple-making is less used in Christian circles than the term discipleship. And when used, it mostly refers--though not always--to similar processes and procedures as in discipleship, thus making both terms almost interchangeable. The question is whether this is a proper Biblical understanding of what disciple-making really involves. One big difference this book seeks to demonstrate is that, contrary to the general perception and practice, Biblical disciple-making is a process that is initiated with non-believers first. Only secondarily does the discipleship process then develop into assisting younger believers to mature in Christ. Another big difference that this book will advance is that Biblical disciple-making is incarnational rather than propositional. This important aspect will become very clear as we study the model that Jesus set before us in the four Gospels. This book looks exclusively at the disciple-making process that the Lord Jesus Christ used with His Twelve. It does not go into the Book of Acts to see whether Peter, Paul or the other disciples applied the same methodology or part thereof in their ministry. Needless to say, the Book of Acts is not disciple-making material. This is not the emphasis that Luke sought to present. However, this does not take away from whatever disciple-making principles a Bible student may glean from that Book. It also needs to be said that this book does not look into ways and means of getting better results from the disciple-making process, nor does the book guarantee, even, that the model that was used by the Lord according to the Gospels will bring about the type of disciples hoped for. The next paragraph will touch on that. While this book is not about promoting the Person or the Power of the Holy Spirit of God, yet it ought to be stated and re-stated up front that outside an infilling of the Third Person of the Trinity, no amount of discipleship or disciple-making, regardless of the means used whether incarnational or propositional, regardless of the materials used, and as importantly regardless of the discipler using it, would ever bring forth the desired fruit. The Lord Jesus Himself confirmed that outside the power of the promised Holy Spirit, His own work with the disciples would have come to naught. As an example, it suffices to observe the disciples even after the Lord is raised from the dead and before the day of Pentecost! Many, beginning with Peter, went back to their old fishing practice. Not much had changed, even after three plus years of constant prodding. On the other hand, the Lord promised that with the advent of the Holy Spirit, His disciples would be able to do greater things than He Himself did. For in the final analysis, the secret is not in the methodology, but it is in a life controlled by the Spirit of God.