Dear family
If I would ask you: What is your understanding of disciple making and how do you get followers of Jesus to make disciple making their lifestyle?, I wonder what your answer would be. Maybe it would be a good devotional exercise for you and a partner to answer this and share that with each other. I bet answers would not be the same.
A while ago a few leaders in Kingfisher asked this question for themselves again and shared it with each other. We discovered that everyone has their own approach and emphasis in their answers and this originates in personal experience, knowledge and gifting. But the essential discovery was that we have a shared focus regarding the ingredients of disciple making.
Here are my thoughts. Can you relate to this?
● Disciple making takes place on a multi-dimensional level. Disciple making takes place through a rich variety of ways.
It happens primarily in a family setting – where people live together – spend a lot of time with each other in all dimensions of our lives – as Jesus had with His disciples. It’s the best atmosphere for disciple making, but it’s only one dimension. We must motivate and mobilise people towards this atmosphere, but because the life of Jesus inside us remains the actual disciple maker, disciple making also takes place through preaching and teaching, by addressing need, by randomly speaking into someone’s life, by reading a book or watching a movie, by walking in nature, etc. Jesus himself still disciples people through different events and relationships throughout your life. This is more or less what I mean by disciple making that is multi-dimensional.
● Disciple making takes place through the life of Jesus in you/Jesus makes disciples through His Body.
The life of Jesus is strongly revealed today in the atmosphere of relationship – which is only truly life-changing in the smaller group setting – spiritual family. Here, too, we must be careful not to view disciple making as primarily one-on-one – even though it is also necessary and precious. If only you disciple someone alone, the danger is that someone will become like you and not like Jesus. Jesus makes disciples through His body. Disciple making therefore takes place where people follow Jesus together, do what He says and live the one-another life with each other.
● Relationship is the primary vehicle for disciple making.
● Disciple making is a process.
● Community life plays the most powerful role – people on journey together.
● The Word of God is central to disciple making. Firsthand revelation (hearing for yourself), driven by the Holy Spirit is of utmost importance.
● Obedience (practical application and practice) of God’s Word is cardinal.
Disciple making takes place best where the life of Jesus (His values, character and culture) flows between people, from one person to another in the atmosphere of relationship, the Word and the Holy Spirit.
I believe much more can be said and in various ways. This was on my heart.
Does it help you? What would you add?
Together we discover and empower!
Greetings and Love
Your brother
dirk