Making disciples is not a complicated process, but it is a lot of work that requires lots of sacrifice. Have you noticed that people do not coordinate their struggles with your schedule? In the process of your effort to make disciples, you will find that your friends will need help at inconvenient times in ways that will be uncomfortable for you. You will spend great amounts of time, personal assets, and energy as you come alongside them to help them walk with the Lord. At times, it will be discouraging and disappointing. Sometimes the people you help most will hurt you the most with their responses to your care. You may lose friends along the way, have your motives questioned, and have lies told about you. You may be taken advantage of and treated with great disdain. So why in the world would anyone want to do the work of discipleship?
First, we should be disciplemakers, because Jesus commanded us to be one. The Great Commission is not just a command to give the gospel. It is also a command to make disciples! Disciple making is not something I may do if I want to and have time. It is something I must do because God told me to. Our church will be a healthy church when we see discipleship as something we must do and not something we might do if it is convenient.
Second, we should be disciplemakers, because it is one of the supreme ways we tell God that we love Him. Remember when Christ asked Peter if he loved Him? Each time that Peter answered, “Yes,” the Lord replied, “Feed my sheep.” Christ was telling Peter – and each of us who love the Lord – that we will best demonstrate love by loving who Christ loves, His sheep.
Third, we should be disciplemakers, because the more we help others grow spiritually, the more we will grow. While our motive to disciple others should never be self-serving, we will find that we will be served if we help others. God will often use the struggles of others to act as a mirror for our own lives. We will see our own needs through the needs of others. As we give Scripture to help others, we will find that the same verse we are giving is the same verse we need, as well.
I have found that a lot of churches are filled with Christian spectators, rather than disciple makers. Each of us should evaluate our own life and ask the question, “Am I watching others do the work or am I personally doing the work?”
Look at the friends God has given you here at FBC and begin doing the work of discipleship in a way that shows your love and obedience to God.
Discipleship is hard but certainly worth doing!