Make Disciples!

Let us pray.

Loving Heavenly Father,

We have come to worship you today. Lord, teach us the hidden wonders of your Holy Word. Help us to concentrate and focus without distractions. Put in us an open receiving heart. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

The topic assigned by the Diocese of Madras to be delivered today is “MAKE DISCIPLES”. As a basis for understanding this topic, we listened to the scripture portions being read out from the books of I Kings, & The Gospel of John.

Meaning of disciple

In Cambridge Dictionary – a person who believes in the ideas of a leader, esp. a religious or political one, and tries to live according to those ideas:

Last command of Jesus

Mathew : 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

MarK :16: 15,16

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. 16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.

Statement with authority

1. Why should we make disciples? – Commanded with authority

2. Who should make disciples? – All of us who are believers of Christ

3. When should we make disciples? Till the end of age

4. Where should I make disciples? In all the nations of the world

5. What to do to make disciples?

6. How to make disciples?

What to do to make disciples?

Example of Elijah – Elisha

I Kings:19:11-21

1. Elijah fleeing from Ahab & Jezebel. Since Elijah killed the prophets of Baal by sword.

2. Elijah In hiding. Lord meets him in a sound of sheer silence. Instructs him to set out and find Elisha and anoint him to be the next prophet and make new kings etc. Now what does Elijah do?

I Kings:19: Verse :19. So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat

Equipped with God’s word and promise, Elijah then set out.

Basically had to make major adjustments.

1. RELATIONSHIPS (with family, friends, business associates)

2. ACTIONS (how we pray, give, serve)

3. THINKING (prejudices towards others or situations)

4. CIRCUMSTANCES (job, home, finances)

5. COMMITMENTS (to family, church, job, plans, tradition)

How much we are willing to change to impress any person.

Simple change of order of service, Or a methodology, or anything similar and we break out.

Comfort Zone – unable to adapt and change or adjust.

There are just some people who are inherently conservative. They don’t like change. They don’t want to embrace new things. I confess I am one of those people. I am basically quite a conservative person.

Lot of men of God in the bible NOAH, ABRAHAM, PAUL, the disciples, - Had to make major adjustments.

John:1: 37B -38 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”

Had to make major adjustments to become disciples of Jesus and in turn be able to make more disciples for Christ later. (FAMILY, JOB CHOICE etc).

So what to do – Make Major Adjustments

How to make disciples?

John:1:35

Follow the example of Jesus.

38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, Come and see. They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day.

41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed[j]). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” – Peter.

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

Matthew 5:16 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

1. Commercialization of Gospel Preaching and Spreading the Good News.

2. False Prophets

Christians – Disciples of Jesus Christ – Do we portray so?

What are the commands that God asked us to follow?

Only two. The first is easy. But what about the second?

Matthew 22: 38-40