A NEW BREED OF HERO
On the afternoon of June 18, a speedboat skimmed across the cold waters of Schroon Lake in upstate New York. Suddenly a wave struck the boat, hurling a man and woman into the water. The man swam over and held the young girl’s head above the water until she was rescued –then he suddenly sank and disappeared. Time magazine told the world about his death in its religion section for July 2, 1956. Under his picture was the caption: “Always Holding Someone Up.” The article began, “So died Dawson Trotman, The Navigator.”
Was Dawson Troutman a hero? I think so. Not because of how he died saving a young girl, but because of how he lived his life. Here’s what two of his friends said about him:
"When Dawson Trotman passed away he probably left a legacy of discipleship on this earth that will never be matched except perhaps in the life of Jesus Christ Himself.” Chuck Swindoll
“Dawson Trotman died a young man, characteristically sacrificing himself for the sake of another. But, in spite of his seemingly untimely death, Dawson’s brief life continues to bear fruit, for he was determined to glorify God. He was greatly used by God to raise up a powerful ministry that has touched the lives of many millions, including my own, and is still touching lives around the world.”
Bill Bright
I. DIFFERENT KINDS OF HEROES
There are different kinds of heroes. There’s comic book heroes like Batman, Spiderman and Superman. Sports heroes like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and new ones like Ben Curtis, who put Kent, OH on the map for positive reasons by winning the British Open. The common solider serving in a hostile country like Afghanistan or Iraq is a hero. 911 reminded us of everyday heroes like EMT workers, policemen and firemen.
As a teenager, my heroes were rock stars… like Pete Townshed, Keith Moon, Roger Daltry, and John Entwhistle of the THE WHO…I used to come home from school and go up in my room and spend hours listening to their songs and imagining what it would be like to be like them. I would collect every magazine article or poster of my rock heroes and be the first to by one of their records.
Unfortunately, these heroes of mine were not the best role models to follow. Keith Moon OD on drugs… In fact, the truth is, they were not really heroes at all. They don’t fit the definition of the word HERO.
Webster defines a Hero as: A person noted for feats of courage. One who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.
A NEW BREED OF HERO: THE DISCIPLE-MAKER
This morning, I want to talk about how you about a new breed of hero –the disciple-maker. The disciple-maker is a hero because the disciple-maker gives his or her life to help others. A disciple-maker is like a spiritual ‘Big Brother’ or spiritual mentor.
Jesus’ final words to his disciples are recorded for us in Matthew 28:18-20.
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Jesus did not say: “Go and make Christians, or go and build churches. Jesus wanted disciples.
What is a disciple? A disciple is a follower. Jesus hand picked 12 men and invited them to follow Him…to be “with Him” wherever He went. Billy Graham has said: “Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything.” To be disciples of Jesus these 12 men left their jobs, their homes, they gave up everything to follow Jesus.
Jesus last words: “Go and make disciples.” Could be translated, “Go and be disciple-makers.”
I’ll never forget the summer I trusted Christ at a Young Life camp in Colorado. I was 16 year old and that summer, a group of about 10 of us all became Christians and we also became close friends and hung out for the months to follow. One of those guys was Jim Mosteller. Jim lived in the house behind me and he and I used to hang out every day. He would tell me how many chapters of the Bible he read that day and I would admire him but felt spiritually defeated because I struggled to even open my Bible. The sad thing is, only 2 of the 10 are walking with Christ today and Jim is not one of them. Why? As I look back, one reason has to do with individual mentoring and the power of spiritual role models. God put several disciple-makers in my life.
FOUR QUALITIES OF A DISCIPLE-MAKER
I want to share with you four qualities of a disciple-maker from the life of the apostle Paul.
The first quality of a disciple-maker is HEART. A heart for God and people.
Early on in his Christian life, Daws made a commitment to the Lord to talk to at least one person a day about Christ. One night he went to bed late but realized that he had not talked to anyone that day. He was tempted and told God that he would talk to two people the next day, but he still couldn’t sleep. Finally, he got up, got in his car and started to drive. Daws saw a man running after a commuter train he had just missed, so he pulled alongside and offered him a ride. He said “Look, man, I’ll get right down to business. I’ve been in bed already tonight and I want to get back. I make it a rule in my life to tell the good, wonderful story about Christ at least once a day, and I didn’t do it today. I got out of bed, and you’re my chance. Can I start so I can go home?” The man laughed and said: “You bet!” In the wee hours of the morning, Mr. Ford opened up his heart and he accepted Christ, as his Savior and Daws was able to crawl back into bed a happy and sleepy man.
Robert Foster wrote in the book The Navigator “Daws commitment to evangelism can be summed up in one word: LOVE. Dawson loved the Lord Jesus Christ; and he loved people.”
The apostle Paul also had a HEART FOR GOD
Listen to what he wrote in his letter to the Philippians, in Phil. 3:7-9
“But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. 8Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ 9and to know that I belong to him.”
Paul also had A HEART FOR PEOPLE
He shows his deep desire for his fellow Jews to know Christ in Rom. 9:2-3
“My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters.[1] I would be willing to be forever cursed--cut off from Christ!--if that would save them.”
The 1st quality is HEART, the 2nd quality of a Disciple-maker is: EXAMPLE.
One of the first and most powerful spiritual role models I’ve had is my older brother Doug. When Doug became a Christian, I saw his life change. Doug came to Christ through church and Young Life and was discipled by Ward Ballard, Nav staff at Univ. of Cincinnati. Doug was an example in his care and concern for me. When he was at college, he and Ward would pray for my salvation instead of watching Saturday Night Live. Doug would pray for opportunities to share Christ with me. Doug has also been an example for me in practicing the spiritual disciplines. As a new believer, I would come home from college and see Doug spending time in God’s Word and prayer. I would also see him memorizing verses. One time, I was astonished to learn that he had memorized over 300 verses! That made him a spiritual giant in my eyes!
When I think of Doug’s Christ-like example, I’m reminded of what Paul wrote in 1 Thess. 2: 8-10:
“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.”
Paul says in 1 Cor. 11: 1 ”Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
One of the reasons Emily and I are in campus ministry with Navs is so that we can be positive role models to college students. Many young people don’t have any Christ-like roles models in their life.
Stan Levy, University of Illinois said “We are amazed at how few students have any significant relationship with an adult. Extended families are nonexistent and therefore do not provide support.”
Bennett, Leading Cultural Indicators “Never before has one generation of American teenagers been less healthy, less cared for, or less prepared for life.”
Our future leaders are today’s youth. We must come along side them and help them become committed followers of Christ.
HEART>EXAMPLE> and the 3rd quality of a disciple-maker is REPRODUCER.
Paul tells young Timothy to reproduce his life in the lives of others in 2 Timothy 2:2
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”
There’re 4 generations mentioned in that verse. Paul>Timothy>Reliable men>Others
Apple ILL- How many apples am I holding? The obvious answer is one, but think about it. Inside this apple are seeds, each seed represents an apple tree.
Potentially, there are orchards of apples in my hand. If I help the seeds to reproduce.
Howard Hendrix says, “we teach what we know, but we reproduce who we are.”
Young disciples will become who you are, not what you pretend.
What do you do with someone in a discipleship relationship?
Lorne Sanny says discipleship is as simple as meeting with someone and doing three things: Sharing your life, sharing the Word, and praying together.
As I think about the men who have invested in me, that is what they did. They opened up their life to me…sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly. They opened the Scriptures with me and showed me how God’s Word could change my life. And perhaps most importantly, they prayed with me and for me. Prayer changes lives.
The final quality of a disciple-maker is OTHER-CENTERED.
One of the most other-centered men I know is a friend and pastor who goes by the initials KP. In the 70’s, KP started Young Life in Akron and was instrumental to my brother’s salvation and spiritual growth. KP not only played a significant discipleship role in Doug’s life, but he also took an interest in me. While I was at Kent State, KP was pasturing a church in Creston, OH. Several times a semester, he would drive 3 hours to spend time with me…mentoring me, encouraging me and praying with me. He’s been a spiritual father in my life. We continue to meet regularly. KP is one of the most Christ-like men I know and he’s always interested in others, not himself. That’s one quality I hope rubs off on me…putting others first. Being other-centered.
KP has helped me define the word ministry. Ministry is making friends for eternity.
THE HERO IN YOU
A disciple-maker is an ordinary person that God uses to do amazing things.
Acts 4:13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
Ministry is an overflow of our personal walk with God. As we spend time with Jesus, God can us to impact others. Many of the young men I’ve invested doing youth ministry, one is going to be a chaplain in the Navy; several are in seminary preparing for full time ministry; others are making a difference by ministering in the workforce.
Three challenges or applications:
1. TAKE TIME TO THANK THE HEROES THAT GOD HAS PUT IN YOUR LIFE
If you can identify a man or a woman who is or has been a hero in your life, I encourage you to write them a letter or email or give them a call and let them know how God has used them.
2. ASK GOD TO MAKE YOU A HERO IN SOMEONE ELSES LIFE
3. ASK GOD TO BRING A HERO INTO YOUR LIFE
Maybe you need to find someone to help you grow. Pray and ask God to bring someone special into your life.
A disciple-maker is a new breed of Hero: H.E.R.O.
Heart Example Reproducer Other-centered
At Dawson Troutman’s funeral, Billy Graham said: “I think Daws had personally touched more lives than anybody that I have ever known. He lived to save others.”
By God’s grace and with His power, may we live to help and save others.
LET’S PRAY:
Lord, we thank you for the heroes you have placed in our lives. Please bless the men and women who have taken a special interest in our spiritual growth and continue to use them to touch other people’s lives for Your glory.
AMEN.
