Multiply Disciplemakers in the Community
The purpose of Plethos is to resource and equip church leaders to multiply disciplemakers in their home, church, and community. Over the last few months, the Plethos blogs have given some encouragement, ideas, and suggested resources to help you multiply disciplemakers in your home and church. Today, I want to focus on multiplying disciplemakers in your community.
In this context, when the word community is used, it means everything outside your home and church. It means neighborhood community, work community, sports community, social media community, etc. It would be your circles of influence.
How do you multiply disciplemakers in your circles of influence?
Terms:
Disciple = an “All In” follower of Jesus.
(Matthew 16:24-25; Mark 8:34-35; Luke 14:26-33; Matthew 22:37-40)
Maker = a follower of Jesus who obeys the command to make disciples, who make disciples.
(Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Matthew 28:19-20)
Disciplemaker = a follower of Jesus who intentionally makes disciplemakers.
(Psalm 78:1-8; 2 Timothy 2:1-2)
First, you need to be a disciple of Jesus. What does this mean? It means you are willing to go all in following the way of Jesus. It means you are willing to give up everything to follow Jesus. It means you are willing to die obeying Jesus. It means, ultimately, because of the love, mercy, and grace you have received from Jesus, you want to obey everything He commands you to do. You trust Jesus and His Word.
Second, you need to make a disciple. This is called evangelism. Evangel simply means good news. Evangelism is sharing the good news with others.
What is the good news?
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 says, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Good News:
Jesus was crucified for our sin.
He was buried for three days and then rose to life. He is alive.
He appeared to over 500 people and then ascended to Heaven and is coming back again to rid the world of sin and death and make all things new again.
Third, you need to disciple the person you helped meet, know, and follow Jesus. What does this mean? It means you need to help them get baptized and teach them everything Jesus commanded. (Matthew 28:19-20) We have some great resources to help you do this in our FREE Resource Library.
Fourth, you need to resource and equip the person you are discipling to be able to evangelize and disciple others. This is a huge and important step. Many times we connect someone to the local church, get them to attend a worship service, bible study, and serve in a ministry area, this is good. But, we need to stick with them until they have the clarity, confidence, and courage to evangelize and disciple others.
Fifth, be the responsibility of the person you discipled to then repeat the process you modeled for them to do. You need to be available to coach the people you discipled as they disciple others. They need freedom and flexibility to disciple people the way they are wired to come alongside others. They are not you. Yet, as they take imperfect action, they will need encouragement and have questions. Be available.
