Go, Therefore,...and Make Disciples

Mark 3:14; John 17:6-19

This is the sixth in a series of eight sermons based on Greg Ogden’s book Essential Guide to Becoming a Disciple: Eight Sessions for Mentoring and Discipleship.

Several months ago I gave a sermon on discipleship and mentioned the most unheeded book that most pastors have on their shelves – The Master Plan of Evangelism by Dr. Robert Coleman.  Billy Graham fully endorsed the book and even wrote the forward to it.  Coleman makes the audacious claim that maybe, just maybe, Jesus knew what he was doing when it came to how the Kingdom of God was to be spread throughout the world.  Jesus wasn’t just the source of the content of the Kingdom; he also had a method for spreading it.  Therefore, since Jesus, had a method, a plan, it would be prudent if we tried it. 

What was the plan?  Was it to be confrontational with the religious authorities of his day?  If he was trying to be a successful prophet, then in the end that backfired on him.  It only served to get him arrested and crucified for treason.  Was it amassing crowds with provocative teachings and miracle workings?  If that was the case, then everyone in the crowds had to be pretty good at understanding the things of God told in vague parables.  The Gospels tell us that the crowds and even the disciples were pretty dense when it came to understanding him.  As far as the miracles, particularly the exorcisms and the healings, the Gospels tell us that even though these were wonderful signs of the Kingdom of God, they did little to help people understand who Jesus was and what he was there to do.  In fact, the Gospels tell us that nearing the end of his ministry Jesus lost patience with the people for their miracle seeking and he all but stopped doing them. 

So, if Jesus method was to change the world be trying to reach and convert the masses, then according to the Gospels he failed miserably.  Dr. Coleman points out that large-scale efforts to convert the masses was not Jesus method, nor were ministries to the needy or social justice initiatives.  Trying to implant himself and his kingdom into the fickleness of crowds was not his way.

Jesus method was to prayerfully call twelve to himself so that they could be with him.  The reason that allegiance to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour has persisted for nearly 2,000 years and that you and I are his disciples today was that Jesus built a close relationship with twelve people and particularly three of them.  Jesus called these twelve to himself to be with him night and day so that they could get to know him and become like him.  By this method Jesus changed the world and will continue to change the world until he returns. Mass outbreaks of Christian faith have erupted over the centuries and usually piddled out within a generation.  It is through relationships based on Jesus in small groupings that the church has persisted. 

Billy Graham knew this and that is why he endorsed and wrote the forward to The Master Plan of Evangelism.  I can attest to that.  Back in my West Virginia days the Baptist church wanted to have someone from the Billy Graham ministry come to the area to do a crusade.  The Billy Graham folks were adamant that they would not come unless the local churches provided people who would build a relationship with those who came forward at the altar call.  The Baptists presented their request to the ministerial association and contacted the area churches as well.  The ministers took it back to their church leadership.  In the end, the Billy Graham Association did not come to our town.  The area Christians simply were not ready to disciple new Christians. 

Billy Graham realized that it does more harm than good to call people to Jesus if there is no one there to disciple them, to build a relationship with them in the name of Jesus to support and teach them.  Many evangelistic crusade organizations thought it was enough just to give a new believer a list of local churches for them to go and find one.  Follow-up statics have decisively shown that most people who make a commitment to Christ at an evangelistic crusade will not seek a church on their own and those who do find that the churches seem cliquish and don’t know what to do with them.  It’s like “Great. You’ve just made the most important decision of your life.  Come help with our Bean Dinner and its best you stay out of everybody’s way.  We have our way of doing things.”

Let me open your eyes a little.  That’s the way things were twenty years ago…TWENTY YEARS AGO!  The sociological studies that look at churches today reveal that more churches are being closed than planted by all denominations.  The definition of regular church attendance is now at least once a month and, depending on your source, less than 20% of Canadian population is a regular church-goer.  The congregations that are growing are either a fad that will fade or…they have found a way to disciple new Christians in small group situations.

Jesus implanted his kingdom into this world by means of a discipling relationship with twelve individuals and it is by discipling relationships that the church has persisted.  Jesus called twelve to be with him so that by getting to know him they internalized him.  He rubbed off on them and transformed them to be more like him.  They in turn discipled others, who discipled others, who discipled others.  Over the centuries an overly institutionalized religion called Christianity has arisen and in our part of the world is waning.  It is now time to start discipling again.

The original group of twelve had three years of Jesus physically present with them.  Today, things are obviously different in that respect, but he is still with us.  Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt. 8:20).  We sometimes jokingly quote this verse as the minimum number of people needed to be present for pulpit supply to go ahead and preach.  Yet, Jesus didn’t say it to set a minimum standard.  What he meant is that he is present by means of the Holy Spirit whenever people gather in small groupings with the intention of getting to know him. 

When we gather in small groups to intentionally get to know Jesus by means of studying the Bible together, sharing our lives, and praying for one another, by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit Jesus himself is in our midst and we internalize him just like the original Twelve did.  He rubs off on us and transforms us to be more like him.  Then, like living cells in our bodies, these small groups will decide to divide and make more small groups and Jesus’ Kingdom grows.

The morning of the first Tuesday of the month I have to go to Knox, Walkerton to meet with the Presbytery Administration Committee.  We go in through the kitchen door and then there’s a small, closet-like room you have to pass through to get to the main hallway.  Quite often you open the door to that room to be surprised by a group of men having a Bible study and they are joyful and don’t mind the interruption.  Honestly, I get a little choked up when I pass through them.  I want my churches to have what they’ve got.  Amen.