HOW JESUS MADE DISCIPLES | Northstar Church

“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31-32.

Jesus did not choose everyone He met to be His disciples. He took very seriously the selection of men He chose and trained to be disciples. Rather than focusing on the masses, He chose twelve. This selectivity was not by chance, it was intentional. Jesus chose twelve men and a number of women to instruct and train who would in time reproduce themselves in others.

Jesus was intimately involved in the lives of His disciples as they followed Him. His training method was spending time with His disciples. This is a radical concept for those of us who live in the 21st century. Whenever we find someone, who seems called into ministry we send them off for formal training. While there is no problem with formal Bible training, the Biblical model of discipleship was homegrown, natural, and organic. Jesus gave himself away to His disciples by imparting to them everything that the Father had given Him. He gave Himself freely. He imparted not only Himself but also spiritual truth about life and ministry.

Jesus demonstrated how the disciples should live a Christ-centered life. One reason Jesus had such a lasting impact on His disciples is that He lived the message before them daily. He was the message and the method. By walking with Jesus, they saw how He lived His faith in the real world. He prayed before them. He fed the poor. He had compassion on the multitude. He healed the sick. In other words, He lived the life that He wanted to reproduce in His disciples.

Jesus imparted His message and mission to His disciples so that they would reproduce themselves in others and make disciples of all nations. The Great Commission implies that the followers of Jesus will reproduce themselves and “make disciples.” Reproduction is how the Christian movement was born.

It is nothing short of amazing what three years with Jesus did for this ragtag band of ordinary people. All of them were outsiders to the religious establishment of the time and yet, after Christ’s ascension and the pouring out of His Spirit, the gospel of Jesus Christ has impacted untold millions of lives.

Our personal walk with God is one of the most important factors in developing godly leaders. We will reproduce what we are. The most powerful message is a life lived for God. Make sure that the life you live is worthy for others to follow.

Discussion Questions:

Are you intentionally seeking to disciple anyone right now? Maybe it’s by formal or informal means. It could be in a small group, over coffee, playing pool, or taking walks.
Pray that God would allow you to make one disciple this year.