Discipling

[Guest johnbaugh]

Hello everyone,

I am new to this site.

My main interest today is to introduce a website to you.

The link is:

http://www.tobelikehim.com

We have many studies and lots of helpful informatin for those who have heard the call of Christ to make disciples.

I know you know the direct scriptural references to Christ's call for discipling, but please humor me.

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Matthew 28: 18-20 contains the most definitive statement of what Jesus expects us to do,

"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Edited October 3, 2005 by johnbaugh

[Guest johnbaugh]

Mark,

Your post certainly confuses me. I'm not certain if I see a question from you. Is there a question in what you posted?

If you visited the web site

http://www.tobelikehim.com

you would know a great deal about our discipling group, what we believe and how we work.

We are a part of over 3,000 men and women in the USA and over 5,000 internationally, who have made a commitment to "making world visionary, world impacting, reproducing disciples for Jesus Christ".

Paul was a great disciple maker and a good pattern. Our approach is as stated in Timothy 2:2, where four generations of disciples are shown:

Paul > Timothy > Faithful Men > Others.

Here is What Paul wrote to Timothy - I count 27 words in the NASV:

"The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

Paul placed emphasis on only one of these words, when he wrote (in Greek) to Timothy. Do you know where the Greek wording of Paul's statement to Timothy places emphasis?

You might guess four or five times where Paul's emphasis was placed.

Things?

You?

Entrust?

Faithful?

Able?

Teach?

All of these are great discipling words and could each be a good guess. All are wrong. The emphasis was placed on the word "Others". That is where we seek to place our emphasis.

It is certainly not on us, or necessarily on the person we are discipling to Christ. We hope to see reproduction in those we disciple and faithful men showing up as a result of our work make our hearts rejoice. However, the goal is "others", people we may never meet this side of heaven.

Wow!

So Paul is a pattern and worthy of study. However, Jesus was a better pattern. In fact He was the perfect pattern.

Did you know Jesus had a structured pattern for discipling?

He did. It was a part of his vision.

Proverbs 29:18

"Where there is no vision, the people perish."

What was the Vision of Jesus?

Matthew 28:18-20

18 Then 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, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

That was the vision of Jesus. It was to reach the world Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, The ends of the earth.

Let me stop for now.

If there is a question in your post, I would be happy to address your concern.

JAB

Edited October 4, 2005 by johnbaugh