Healthy Churches are disciple-making, in addition to being hospitable, inviting, and generous. 

Let us read Matthew 28, 19-20,

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age. CEB. 

The text is the foundation for this reflection, and we will get back to it later. 

 

 

 

What Does It Mean to Be a Disciple of Jesus Christ? 

 

 

 

A while ago, I talked about ‘5 marks of true disciples of Jesus Christ.’ 

And, these five marks include the following: 

• Disciples are people who follow Jesus. 
• Disciples wait on God in prayer. 
• Disciples fear no human, but God only. 
• Disciples talk about God (witness, inviting, etc.). 
• Disciples risk their lives for God’s sake. 

Those marks can tell if someone is a disciple of Jesus Christ! 

 

 

 

How Do We Become a Disciple-Making Church? 

 

 

 

Two primary things that will make a congregation a disciple-making Church. First, only disciples make disciples, as I said above. Second, we have to do it together as the body of Christ.

[bctt tweet=”Healthy Churches make disciples who then serve together under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and led through the power of the Holy Spirit. ” username=””]

 

 

Every Member of the Church Is a Faithful Disciple

 

 

Yes, is every member of the Church, a disciple of Jesus Christ? 

What I mean is that each person that claims to be a disciple can boldly say the following:

• I’ve denied myself, and picked up my cross to follow Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. 
• I always wait on God in prayer because I pray not when I need something. Prayer is a part of my daily living. 
• I fear no human, but God alone. 
• I unapologetically talk about my faith whenever necessary. 
• I’m willing to lay down my life for God’s Kingdom. I risk my life for Christ. 

Notice that in Matthew 28: 16, Jesus didn’t ask the thousands he had fed to meet him on the mountain (see Matthew 14: 13-31; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; and John 6:1-15). It was only the eleven (now that Judas Iscariot was dead) whom Jesus wanted with him. 

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to go.” CEB. 

[bctt tweet=”Only disciples can make disciples!” username=””]

That’s the point Jesus wanted to make here. Even though thousands had followed him before, but he only knew there were just a handful of people who could claim to be his disciples. 

It’s only disciples that Jesus sent out to make disciples. 

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. CBE. 

 

 

Let’s Do It Together

 

 

Disciples have to work together. And, the reason for that is we are all members of one body, the Church. 

The Church is the body of Christ with Jesus, the head (Read Colossians 1: 18). With Jesus as our head, we have to listen to him and agree together on only one mission. 

It’s the mission he gave the eleven disciples (Matthew 28: 19-20): to make disciples of all nations. 

That’s our mission, which translates into something that may, of course, differ from one ministry context to the next. 

With Jesus, the head of the body, we now have to trust those God has called into leadership. 

No matter how good or bad they may look, once they are in leadership positions, we should thank God for them. We should also support them in whatever way we can. 

We pray and hope God uses our leaders to determine the most appropriate way for us, as a Church, to accomplish God’s mission. 

It’s a Church-wide discerning exercise. And, we do it all together in prayer and Scripture searching. 

You do it together with one mission (making disciples of all nations), and one plan to accomplish what God has called you to do, as a Church! 

 

 

 

Your Turn Now

 

 

A healthy Church isn’t just what you wish your Church should start doing. It’s not trying to make your Church look like the one down your street, or the other one you’ve visited lately. It all starts with you answering the following questions: Am I a disciple of Jesus Christ? Have I denied myself and picked up the cross to follow Christ, and only Jesus? Do I pray for the people in leadership at my Church, and daily?