We have a massive problem on our hands.  We were given one thing to do.  The instructions were clear.  The work itself is not complicated, complex, or convenient…and therein lies the problem.  We are good with easy to understand and simple to execute, but the convenience thing is what gets us.  Let’s review…

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.  -Matthew 28:19&20

This was the last thing Jesus told the disciples they should do before He ascended to heaven.  He wasn’t “spit-balling” ideas on how to effectively accomplish the ministry he was entrusting to us.  He was commanding us to begin doing what He had done with them the last few years.  If we aren’t making disciples in the same way Jesus made disciples, then we are’t making disciples.

In order to bring this a little closer to home allow me to make a list of things Jesus DID NOT EVER DO, TEACH, or MODEL by his method of discipleship.

1. Jesus did not cast vision.
2. Jesus did not build a brand.
3. Jesus did not develop a marketing strategy.
4. Jesus did not develop clever messaging.
5. Jesus did not develop org charts.
6. Jesus did not schedule training sessions.
7. Jesus did not use a logo.
8. Jesus did not develop a complex organizational strategy.
9. Jesus did not study metrics.
10. Jesus did not study trends.

Now before I go any further, I am well aware that someone could go through this list, and find something Jesus did and say, “wait a minute, yes he did, what about this…”  So, in an attempt to preempt some of those: the cross is not a logo, his “inner circle” was not an exactly an organizational structure, and truths he taught repeatedly were not exactly what we call messaging.

Discipleship is a sacrificial commitment to invest in a relationship with another person. The goal of this relationship is to help them encounter engage and experience the presence of the living God.

Discipleship requires we sacrifice our time.  This means we have to stop thinking in terms of windows of time on a weekly basis.  My ability to have influence with a person correlates to the amount of time I’m willing to invest in them outside of a regularly scheduled meeting.

Discipleship transfers wisdom not knowledge.   Teaching a Bible study is one thing.  Sharing your experiences and helping people understand how God is working because you have been there is something all together different.

Discipleship requires a willingness to challenge.  It’s easy to meet with people, hear their struggles, and tell them we will pray for them.  It’s another thing to recognize blind spots, and challenge them to change.

Discipleship requires intimacy in our walks.  If I am not actively engaged in my walk with Christ, there is no way I can expect Him to work through me to impact others.  Jesus was clear, that he did nothing apart from His walk with His Heavenly Father.

Discipleship should look like building a family.  I don’t know of anything more damaging to the Gospel than the failure to achieve the unity that would validate Christ’s mission, message, and ministry.  (John 17:21)  The truth is many of the current strategies for building ministries in 2017  are the same as the latest business models.  The logo, vision, mission and values are all designed to set an organized group of Christians apart from another organized group of Christians so they can have an edge in the market place of ministries.

Discipleship invests in the micro not the macro.  Jesus invested in 12 people who changed the world through discipleship.   Most ministries invest time, energy and resources in the large gathering believing that out of this gathering they will effectively be able to make disciples.  Discipleship is the multiplication of small gatherings of people who are on mission.  As these gatherings increase, so does the need for them to all meet together and celebrate what God is doing.   There is a huge difference between planning a celebration and planning a production.

I’m sure by now you have a lot of thoughts on discipleship.  Allow me to clarify that I am not completely opposed to the ten things I listed.  I am, however convinced we have neglected the call to make disciples as we have poured our energies in the things listed.

If you disagree with me, take a moment and answer this question;  “Who am I making a disciple?”  In other words, who are you investing your time in?  Who are you sacrificially teaching to encounter engage and experience the living God?  If you can’t name a few individuals but you can count the hours you spend are “serving” in a ministry or an organization you might have a problem with discipleship.  So make a decision right now to “…go and make disciples.”