No Degree Needed: Everyday Discipleship for Every Believer

Have you ever been with somebody who knew the end was near?

Maybe they were nearing the end of a battle with a terminal illness, or perhaps they were advanced in years and knew their time was close. I’ve often heard stories of people in such situations gathering their
loved ones to share their “final words.” These final words are cherished and remembered forever—meaningful, important, and full of love.

Jesus knew that His time on earth was about to end. He was not about to die (that had already happened, and He came back), but He was about to ascend into heaven where He would be seated at the right hand of the Father. So…His time on earth was almost over. And
these were His final words:

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

You may know this passage as “The Great Commission.” If you’re like me…what does the word “commission” even mean? Well, it’s simple, really! It’s the prefix “co,” as in something that you do together, combined with the word “mission,” as in an assignment. Then, add an extra “m” in there because English is confusing, and you get the word “commission!”

But it’s really a beautiful word, because the “co” part refers to the fact that Jesus is on mission with us! We literally get to team up with Jesus to carry out the final mission that He gave us with His final words here on earth.

Jesus’ Final Mission: Co-Missioning with Us

What a privilege it is to be on mission with Jesus! His last words on earth weren’t just for the eleven disciples (twelve, minus Judas); they were for you and me as well. We’re not left to figure it out alone—He is with us, leading and empowering us through the Holy Spirit.

Before He ascended, Jesus also left His disciples with another important message, recorded in the book of Acts. It gives us a broader vision of our role in God’s plan:

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:6-8 (NLT)

After Jesus was raised from the dead, His disciples were pretty pumped up because they thought that they were about to conquer their corner of the world, starting by physically overcoming their Roman oppressors and liberating the nation of Israel. So, His followers asked Jesus (and kept asking Him), “Lord, has the time come for us to make Israel great again?”

Jesus responded simply and gently, “Friends, we are not here to establish a physical kingdom. Instead, we are here for spiritual global domination! Oh, and my Holy Spirit will be with you…but it’s up to you to lead the charge!”

The Mission Today: Making Disciples

Here’s the really exciting (and slightly terrifying) part of all of this: both of these co-missions were not only for His eleven disciples (twelve, minus Judas), but they are meant for you and me as well!

These co-missions are meant for all followers of Jesus, across all time, and across all geographic borders.

And while this task might seem daunting…Jesus is with us until the end! If you’re a follower of Jesus, then His Holy Spirit is living inside you right now, and He is ready to do this with you.

“But Ryan,” you might say, “I don’t know enough stuff! I don’t even have a Bible college degree!” Well, I think you’re in good company.

Allow me to explain.

Making disciples isn’t reserved for super-educated theologians or professionally trained pastors. It’s for every single believer, including you. You don’t need a Bible college degree or years of training. In fact, Jesus’ original disciples were ordinary men, likely without formal
education. And yet, they were the ones He chose to spread the Gospel.

Discipleship Isn’t Just Information Transfer

In modern day Western Christianity, there are a lot of “professional Christians” who try to tell you that the work of making disciples is reserved for theologians and scholars. Well…if that’s the case, then Jesus picked the wrong people.

And spoiler alert, Jesus never picks the wrong people. And, another spoiler, you are one of the people that Jesus picked!

When it comes down to it, making disciples is less about information transfer (although that’s important) than it is a life-on-life relationship with somebody who may be just a step or two behind where you are.

Discipleship does not have to happen in a classroom setting (Paul did that sometimes, but Jesus never did). Instead, it should happen more naturally, kind of like “hanging out”… but on purpose instead of “just because.”

One of the most beautiful verses I’ve ever seen about how to make disciples was written by Paul, the great disciple maker:

“And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)

Some translations say “Follow me as I follow Christ.”

Now realistically…how hard does that sound? Because if you’re anything like me, you might be asking, “But wait…is that it?”

In a nutshell, yes. That’s it.

A Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Discipleship

To make things as practical as possible, here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you begin making disciples:

Step 1: Pray

Begin by asking God who He would have you disciple. If you’re not sure where to start, just pray for guidance. Pray for the people in your life, asking God to illuminate those who may be open to growing spiritually. After you determine who the Lord may want you to start discipling (it may be a small group of people instead of an individual), begin praying for them by name (privately, not in big prayer groups). Paul was faithful to pray for those whom he had a discipleship relationship with:

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (NLT)

Step 2: Ask

Now, believe it or not, there are actually ways to do this without coming across as a weird religious nut job. I’ve found that questions like “Would you like to imitate me as I imitate Christ and become my disciple?” typically don’t fare too well. Instead of asking something
formal, I suggest approaching the individual that the Lord has placed on your heart and ask something along the lines of: “Would you like to get coffee or lunch together sometime soon? And maybe we can talk about some deeper things I’ve been thinking through? I’d love to hear
your thoughts on some of the things I’ve been thinking about!”

First of all, people love sharing their ideas on things. Second, people typically like getting coffee or lunch with somebody they may look up to! So chances are, they’ll say yes! If they say no, it’s not time to abort the mission just yet…simply regather and try again at Step 1.

Remember that not everybody will say yes. And that’s ok. Before we move on…here’s a pro tip: Jesus will not be your co-pilot if you’re doing this to try and score a date. The Holy Spirit is not there to be your wingman as you try to pick up romantic partners. So…go ahead and store that little nugget away in the back of your noggin in case it’ll ever be useful to you.

Step 3: Pray (Again)

Don’t skip this step.

You can never underestimate the power of talking with your co-pilot while you’re flying a mission. Spend some time in prayer before your first meetup. Spend some time meditating on some Scripture as well, and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you, and to reassure you that He is with you.

Remember, if you try, there is no way to “fail” this mission, as long as Jesus is riding shotgun! If you get nervous, here is some Scripture that can serve as a comfort to you:

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Step 4: Meet

If you’ve made it this far, then trust me…this is the easy part! Ask questions about their life, celebrate their wins, and pray together about any struggles. If they’re not yet a believer, consider going through a resource like Curious?: Everything you need to make an informed decision about Jesus together. The goal is to build trust and guide them closer to Jesus.

Discipleship doesn’t have to be rigid or overly structured, but it also shouldn’t be so casual that the spiritual aspect gets lost. The key is to keep things relational while being purposeful. Think of it like “friendship with a purpose.” You’re building a genuine relationship, but you also have the goal of growing together in faith.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

Step 5: Reflect Together

As you meet, ask open-ended questions to help them reflect on what God is saying through Scripture or your conversations. Some questions to consider:

• What do you think this passage tells us about God/Jesus and His
  plan?
• What do you think this passage tells us about humans?
• What do you think the passage tells us about you and me?
• If we really believe this is the Word of God, then what should we
  do about it?

If the conversation goes a different direction than these questions suggest, as long as it is still on topic, by all means chase those bunny trails! Remember, the relational aspect of what you’re doing is far more important than getting through the list of questions.

Step 6: Pray & Set a Next Time

End your time in prayer for each other, and ask the Lord to give you strength to follow through with any commitments made, or any revelations realized. Then, set a time to meet again!

And…now you’re making disciples! You and your co-pilot aren’t too bad at this after all!

Wrapping Up: Discipleship Is For You

Making disciples doesn’t have to be intimidating. It’s a shared mission with Jesus, and it begins with simple, intentional relationships. You and Jesus are a team, and together you’re equipped for this mission.

Are you ready to get started?