{"id":328,"date":"2024-09-24T18:29:50","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T18:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jpbmetal.com\/?p=328"},"modified":"2024-09-25T16:08:49","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T16:08:49","slug":"no-degree-needed-everyday-discipleship-for-every-believer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/jpbmetal.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/24\/no-degree-needed-everyday-discipleship-for-every-believer\/","title":{"rendered":"No Degree Needed: Everyday Discipleship for Every Believer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Have you ever been with somebody who knew the end was near?<\/h4>\n

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\u2019ve often heard stories of people in such situations gathering their
\nloved ones to share their “final words.” These final words are cherished and remembered forever\u2014meaningful, important, and full of love.<\/p>\n

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\u2026His time on earth was almost over. And
\nthese were His final words:<\/p>\n

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Jesus came and told his disciples, \u201cI 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.\u201d Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

You may know this passage as \u201cThe Great Commission.\u201d If you\u2019re like me\u2026what does the word \u201ccommission\u201d even mean? Well, it\u2019s simple, really! It\u2019s the prefix \u201cco,\u201d as in something that you do together, combined with the word \u201cmission,\u201d as in an assignment. Then, add an extra \u201cm\u201d in there because English is confusing, and you get the word \u201ccommission!\u201d<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s really a beautiful word, because the \u201cco\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

Jesus’ Final Mission: Co-Missioning with Us<\/h4>\n

What a privilege it is to be on mission with Jesus! His last words on earth weren\u2019t just for the eleven disciples (twelve, minus Judas); they were for you and me as well. We\u2019re not left to figure it out alone\u2014He is with us, leading and empowering us through the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s plan:<\/p>\n

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So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, \u201cLord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?\u201d He replied, \u201cThe 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\u2014in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.\u201d Acts 1:6-8 (NLT)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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), \u201cLord, has the time come for us to make Israel great again?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus responded simply and gently, \u201cFriends, 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\u2026but it\u2019s up to you to lead the charge!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Mission Today: Making Disciples<\/h4>\n

Here\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n

These co-missions are meant for all followers of Jesus, across all time, and across all geographic borders.<\/p>\n

And while this task might seem daunting\u2026Jesus is with us until the end! If you\u2019re a follower of Jesus, then His Holy Spirit is living inside you right now, and He is ready to do this with you.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Ryan,\u201d you might say, \u201cI don\u2019t know enough stuff! I don\u2019t even have a Bible college degree!\u201d Well, I think you\u2019re in good company.<\/p>\n

Allow me to explain.<\/p>\n

Making disciples isn\u2019t reserved for super-educated theologians or professionally trained pastors. It\u2019s for every single believer, including you. You don\u2019t need a Bible college degree or years of training. In fact, Jesus’ original disciples were ordinary men, likely without formal
\neducation. And yet, they were the ones He chose to spread the Gospel.<\/p>\n

Discipleship Isn\u2019t Just Information Transfer<\/h4>\n

In modern day Western Christianity, there are a lot of \u201cprofessional Christians\u201d who try to tell you that the work of making disciples is reserved for theologians and scholars. Well\u2026if that\u2019s the case, then Jesus picked the wrong people.<\/p>\n

And spoiler alert, Jesus never picks the wrong people. And, another spoiler, you are one of the people that Jesus picked!<\/p>\n

When it comes down to it, making disciples is less about information transfer (although that\u2019s important) than it is a life-on-life relationship with somebody who may be just a step or two behind where you are.<\/p>\n

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 \u201changing out\u201d… but on purpose instead of \u201cjust because.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the most beautiful verses I\u2019ve ever seen about how to make disciples was written by Paul, the great disciple maker:<\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.\u201d 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Some translations say \u201cFollow me as I follow Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now realistically\u2026how hard does that sound? Because if you\u2019re anything like me, you might be asking, \u201cBut wait\u2026is that it?\u201d<\/p>\n

In a nutshell, yes. That\u2019s it.<\/p>\n

A Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Discipleship<\/h4>\n

To make things as practical as possible, here\u2019s a simple step-by-step guide to help you begin making disciples:<\/p>\n

Step 1: Pray<\/strong><\/p>\n

Begin by asking God who He would have you disciple. If you\u2019re 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:<\/p>\n

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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)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Step 2: Ask<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now, believe it or not, there are actually ways to do this without coming across as a weird religious nut job. I\u2019ve found that questions like \u201cWould you like to imitate me as I imitate Christ and become my disciple?\u201d typically don\u2019t fare too well. Instead of asking something
\nformal, I suggest approaching the individual that the Lord has placed on your heart and ask something along the lines of: \u201cWould you like to get coffee or lunch together sometime soon? And maybe we can talk about some deeper things I\u2019ve been thinking through? I\u2019d love to hear
\nyour thoughts on some of the things I\u2019ve been thinking about!\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2019ll say yes! If they say no, it\u2019s not time to abort the mission just yet\u2026simply regather and try again at Step 1.<\/p>\n

Remember that not everybody will say yes. And that\u2019s ok. Before we move on\u2026here\u2019s a pro tip: Jesus will not be your co-pilot if you\u2019re 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\u2026go ahead and store that little nugget away in the back of your noggin in case it\u2019ll ever be useful to you. \"\ud83d\ude42\"<\/p>\n

Step 3: Pray (Again)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t skip this step.<\/p>\n

You can never underestimate the power of talking with your co-pilot while you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n

Remember, if you try, there is no way to \u201cfail\u201d 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:<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t 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\u2019s 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<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Step 4: Meet<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve made it this far, then trust me\u2026this is the easy part! Ask questions about their life, celebrate their wins, and pray together about any struggles. If they\u2019re not yet a believer, consider going through a resource like Curious?: Everything you need to make an informed decision about Jesus<\/a><\/i> together. The goal is to build trust and guide them closer to Jesus.<\/p>\n

Discipleship doesn\u2019t have to be rigid or overly structured, but it also shouldn\u2019t be so casual that the spiritual aspect gets lost. The key is to keep things relational while being purposeful. Think of it like \u201cfriendship with a purpose.\u201d You\u2019re building a genuine relationship, but you also have the goal of growing together in faith.<\/p>\n

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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<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Step 5: Reflect Together<\/strong><\/p>\n

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:<\/p>\n