Are We Missing Out on the ‘Secret Sauce’?

Recently I read a concerning report about the current state of the Church in America. Weekly church attendance was once part of the fabric of everyday life in America. However, according to the Barna Group, a prominent research organization that studies churches and trends in evangelical Christianity, only 20 percent of Americans report they attend worship services every week. 

 

The same research includes a slightly more positive indicator: Just over 40 percent of people surveyed say they attend church once a month or more. But many people visit the doctor’s office that much, so that isn’t saying a lot. This also means nearly 60 percent of people in our country seldom or never attend a religious service.

 

We know that attending church doesn’t make one a true follower of Jesus Christ any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. But it’s still troubling that the tradition of “Sunday going to meeting” seems to have become a relic of the past. Why is that? 

 

It’s not like evangelical denominations and congregations haven’t tried to keep up with the times. For many years the King James Version of the Bible was the only translation used. But in recent decades numerous translations and paraphrases have been produced and published, overcoming the complaint that “the Bible is hard to read.”

 

The high quality of books, videos, audio recordings, websites, and other technology have helped churches fit into the 21^st century. And the contemporary worship and praise music we hear today has complemented, and often usurped, traditional hymns and liturgy.

 

Many churches have introduced small groups to help in building community, along with special interest groups for people going through divorce, grieving, adopting, addiction recovery, parenting, and other interest areas.

 

There have been huge strides in entertainment media as well. Christian movies no longer hide in church basements. The production, writing and acting in many films these days compare favorably with the secular standard. Some well-known actors are going public with their faith, happily cast in films that make Christ the central focus.

 

So, what’s the problem? Why isn’t the Church having more impact in society these days? Is there a missing ingredient in God’s recipe for vitality and fruitfulness within the body of Christ? Are we lacking a “secret sauce”?

 

Before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave a final charge to His followers. It’s often called His Great Commission: “All authority has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

 

Many congregations have adopted various evangelistic strategies and approaches for presenting the Gospel message to non-believers. Some refer to this as “soul winning.” However, even when successful, many times they’ve only made converts, “baby Christians” wondering, “Now what do I do?” Like human children, these new believers need to be fed, nurtured, comforted, even assisted in cleaning up their messes. 

 

In His Commission, the Lord clearly instructed us to “make disciples.” This involves investing time and energy to teach and show these babes in Christ how to grow into strong, devoted, spiritually reproducing followers of Jesus.

 

What does it mean to disciple someone – to make disciples? Isn’t that what happens at worship services, Sunday school, and small groups? Those are all good, contributing toward the overall goal, but aren’t the biblical model for making disciples.

 

A powerful description is found in the second letter the apostle Paul wrote to the younger man he was discipling, Timothy: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2). This single verse shows four generations of believers – you (Timothy), me (Paul), reliable men, and others.

 

We might call this spiritual multiplication, hearkening to God’s command way back in the first chapter of Genesis: “God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply…’” (Genesis 1:28). Having already said one verse earlier His intent was to create human beings “in His own image, in the image of God…male and female He created them,” the Lord desired not only an increase in numbers but also people in His own image.

 

During His earthly ministry, Jesus had lots of people following Him, many being curiosity seekers. But He had 12 disciples with whom He spent countless hours round the clock for three years. They met together as a group, but there also were many occasions when He spent time with them individually. Today we’d call it mentoring, or one-on-one discipling.

 

The apostle Paul, himself mentored/discipled after his conversion by Barnabas, followed the same model. In letters to the various churches, we see he was always traveling with at least one other man –Timothy, Silas, Titus, Sosthenes, and others.

 

I’ve benefited from ministries that have made disciple-making central to their work. After I became a believer, God guided me into a discipleship program created by The Navigators. When I joined the staff of CBMC I learned how to come alongside other men and help them in their desire to grow in Christ.

 

There’s something about the very personal, candid spiritual relationship you can build with another person through one-on-one discipling. It provides a setting where trust and vulnerability are cultivated, where no question is a dumb question, confidences are protected, and both disciple-maker and disciple can grow together, learning from each other.

 

It’s a place where, even with our imperfections, we can say as did Paul, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you” (Philippians 3:17). Understanding his complete dependence on Christ, Paul could boldly say, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

 

Maybe a renewed vision for making disciples is the “secret sauce” today’s Church desperately needs.

The Privilege of Being a Participant in the Action

Suppose the coach of your favorite team were to call you out of the blue and invite you to meet with him (or her) and the staff to discuss preparations for the upcoming game. You’d be beyond shocked, right? But if the offer were genuine, you’d probably be highly honored to be asked to participate in the important strategy session.

Or what if the President of the United States, or the governor of your state, were to contact you and request that you meet personally to develop action steps for addressing issues of special interest to you – and you knew it was a serious offer, not a patronizing gesture? Again, you’d consider it a great honor to receive such an opportunity.

Years ago, many U.S. companies instituted a “participative management” strategy – some called it a “quality circle” – enabling frontline workers to take an active role in corporate decisions directly affecting how they did their jobs. In many cases, this approach had a very positive impact on both employee morale and productivity.

 

In reality, however, many of us feel that the likelihood of being included in such important actions is very low. Who wants us to be involved in what the “big shots” are doing, right?

 

Good news: Everyone who is a follower of Jesus Christ has in fact received such an invitation. It’s one that transcends the realm of athletics, government, business and any other earthly endeavor. What am I talking about? Read it for yourself: “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9).

 

Fellow workers with God? Sounds incredible, but it’s true. The Creator of the universe doesn’t operate solo. He wants His people to take part in the action, to serve as His arms and feet in accomplishing much of the work He intends to get done.

 

It all began in the opening chapter of Genesis, when the Lord delegated responsibilities to humankind. “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature…. I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food'” (Genesis 1:28-29).

 

Some theologians term this the “cultural mandate,” God’s directive for men and women to serve as faithful stewards of all He has created. So, when people engage in discussions about the environment, preserving the natural beauty of everything around us, and caring compassionately for both people and animals, we’re only pursuing the work the Lord has entrusted to us.

 

But there’s more: We all know that we’re finite beings with limited lifespans. As Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 states, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die….” An important question is, ‘Then what?’ We’re born, we live for a specific span of time, and we die. Then what?

 

The answer to this question is enfolded in another initiative the Lord has assigned to His followers: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

 

Jesus also addressed this in what is commonly referred to as His Great Commission, recorded in Matthew 28:19-20. Just before ascending to heaven, He instructed His disciples to “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

 

To serve as Christ’s ambassadors, to develop young believers into mature disciples who will reproduce themselves spiritually is a weighty responsibility. No doubt about that. But this has been happening for 2,000 years all around the globe, although it will never be reported on the evening news.

 

If this charge seems daunting, even overwhelming, we can take heart knowing the Lord hasn’t left us to fend for ourselves. He concluded His commission by offering the assurance that “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

In addition, Jesus said they could rely on the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, for wisdom, guidance and strength: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26).

 

Isn’t this amazing? We might never receive a phone call or text from a famous football coach enlisting our help in developing a game plan. A top elected official may never contact us to seek our counsel on important matters. The CEO of our company probably won’t invite us to a high-level planning session. 

 

But God, who created the earth and everything in it, not to mention the entire universe, wants to be His “fellow workers,” partnering with Him – having a part in the action of accomplishing His eternal purposes. Think about that!

What does It Mean to ‘Make Disciples’?

In my most recent post I observed that many congregations and followers of Jesus are failing to pursue Jesus’ Great Commission, to “go and make disciples…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded them” (Matthew 28:19-20). Some may wonder, “What’s disciple-making, and is it the same as discipleship?”

 

There’s a very significant difference between the two, in my view. Discipleship focuses on the everyday, unending process of becoming more and more like Jesus Christ in thought and deed. Campus ministry Cru defines discipleship as “a journey of intentional decisions leading to maturity in one’s relationship with Jesus so that you become more like Him in your attitudes, focus, and ultimately, behavior.”

 

This could – and should – include such things as consistent time reading and studying the Scriptures; praying; joining other believers for worship and fellowship; sharing one’s faith with others; and striving to live out biblical principles on a daily basis.

 

Disciple-making includes this but adds the dimension of leading, teaching and helping others to grow in their own faith, then to pass on what they have learned so others may become mature Christ followers.

 

My own experience with both discipleship and disciple-making started years ago in a small group Bible study that used materials developed by The Navigators. Founded by Dawson Trotman, the “Navs” joined evangelism – seeking to introduce people to Christ – with a discipling dimension that many other ministries lacked. This dual focus remains their mission today.

 

Jesus’ command to “make disciples” was not simply to make converts – people who once were heading one way spiritually and had turned toward Him. It also meant to invest in people “life on life,” developing disciples by helping them understand and apply truths of the Bible in relevant, practical ways.

 

We have the Lord’s own example. During the three years of His formal earthly ministry many people followed Him, but Jesus focused His attention of 12 individuals. He even had an inner circle of three men He spent more time with – Peter, James and John – discipling them through example and purposeful instruction. That was why, moments before His ascension to heaven, Jesus confidently instructed them, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations….”

 

My understanding of disciple-making expanded when I joined the staff of CBMC (Christian Business Men’s Connection) in 1981. Influenced by The Navigators, CBMC had developed its own discipling resources called “Operation Timothy,” named after the apostle Paul's admonition to his protégé, Timothy: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).

 

This passage offers a word picture of multi-generational discipling. Paul had invested many hours in teaching Timothy (2^nd generation). He was telling him to entrust what he had learned to “reliable men” (3^rd generation) who then would teach others (4^th generation). This underscored the reality that discipleship and spiritual growth aren’t automatic – they require intentionality and support.

 

Perhaps the best biblical metaphor for disciple-making is parenting. Spiritual ‘converts’ essentially are spiritual infants, unable to do much on their own. Human babies spend much of their waking hours eating, crying and making messes. Often, a new believer isn’t much different. He or she needs to be ‘parented,’ having someone to care for and comfort them, serve as a confidant, offer counsel, and help to clean up messes they’ve made in living contrary to Christ’s teachings.

 

In 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 the apostle Paul recognized this, writing, “but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” Just a few verses later he added, “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

 

How often have you heard about becoming personally involved in making disciples? For most of us, not much if at all. We hear about talking with non-believers about Jesus, but rarely receive exhortation to come alongside others and assist them in their spiritual journey.

 

We might feel unqualified, like we need to grow ourselves before we can help others. Making disciples also takes time, energy, and even personal resources. As Paul wrote, sharing “not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” This is a considerable personal investment but the dividends are wonderful – and eternal. And it’s the Lord’s desire for us.

 

Nearly 40 years ago I attended a conference where the speaker talked about making disciples. Inspired, I earnestly prayed for God to guide me to one man I could meet with on a regular basis to help with his spiritual growth. Within two months, the Lord had brought TWO men into my life. I had the privilege and blessing of meeting with each man almost weekly over many months, and I maintain a close relationship with one of them to this day. Since then I’ve had the privilege of meeting with a number of other men.

One day, pointing to a vineyard as an object lesson, Jesus told His disciples, “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Then He declared, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last” (John 15:16). If we’re willing to obey Him in making disciples, Jesus will enable us to bear more fruit than we could imagine. 

Have We Been Missing ‘The Main Thing’ All Along?

Many important issues are competing for our attention these days. There’s the never-ending battle against poverty. Many believe abortion is a crucial concern. We have the ongoing culture war that’s trying to turn morality on its head. Then we have the economy, politics, global health crises, debate over causes and effects of climate change, and many others.

Followers of Jesus Christ are often understandably torn over which matters should receive the bulk of our energy and resources. Some people seek to dispel this confusion by asking the famous question, “What would Jesus do?” WWJD bracelets are no longer the rage, but it remains a valid question.

 

For the answer, some seem inclined to turn to the books of 1 and 2 Opinions. These aren’t in the Bible, but people talk and act as if they are. It’s kind of like saying, “Well, if I were Jesus….” We’d be wise to stop right there because, well, we’re not Jesus. 

 

The best way to find out what Jesus Christ would do – and what He would want of us – is to consult the Scriptures, because that’s where the Lord is revealed most definitively. The four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John give us the clearest picture of Him. 

 

They reveal a lot about how Jesus lived and what He taught, but don’t give a complete, 24/7 accounting for everything Jesus did and said over His 33 years on earth. The gospel of John even acknowledges this by stating, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25).

 

Nevertheless, I believe the gospels and the remainder of the Bible give us everything we need to know about Jesus for seeking to live as He desires of us. We don’t need to know more than that – we have enough difficulty trying to understand and apply what has been recorded.

 

Jesus’ life and teachings were wide-ranging, but what He said moments before His ascension seems particularly significant. After declaring, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me,” Jesus gave His last instructions to His followers: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

 

Of all the last words He could have said, Jesus told His disciples to make other disciples. He could have addressed any of the issues listed above, or others, but making disciples was the final thought – the main thing Jesus wanted to leave with them. And us.

 

A disciple, by definition, is a learner, a follower, one who influences and teaches others so that they too become disciples. It’s noteworthy that the concept of making disciples isn’t mentioned at all in the Bible until…the first chapter of Genesis. After the declaration, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27), the very next verse says, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number [multiply]; fill the earth and subdue it….’”

 

Connecting this first of God’s many biblical commands with what we commonly regard as Jesus’ Great Commission, we discover discipling others – making more people in His image – is central to His will and purpose for humankind.

 

When we hear the oft-asked question, “What’s wrong with the Church today?”, I suspect a major factor is the failure to follow through on the last thing Jesus said before being taken up to Heaven. He commanded His followers to “make disciples,” not just converts but people who are growing, maturing and reproducing themselves spiritually.

 

We see a description of this in one of the apostle Paul’s writings to his protégé, Timothy. Paul directed the younger man, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).

 

In this single verse we find four generations of believers – Paul, Timothy, “reliable men,” and “others” whom they would teach. Just as Paul had invested much of his life into Timothy, he wanted Timothy to do the same with reliable (faithful) men, who would in turn do the same with other people.

How many churches are doing this today? We hear moving sermons and uplifting music during times of worship; we have programs designed for nearly every target audience; we devise slick marketing campaigns to attract people. But how many of our churches are intentionally and aggressively striving to do the main thing Jesus said we’re to do – go and make disciples? 

Everyone Has a Mission Field of Their Own

Our church conducted its annual mission conference this past weekend, with more than two-dozen missionaries from different parts of the world participating. All could attest to the joys and difficulties of adjusting to new cultures and languages – and personal sacrifices – for the privilege of taking the message of Jesus Christ to people who need to hear about Him.

Having gone on short-term ministry trips to countries in Central and South America and Europe, I’ve had brief exposure to what those experiences are like, but I’ve never been “all-in” in the sense of relocating geographically for an extended period of time. I have great respect and admiration for the men and women, often with their families, that leave the comforts of home to answer God’s call for service in a foreign culture.

 

One thing I’ve learned, however, is we don’t necessarily have to venture beyond the borders of the United States to serve as missionaries. In fact, we don’t have to leave our own state, or even our own city. 

 

Yes, in Mark 16:15 we read about Jesus Christ instructing His disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the Good News [the gospel] to everyone.” And Jesus’ final command to His followers, before ascending to heaven, was, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

 

However, “all the world” and “all nations” doesn’t just mean people living in distant lands. It includes folks in your neighborhood, the office down the hall, the person sitting next to you in the classroom, someone you engage in conversation while shopping, or even in your own church. More than one authority on evangelism has said the easiest place to find unsaved people in within the walls of the church – those who know how to go through the motions but have not yet come to know the Savior.

 

Historically there’s been a mystique about people working in remote mission fields, as if they are somehow “super-Christians.” As I’ve already said, those who give up so much to become foreign missionaries are special people who deserve our prayers and financial support. But our own missionary responsibilities don’t stop there.

 

The late Jim Petersen, who wrote numerous books about personal evangelism and discipleship, spent many years as a missionary in Brazil and other countries. He told about one experience while on board a ship heading across the Atlantic Ocean to Africa. During the voyage he encountered some young adults whom he learned were headed for another country to become missionaries there.

 

Very interested, Petersen asked to learn more about their assignments. Then he made an inquiry that caught the eager young people by surprise. “How many people did you lead to Jesus Christ while you were still in the States?” After a brief pause, they answered, “Well, no one.”

 

Tactfully but directly, Petersen responded with a bit of amazement. How could they expect to introduce people to Jesus Christ in a strange land, having to overcome the obstacles of language and culture, if they couldn’t effectively share their faith with people they knew in their own country, without linguistic and cultural barriers?

 

Perhaps it’s natural to romanticize going to reach the “heathen” in other parts of the globe, but there are countless individuals and families in our own communities who need to hear a loving, caring presentation of the gospel message. Just because Bibles are plentiful and readily available in the U.S.A., that doesn’t mean everyone has heard the message of Jesus Christ – at least in a clear, meaningful way.

 

My friend Ken for several decades led a ministry for business owners and executives. To each new member he gave a sign they could display atop the door frame inside their office door. It read, “You are now entering the mission field.” What a great reminder! Because whether it’s employees, customers, suppliers, or others we encounter over the course of a typical workday, we’re bound to find some who have never heard of the saving grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we’re paying attention and willing to be used by God, you or I could be the person God uses to tell them about the Good News.

 

A wonderful Bible passage applies here. After the declaration, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13), we read the following challenge:

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:14-15).

 

This undoubtedly applies to men and women serving in foreign mission fields. But it also relates to us right where we live. In a world with more confusing, conflicting messages than ever, most people won’t simply wander into a church building looking for answers to the perplexing questions of life. 

Throughout history, God has used ordinary people to tell others, to “preach” the gospel message. Who knows? Yours might be the “beautiful feet” that go to someone down the street or to another part of the building to help that person discover a life-changing relationship with Christ. 

We Enjoy Our Rights, But with Those Come Responsibility

We hear a lot of discussion about rights these days. Not surprisingly, given the political and ideological divide in our country, there are greatly differing views on what those rights are, and how and when they can be used. 

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution – which are widely regarded as the Bill of Rights – a number of personal rights are specified, and others were later added. These include such things as the right to worship as one sees fit; the freedoms of speech and the press; the right to peaceable assembly; the right to bear arms; the right to a speedy and public trial with an impartial jury, and the right to vote.

 

We often focus on our rights, but not so often do we recognize the responsibilities that come with those rights. For example, it has long been acknowledged that free speech should not include shouting “Fire!” in a crowded theater and inciting an unnecessary panic. There are slander and libel laws to prohibit people from wrongfully maligning others with their words.

 

Laws have been established that affect the right to bear arms. Those who possess guns have the responsibility to use them properly; those who don’t are subject of arrest and other legal actions. Even the right to vote comes with certain responsibility. I’ve always made a point of confirming when elections are being held. More recently, with the widespread use of early voting, I’ve determined when and where that option has been available to me. I won’t wade any deeper into the voting rights debate.

 

But the point is clear: When given rights, with them come responsibilities we’re expected to fulfill. Even in families, where children receive certain freedoms by birthright, parents also can assign to them increasing responsibilities as they get older. In those homes, failure to carry out their assignments may result in the curtailing of their rights and freedoms.

 

Have you ever considered that for those of us who follow Jesus Christ, we also have rights – and accompanying responsibilities?

 

We read about the most important “right” in John 1:12, which states, “Yet to all who have received [Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” By believing in Jesus, trusting in Him and His atoning sacrifice for our sins, we gain an exclusive right – that of becoming a member of God’s eternal family. What good news!

 

But are there responsibilities that come with this right? If we believe the Scriptures, most definitely so. Speaking to His followers not long before He would undergo a heinous mock trial, be unjustly convicted and then executed by crucifixion, Jesus explained one of their greatest responsibilities: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

 

In essence, their failure or refusal to carry out this responsibility – loving other members of the Lord’s family – could indicate they were not legitimate children of God. Because to love others unconditionally was – and is – a reflection of Christ living in us through His Spirit.

 

Elsewhere the apostle John expounded on this truth. He wrote, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with action and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in [God’s] presence…. And this is his command, to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us” (1 John 3:18-23).

 

Just before ascending into heaven, Jesus declared another important responsibility that comes with the right to be God’s children. He directed His followers to, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

 

Commonly referred to as Jesus’ Great Commission, He was stating that our faith is not something to be kept to ourselves, that it must be proclaimed so others can also experience His grace, forgiveness and redemption, and receive help for growing in their own faith.

 

We could enumerate many other responsibilities that come with the right to be children of God, but let’s close with one that in essence says we must be willing to give up our rights. In Philippians 2:3-4 we read, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

 

In a society that emphasizes mantras such as “You have to look out for No. 1” and “It’s all about me,” we’re called to selflessness and service, being willing to put the needs of others ahead of our own. 

As Jesus said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48). There’s no greater blessing than to have received the right to become children of God. But are we showing ourselves worthy of such responsibility? 

Is the Great Commission Out of Commission?

Statistics are funny things. Sports fans get excited when a batter has a .333 hitting average, since that means he gets a hit one-third of the time. Meanwhile, they ignore that he makes an out two-thirds of the time. The meteorologist can tell us there’s a 40% chance of rain, but doesn’t point out there’s a 60% chance that it won’t. Statistics can say whatever we want them to say.

 

Some statistics, however, speak more loudly than others. Recently the Barna Group, a research organization that specializes in societal and cultural trends affecting the Church, found that 51% of U.S. churchgoers surveyed are unfamiliar with the term, “the Great Commission.” Some of the respondents might have thought it referred to a huge bonus after closing a big sale or a major business deal. Sorry, wrong answer!

 

This particular finding seems especially striking – and unsettling – because the Great Commission was the last thing Jesus Christ said to His followers prior to His ascension to heaven:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching to obey everything that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

 

Barna’s survey might conclude that 49% of American church attendees do have some familiarity with the Great Commission. However, since it consisted of Jesus’ final words on earth – the “marching orders” He gave before ascending to the Father – that also means far too many who profess to know Him have no clue about what Jesus expects us to do, the “mission” He wants us to pursue with Him and for Him. 

 This also suggests a larger portion of folks connected to the Church aren’t asking an important question: What does it mean to “make disciples”? Or even, “What does it mean to BE a disciple?” 

 

The term disciple can mean many things depending on the context in which it’s used, but the New Testament use of the word disciple means to be a follower, a learner, an imitator, and ultimately, a reproducer, developing others who will become followers of Christ, too. In essence, this is how God intends for His Church – the body of Christ – to grow in both depth and breadth.

 

Disciplemaking is an important theme that runs throughout the Scriptures. In fact, whenever I’ve had the opportunity to teach on the topic, I’ve observed that the idea of “making disciples” isn’t mentioned in the Bible until…the first chapter of Genesis.

 

We see it in Genesis 1:26-28, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness….’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase [multiply] in number, fill the earth and subdue it….’”

 

Considered within the overall scope of Scripture, this clearly means more than a directive to populate the earth numerically. God created humankind “in His image,” and then commanded that men and women “be fruitful and multiply,” thus creating many more in His image. And this involves more than attending church, praying over the food before we eat and following a few rituals.

 

For many years I’ve been involved in discipling other men. Some term it “spiritual mentoring.” The goal is to help them to grow and mature in their faith, and prepare them to come alongside others in the same way, starting with but not limited to their own families. We see this described beautifully in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you [Timothy] have heard from me [Paul] in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” In this single verse we see four generations of believers: Paul, Timothy, faithful men, and others.

 

We read a lot these days about how many churches have succumbed to the influence of the surrounding culture, as well as the decline in influence of the Church – and Christianity – on the culture. I strongly suspect one major reason for this is because we’ve forgotten the Great Commission. We might be trying to “save souls,” or spending time talking  and thinking about “the sweet by and by,” but the vast majority of folks who claim to be Christians aren’t making disciples. Despite the fact that Jesus thought this was so important, it became it His last command before ascending to heaven.

 

The way spiritual multiplication works can be summed up by one Old Testament verse,“one shall become a thousand” (Isaiah 60:22). While addressed specifically to the people of Israel, it also relates to each of us who has been called to become a member of the eternal family of God. As we pass along our faith to someone else and invest in them, then we each in turn do the same with others, over time one can become 1,000 or more.

 

We live in a time when we fret over how we can positively influence the course of our nation, when much of society seems spiraling out of control. We tend to look in many directions for bringing about necessary changes, but perhaps the best course of action would be to simply revisit Jesus’ Great Commission, to become true disciples ourselves and then to engage in making disciples of all nations.

 

As the apostle Paul wrote to believers in Philippi, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9).

A Million Dollars – Or a Penny?

Suspend your disbelief for a moment, okay? Imagine someone approaches you today and offers a choice: He will give you one million dollars immediately, or one penny doubled every day for the next month. Which would you choose?

No, I don’t have insider knowledge of some wealthy magnate planning to make this offer. I haven’t consulted with Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey, or even Donald Trump. But as you’ll see, it’s an interesting exercise that illustrates an important principle. 

Most of us would probably leap at the $1 million offer. No brainer, right? But wait. At first it would seem anyone who opted to receive a penny the first day, then have it doubled the second day and each succeeding day for a month, would be the loser. But as they say, do the math.

Let’s suppose Joe accepts the $1 million. He even sets it aside to collect interest. Good decision, right? However, his friend Jim, a curious soul, elects to take the one penny the first day, doubling that amount every day for a month of 31 days. At first things go slowly for Jim – one cent, two cents, four cents, eight cents, 16 cents. Ho hum. But momentum starts building.

On day 10, Jim receives $5.12. Day 15 nets him $163.84; on day 20 he gets $5,242.88, and on day 25 Jim’s single day’s “earnings” are $167,772.16! The agreement of the one penny doubled daily for a total of 31 days, so the amount continues to multiply. On day 31, Jim is the recipient of…more than $10.7 million! Would you still rather take the $1 million up front?

This silly scenario represents the genius behind Jesus’ strategy for growing His Church around the world, a plan that’s been has largely ignored.

You might recall the Lord’s last words to His followers before ascending to Heaven. He told them, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”(Matthew 28:19-20). We know it as the Great Commission. 

Instead of “making disciples,” however, much of Christianity has focused on making converts, producing spiritual babes without putting in the hard work to assist them in growing into maturing, spiritually reproducing disciples.

Let’s apply the monetary illustration to Jesus’ command. Suppose an established follower of Christ meets for a year with a younger believer, helping him or her to grow in their faith. At the end of that year, they both find someone else to disciple, effectively doubling or “multiplying” their number from two to four. One year later, each one finds another person to disciple – now there are eight. So far, not too impressive.

But like the example of the ever-doubling pennies, the numbers begin to surge geometrically. At year 10, assuming there’s no attrition, there would be 512 believers meeting and helping each other to grow. By year 20, the number has grown to 524,288! Projecting to year 30, following Jesus’ strategy and directive to “make disciples,” there would be nearly 537 million committed, fruitful followers of Jesus Christ having an eternal impact at home, at work, in their communities and the world around them.

By year 34, there would be more than 8.5 billion maturing, reproducing Christ followers – more than the current population of the world!

In reality, the issue isn’t numbers. If it were, Jesus would have issued production quotas. No, His desire was simply for us to make disciples who make disciples…who make disciples. Ultimately, men, women and young people all devoted to Christ and committed to following Him no matter what. Folks who, as Romans 6:11 states, “count [themselves] dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

How many people do we know like that, individuals willing to follow Jesus’ directive: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). That, in just a handful of words, is Jesus’ description of what a disciple looks like – the kind of people He commissioned to engage in consistently devoting themselves to ministering to others, life on life.

For more than 35 years, it’s been my privilege to meet one-to-one with other men, sharing from our lives and “spurring one another on to love and good deeds,” as Hebrews 10:24 expresses it. Not every one of them has gone on to give of his time and energy to help others grow, but a number of them have. In Isaiah 60:22 states, “The least of you will become a thousand.” If we’re willing, we can each play a small but important part in Jesus’ Great Commission, just as He asked us to do.