What Does It Mean to Make Disciples?

Jesus commands his church to make disciples.

But what does that mean?

The Church is built to fulfill the great commission and welcome the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:10, 28:19). Jesus told his disciples that hell would not prevail against his Church (Matthew 16:18). Therefore Jesus’ plans and purposes for his Church are as sure as the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:14). And so in confidence go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded (Matthew 28:20). Jesus summarizes the purpose of his Church very simply—make disciples. To be sure this simple statement fails to fully explain all the biblical expressions of the Church, but our task is no less than that—we make disciples.

We make disciples by preaching the word, applying the word, and living the word. 

We make disciples by preaching the Word. Paul instructed Timothy in his second letter to him to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). This call was to announce the truth and beauty of the whole counsel of God’s word, even, if not especially, when it was costly. Therefore it is appropriate for the local church to meet regularly for worship, hearing the Word preached as the central and defining moment of the assembly of God’s people (Hebrews 10:25). And in preparation and response to the preached Word we sing and pray to God in accordance with the truths of Scripture (John 4:23). In the gathering we learn who Jesus is and about what he has commanded. 

We make disciples by applying the Word. The early church did not merely gather to hear the gospel proclaimed but also in homes through the week to apply the word of God, confess their sins to one another, care for one another, and to eat together (Acts 2:42-47, 5:42, 20:20; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2). Therefore meeting in smaller groups outside of the gathering allows the Spirit of God to more exactly transform our hearts through redemptive accountability and mutual love. In small groups we learn to obey all Jesus has commanded. 

We make disciples by living the Word. Jesus taught his disciples that the second greatest commandment was to love our neighbors as ourselves. And so as we’ve been shaped by the preached Word in the gathering and learned to obey the Word through smaller community, then we are able to live out the Word in our home life, vocations, and every moment in between. We live out the Word when we love our neighbors and neighborhood as God in Christ has loved us. The evidence of our obedience to the Word is our mission in our city and in this world. On mission we live with a sent or “going” posture so that others will come to know, love, and follow Jesus.