lost people saved | saved people matured | mature people multiplied

Outdated Book With A Timeless Message

FriJan272012 PostedFriday, January 27, 2012 @ 5 PMByBryan PayneTaggedNo tags

While I have been preaching through Titus, I have been thinking a lot about something that goes largely ignored in many churches today--making disciples. Let me be clear, I believe "making disciples" is two-fold: 1) making converts 2) maturing converts. But to obey the Great Commission, we must do BOTH!

The first book I decided to read for my "read a book a week challenge" was "Successful Discipling" by Allen Hadidian. This book is out of print but worth trying to find a copy. The book's age can be seen in the picture of Hadidian and John MacArthur on the back cover (personally, that alone is worth the price of the book).

I'm very thankful for this book. It is a practical tool for equipping people in "how to" disciple. Too many Christians view discipleship as another "program" that they just don't have time for. The problem is that discipleship should NOT be a program and it is part of our MISSION! If we are not faithful to train up young men and women in the wisdom and knowledge of Christ then we will be very limited in our effectiveness to reach the lost. It is just like the mission statement of our church says, "Lost people saved...saved people matured...mature people multiplied...all to the glory of God."

For weeks I have had a passage brewing in my mind. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us." [emphasis mine] Paul was faithfully preaching and applying the gospel to people's lives, but he was also giving them his very own life! This is why I believe we cannot afford to view discipleship as a "program". Programs are by nature rigid and programmatic. Discipleship is about sharing your life with someone. As the platitude goes, "Some things are better caught than taught." Hadidian says it this way, "Discipling someone is not a listing of steps to follow. It is not simply the transference of information, but rather the imparting of one's life to another."

I have found that very few things in the Christian life are as discouraging and yet abundantly encouraging as discipling someone. If you have spent much time trying to mature a fellow brother/sister, you know this to be true. I believe Howard Hendricks statement is spot on, "If you want your disciple to bleed, then you must hemorrhage." Wow, sounds really inviting, doesn't it?

So what actually motivates us to hemorrhage for someone else? I believe we could give many biblical reasons. Ultimately, we desire to make more and better worshippers of Jesus Christ. It is about the glory of His name, right? But there are two reasons that I want to discuss briefly. Both of these reasons are actually benefits that are provided to the discipler.

First, there is nothing that stimulates your own personal growth more than knowing that someone is learning from your every move and looking to eat out of your hand. As with anything in life, you can't give what you don't have. If I truly desire to fill a brother with blessed truths about our awesome God, then I better be personally overflowing in my own understanding. As you disciple someone else, "You will become that visible expression of the invisible God to your disciple." What motivation that is! If I'm going to tell you as Paul told the Philippians, "Join in imitating me, (Phil. 3:17)" then I better make sure that I'm following Christ. Discipling makes you a better disciple.

The second benefit that a discipler receives is the satisfaction that he/she is giving themselves to an endeavor with eternal significance. When I look around at all of the things in the world begging for my attention, it's easy to settle for trivial things. The supposed "American Dream" is to work a good job, save up a large retirement, and finish the rest of my life on a yacht, golfing, or watching grandkids' sporting events. But I believe, with an eternal perspective on life as a steward of every breath given to me by God, such "dream" is really a nightmare! Sure, I want to see my grandkids' events one day, but I will not be satisfied with that. I want to help fashion grandkids that go on to live radical lives for Jesus!

In the end every Christian ought to know that there are at least a few people who are thanking God for them. People who will say to you, "You showed me Jesus!"

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