Making Disciples

Mat 28:18-20

Mat 28:18-20  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

I have recently joined the worship team at our church and the most unexpected thing for me was the overwhelming effect of an audience (some, not all) that shows no sign of participation or passion. And in writing this, I am not trying to be judgmental but may it be a sobering reminder that our lives - private and public - count for Jesus.

This post is about much more than a Sunday praise and worship session. Our lives - all of it - should be worship. How else are we going to fulfill the great commission to go and make disciples as Jesus instructed?

I have heard the comment "my relationship with Jesus is a personal matter" so  many times. Sure, God does an internal work in our lives and He works in our hearts... but ultimately through the Holy Spirit, God does a transformative work in our lives as a whole person (body, soul, heart and mind).

How are we to make disciples if our lives do not show something of our love for Christ, if there is not some sort of evidence? 

My husband told me a while back that the word enthusiasm's original meaning is: 'to be inspired or possessed by a god; divine inspiration".

When we are infused with the Holy Spirit, then there should be a measure of enthusiasm, right? As Christians, there has to be something in our attitude and in our faces that shows a measure of enthusiasm, right? We cannot remain uninterested, complacent and indifferent!  Only a life depleted of the power and possession of the Spirit of God should contain zero enthusiasm for the things of God.

Nothing is more dissuasive than a Christian with no character and no enthusiasm for God.

Think drinking warm coke zero without bubbles. Zero sugar. Zero substance. Zero passion. Zip. Not even a little bit of punch. Who wants that?!

Why is it that it is hard to contain ourselves at our kids' sports matches? We've just gotten home from my daughter's hockey game and every time I end up shouting and cheering. I just can't help myself (to the point of being an embarrassment to my daughter).

Why is it that at a wedding, people walk slow and can't look somber enough during the 'religious' ceremonial part, but once the music and dancing starts at the reception, the zombies turn into joyous lively people with crazy moves.

One word: passion. (Okay, so perhaps the alcohol helps at the wedding... but that's it- that is how we should be when filled with the Holy Spirit! Read the book of Acts.)

Sooner or later, our actions will reveal our true passions.

Synonyms: enthusiasm. zeal. devotion. dedication !!

We have lost the true meaning of the word, disciple. A disciple is an apprentice, who through practical experience, is learning the trade of his or her master. Like my daughter learning violin. But the word 'apprentice' lacks something vital: passion. You can learn to play an instrument and hate it... but a disciple is an apprentice that has an unshakable conviction and loyalty, up to the point of idolatry and worship.

A disciple is like an apprentice on steroids and happy pills! *not for reals, okay*

A disciple is like an apprentice and a fanatic in one. Interestingly, the dictionary defines a fanatic as someone with excessive enthusiasm! How cool is that?!

Does my kids know that I am a Jesus fanatic? Is my christian life a compelling life? Is my passion for Jesus practical and applicable? Or is my love for Jesus a "private matter"?

For the sake of our children, I plead that we do not keep them from seeing our love and passion for Jesus. Don't exclude your kids from your relationship with Jesus. Let them be part of it. Let them experience and see and hear how you enjoy your relationship with Jesus, because then you are fulfilling the great commission of making them disciples of Jesus.

That's a good point.

Do I see my child as someone whom I can disciple? Sometimes, we tend to forget that our kids have to become disciples too, and once they believe in Jesus, we are their greatest teachers while they are young. *Wow!*

Does my life show something of me being a disciple of Jesus to my kids? This is a very effective strategy- demonstrate what I want them to become.

It is worth it to wage war against conservatism and privatization of our relationship with Jesus. Leave them an inheritance of passion, expression and declaration! Important: the battles we fight or flight determine the inheritance we leave for our kids.

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Psa 92:1  It is good (yes, GOOD!) to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night....

Psa 92:12  The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Psa 92:13  They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.

Psa 92:14  They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 

Psa 92:15  to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. 

This chapter starts with declaring God's goodness and ends with declaring His goodness!

And it is filled with evidence of this.

Evidence: an outward sign; testimony; proof (Miriam-Webster Dictionary)

And as we can see from the scriptures, there is evidence of a tree planted in the house of the Lord: ever full of sap and green.

Our fruit bearing and ever-green-ness, is compelling evidence of the truthfulness of the declaration: Jesus is my Lord! And He is good!

Lets show our devotion to Christ through declaration and demonstration! 

Not out of duty, but out of delight!

All day long. From start to end. From waking our kids up in the mornings to putting them in bed at night.

The best part of discipling our kids is seeing them flourish and grow into strong trees planted and rooted in Christ. 

To see how my kids engage and worship God on a Sunday during worship when I am on the stage with the band is... marvelous, miraculous, wondrous! 

Psalm 115:14 May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children.

** For the kids

A lovely song to sing with our little ones:

"If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands/stomp your feet. X2 

If you're happy and you know it, 

then your life will really show it, 

if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands." 

Discuss with them 'why am I happy?' pointing them to Jesus.

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"Worship is an act of ascribing ultimate value to something or someone in a way that engages your entire being." Tim Keller