Can I follow without gaining followers?- Matthew 28:18-20

"To be a disciple of Christ is to make disciples of Christ. 

It is impossible to know Christ 

without having an urgent desire to make Him known."

I believe that quote is from a sermon by David Platt. I can't remember for sure where I heard it, but it has stuck with me. In fact, I have it posted on my office door. How does it hit you? Do you agree with the statement or disagree?

I've heard references many times to the fact that people have different gifts and talents and therefore different ministries. That is an absolute fact. (See 1 Corinthians 12, etc.) But does it mean, therefore, that some disciples of Christ who do not have the gift of teaching or preaching or discipling are therefore exempt from actively making disciples?

I believe I am standing on Biblical ground to agree with the quote above that "to be a disciple of Christ is to make disciples of Christ." The method of discipling and the ministry that someone is discipled into may look very different depending on who is recruiting and making disciples, but all of the disciples will be led to Christ and will be led to create new disciples of Christ themselves through whatever ministry and outreach best suits their personal set of natural and spiritual gifts.

In other words, what if a Christian who is passionate about being a coach realized that his main purpose in life was not to win games, but to win souls to Christ? What if he made disciples of his team and his assistant coaches and taught them by word and by example what it means to be lead by faith (trust) in Jesus Christ when in the gym or the classroom?

What if someone who is a very successful business person realized that their purpose in life was not just to make money, but to make disciples who used their business skills and leadership to serve others and to win them to Christ?

What if stay-at-home moms realized that their purpose in life was not just to keep their kids healthy and safe, but to teach other young ladies what it means to be a wife and mother who trusts in Christ for daily living?

What if....fill in the blank.

I see three parts to Matthew 28:18-20 that basically say this:

1. Jesus has all authority. If that is true, then we disobey him at great peril. 
2. THEREFORE, His disciples are called to make disciples everywhere in the world. That includes not just the decision to follow initially, but the guidance and teaching on what it means and how to follow Him in daily living.
3. When we are His disciples and are making disciples, we can be sure of His presence with us. When Jesus initially selected the twelve apostles, Mark tells us that he selected them "that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons" (Mark 3:14). How appropriate that before he leaves the earth, he renews his promise to "be with them."

Last year we studied through the sermon on the mount which is the biggest bulk of Jesus' teaching on what it means to be a follower of Christ and a citizen in the kingdom of heaven. This year, I want us to look at the book of Acts in order to see how the early Christians put his words about life into practice in their own lives as they strove to be disciples and to make disciples.

Next week, I want to look at one more statement of Christ from the book of Luke just before the ascension, and after that, I would like us to move slowly through the book of Acts. If you have suggestions of passages to consider in Acts, please leave a comment below.

May we always strive to be true disciples of Christ not so we can earn our way into being with Him, but because He chose us to be with Him. And may we realize that a big part of what it means to be a disciple is to make disciples. Who will you lead a step closer to Christ today?