LEAD THE WAY
7. Mission (Part 2)

CONNECT

• Connect through care, prayer and loving accountability for previous “I will …” statements

DISCOVER

MISSION - Our Relationship with Others

• Devote yourselves to joining Jesus in making disciples by living a Prayer > Care > Share > Dare lifestyle

• Work through Be The Way - Mission (Part 2) (now or previously).

• What are your reflections and questions from Be The Way - Mission (Part 2)?

MISSION (Part 2)

In MISSION (Part 1), we looked at how to live a missional lifestyle. In MISSION (Part 2), we’ll look at how to make disciples.

THE GOAL

Everyone Discipled / Everyone Discipling

THE WHAT

What’s a Disciple?

Let’s define our term. The word “disciple” means “learner” or “student.” But don’t think of a student in a classroom. Think of an apprentice on a job site. 

• What’s the purpose and the process of an apprenticeship?

What’s a Disciple of Jesus?

Here are five marks of discipleship. Christ-followers:

1. Believe in Jesus - FAITH

Mark 1:14-15 (CSB)

14 After John [the Baptist] was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God: 15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

John 3:16 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

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.

Acts 2:38 (NIV)

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Discipleship starts with faith. We believe in WHO Jesus says He is and WHAT Jesus came to do and is currently doing. In other words, we believe in Jesus as the Son of God, the Jewish Messiah, the Savior of the world and the Lord of all. This faith is part of a larger salvation-initiation-cluster of:

1. Repenting

2. Believing

3. Being Baptized

4. Receiving the Holy Spirit

• Why are all four important to the start of our faith relationship with Jesus?

Faith in Jesus doesn’t just bring us into a saving relationship with Jesus, but the whole Trinity. That’s why a disciple is baptized into the name (immersed into the life) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Discipleship, then, includes growth in all three relationships.

• What does it mean to be immersed into the life of the Trinity?

2. Be with Jesus - CONNECTION

Mark 1:16-18 (CSB)

16 As [Jesus] passed alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 “Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Mark 3:14 (NIV)

[Jesus] appointed twelve that they might be with him.

John 15:5 (NIV)

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 8:31-32 (NAB)

31 Jesus then said to those who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, 32 you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Acts 4:13 (NIV)

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Faith is just the start of being a disciple of Jesus. We are also to be with Him, to follow Him, to remain in Him and His Word.

• What has helped you to connect with Jesus? 

• How would The Way’s Daily Connect help you to connect with Jesus?

Be with Jesus AND other Disciples

As a sub-mark of “Be with Jesus,” we need to add "AND other Disciples” because even though being a disciple of Jesus is personal, it’s not private or individualistic. Jesus calls us to follow Him with others.

Mark 1:17-18 (CSB)

17 “Follow me,” Jesus told THEM, “and I will make you fish for people.”18 Immediately THEY left THEIR nets and followed him. (emphasis added).

Mark 3:14 (NIV)

[Jesus] appointed TWELVE that THEY might be with him (emphasis added).

Acts 2:42 (NIV)

THEY devoted THEMSELVES to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (emphasis added).

2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, ALONG WITH THOSE who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (emphasis added).

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

24 And let US consider how WE may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting TOGETHER, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as YOU-ALL see the Day approaching (emphasis added).

• Why does Jesus call us into discipleship with Him in the context of community with other disciples?

• How have other disciples helped you become a more fully devoted follower of Jesus?

Keep in mind that ALL the marks of discipleship are encouraged and expressed in community. Once again, being a disciple is always personal, but never private.

3. Become like Jesus - CHARACTER

Luke 6:40 (NLT)

Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.

John 13:13-15 (NIV)

13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

Galatians 4:19 (NIV)

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

Galatians 5:22-23 (CSB)

22 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

Colossians 1:28 (NIV)

[Christ] is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

1 John 2:6 (CSB)

The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.

A disciple is to become like Jesus. As we spend time with Jesus, we learn to live our lives as if He were in our shoes. This character formation comes through the work of His Spirit and Word within us. Through intentional training, our thoughts, words and actions progressively become like His.

• How is the Fruit of the Spirit a good description of the character of Jesus?

4. Live for Jesus - OBEDIENCE

Luke 6:46 (NIV)

Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say?”

John 14:15 (NIV)

If you love me, keep my commands.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

2 Corinthians 5:15 (NIV)

And [Christ] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Disciples no longer live for themselves. They live for Jesus. Character formation, then, must flow into loving obedience because the Lordship of Jesus calls us to a loyal allegiance to all of His commands. King Me must bow to King Jesus.

• Why is loving obedience so important to being Jesus’ disciple?

5. Make Disciples of Jesus - MISSION

Mark 1:17 (CSB)

“Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Discipleship is never just about us. It’s also about the next generation of disciples that we make and mature and the next generation of disciples that they make and mature and so on.

• Why is the authority—the Lordship of King Jesus—so important to BEING a disciple personally and MAKING disciples intentionally?

• Why does Jesus single out the command to make disciples just before His Ascension? Why is the replication of Christ-followers so important?

The Five Marks of Discipleship

1. Believe in Jesus - FAITH

2. Be with Jesus (and other Disciples) - CONNECTION

3. Become like Jesus - CHARACTER

4. Live for Jesus - OBEDIENCE

5. Make Disciples of Jesus - MISSION

• Why is the order of these five marks important? How does each mark build on the one before it?

• Does it have to follow this order, though? For example, did Jesus’ disciples fully believe in Him before they began to follow Him? Or, as they were with him, did they come to believe in Him?

John 2:11 (NLT)

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

John 20:8 (NIV)

Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

Luke 24:25 (NIV)

[Jesus] said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”

Even though Jesus’ disciples had spent much time with Him, it took a long time for them to believe in Him fully. So these are the marks of a disciple and not necessarily the steps of a disciple. Although there is a logical and sequential order to them, life doesn’t always follow logically and sequentially.

• Do we ever graduate from a mark?

• Which mark is the Spirit highlighting for you to focus on right now?

THE HOW?

How Do You Make a Disciple of Jesus?

From Evangelism and Discipleship to Holistic Disciple-Making

Normally, we think of evangelism of helping someone believe in Jesus, that is, to become a disciple of Jesus. In other words, evangelism focuses on the first mark of a disciple, namely:

• Believe in Jesus - FAITH

And normally, we think of discipleship as the process of maturing this new believer or disciple into a fully devoted follower of Jesus. In other words, discipleship focuses on the last four marks of a disciple, namely:

• Be with Jesus (and other Disciples) - CONNECTION

• Become like Jesus - CHARACTER

• Live for Jesus - OBEDIENCE

• Make Disciples of Jesus - MISSION

This isn’t bad. It’s just not what Jesus had in mind. For Jesus, evangelism and discipleship aren’t separate but part of the same process. Consider these graphics based on the Engel scale:

Why is this move from evangelism and discipleship to holistic disciple-making important? First, it’s what Jesus had in mind when He commissioned us to make disciples and it’s important to line up our thinking and terminology with His. Secondly, it helps us to see that our goal isn’t just converts to Christ but fully devoted followers of Christ who are committed to making other followers of Jesus. Becoming a believer, then, is just the first part of the process. This MUST continue into maturing as a follower of Jesus and making other followers of Jesus. When we begin with Jesus’ end in mind, our goals and process align with His. The bottom line is that Jesus has called each of us to be a disciple-making-disciple.

Holistic Disciple-Making

A definition:

Making a disciple is a relational, Biblical and intentional process of helping someone become a disciple of Jesus, mature as a disciple of Jesus and then make disciples of Jesus.

• Why is disciple-making RELATIONAL?

• Why is disciple-making BIBLICAL?

• Why is disciple-making INTENTIONAL?

• Why is disciple-making a PROCESS?

• Why is disciple-making a HOLISTIC process of helping someone 1) become a disciple of Jesus, 2) mature as a disciple of Jesus, and then 3) make disciples of Jesus?

• From your experience which of these three has disciple-making focused on? What have the results been of that focus?

• Why is it important to keep in mind a holistic approach to disciple-making?

1. Initial Discipleship

Follow The Way is a discovery discipleship curriculum for groups of 3 or 4. It’s based on a discipleship process that is relational, biblical and intentional. Not only will it help you make disciples, it will help you mature those disciples who then make disciples.

Here’s the journey:

1. Follow - 1-week introduction to following Jesus and Follow The Way

2. Faith - 11-week guided tour of the main events, characters and storyline of the Bible

3. Fruit - 9-weeks on how to join Jesus in mission by living a Prayer > Care > Share > Dare lifestyle

4. Filling - 8-weeks on how to be filled with the Spirit and live an everyday supernatural life

5. Foundations - 8-weeks on the basic building blocks of your identity and maturity in Christ

6. Freedom - 12-weeks on how to personally and practically embrace your freedom in Christ

Other Discipleship Resources

2. Ongoing Discipleship

Ongoing discipleship can take place in your MicroChurch family. As your spiritual family gathers for Worship, Discovery, Community and Mission, people will continue to grow as followers of Jesus. That’s because these Priorities don’t just apply to us as a spiritual family, they also apply to us as individual followers of Jesus. Here they are written for individual application:

1. WORSHIP - My Relationship with Jesus

I devote myself to connecting with and following after Jesus

2. DISCOVERY - My Relationship with the Bible

I devote myself to taking in and living out God’s Word

3. COMMUNITY - My Relationship with Each Other

I devote myself to loving a family of brothers and sisters in Christ

4. MISSION - My Relationship with Others

I devote myself to joining Jesus in making disciples by living a Prayer > Care > Share > Dare lifestyle

So every time you gather and work through the Gathering Guide, you’ll be discipling each other.

In addition, as you pursue The Way’s Pathways, ongoing discipleship will happen. Here they are:

1. Daily Connects and Missional Living

2. Discovery Discipleship Groups - This time as a guide to others

3. MicroChurch Families

4. Compassionate Outreaches

5. Collective Gatherings

6. Leadership Formation

So invite newcomers to your MicroChurch where they’ll experience discipleship through your gathering’s Priorities and Pathways AND get them involved in a Follow The Way Discovery Discipleship Group to give them personal discipleship attention.

Relationship of Discovery Discipleship Groups to MicroChurch Families

• A Discovery Discipleship Group could be the foundation of a new MicroChurch family. As a group of 3 or 4 matures in their faith and commitment to Jesus, they may decide to continue to meet as a MicroChurch and invite others to join them.

  This is how the Apostle Paul effectively started churches all around the ancient world. His motto could have been …

  Don’t form a church to make disciples. Make disciples to form a church.

• Or a MicroChurch may direct their members and newcomers to be discipled in Discovery Discipleship Groups. The advantage of having the Discipleship Discovery Groups do the “heavy lifting” of crucial and initial discipleship (through Follow The Way) is that the whole MicroChurch doesn’t have to go back to square one in terms of discipleship every time a newcomer joins them. New Discovery Discipleship Groups would be formed as people join needing discipleship. This takes a great deal of pressure off the MicroChurch gatherings and leaders.