MAKING DISCIPLES: THE HEART ❤️ OF MY MINISTRY‼️

Joel C. Rosenberg & Dr. T. E. Koshy – Key Ideas

 

1. The Invested Life…

 

1. 1 “Every follower of Jesus Christ should be able to answer two simple questions: 1. Who is investing in me? 2. Whom am I investing in? God calls this process of spiritual investing ‘making disciples.’

“God desires to pour an abundance of spiritual and emotional capital into your life—directly and through older and wiser believers. And he wants to use you to pour spiritual and emotional capital into the lives of others. Along the way, you’ll be changed. Others will change. You’ll grow. Others will grow. You’ll feel loved. Others will feel loved. You will experience God and his community in a new and personal and supernatural way. And so will others.”

1. 2 “God calls this process of spiritual investing ‘making disciples.’ It’s the heart of the Great Commission. It’s the vision of a great local church. It’s the secret of a healthy, joyful, secure, and significant life.”

1. 4 – 5 “This is the invested life. Jesus invests in us. We invest in others. And in the process, God turns nothing into something and a little into a lot. The invested life requires taking risks. There’s no way around it. Only one thing’s for sure: you can’t win if you don’t play.”

1. 7 “…remarkably few Christians are able to point to a single disciple they have made or are in the process of making. Indeed, many would be hard-pressed even to define what is meant by the phrase ‘making disciples.’”

1. 13 “…the price of being discipled and making disciples is very, very high. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer pointed out in his classic book The Cost of Discipleship, ‘When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.’ The Lord demands nothing less than our very lives. Jesus isn’t looking for fans. He’s looking for followers, and he expects a lot more than most people are willing to give.

“Consider the following important truths from the Bible:

• To truly live, you must die (Mt 16:25; Lk 17:33; Jn 12:24;)
• To truly gain, you must lose (Mt 10:39; Jn 12:25;)
• To truly receive, you must give (Mt 10:4—42; Lk 6:38;)
• To truly lead, you must serve (Mt 20:25-28; Jn 12:26;)”

2. We are called to an abundant life, which is a fruitful life.

1. 3 – 4 “God…wants to turn what little human capital you think you have into more than you could ever hope for, dream of, or imagine. He not only wants to give you eternal life; he also wants to give you an abundant life. (Jn 10:10)…

“The question is, what does an abundant life look like? …The abundant life, according to Jesus, is a fruitful life (Jn 15:16). What, then, is a fruitful life? The Bible gives us two answers to that question. First, there’s the fruit of your changed character, what Paul describes in Galatians 5 as the ‘fruit of the Spirit’—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…

“Second, Jesus wants you to bear the fruit of winning souls to God’s Kingdom and helping them grow to spiritual maturity….

“A fruitful person is one who hears the gospel and the Great Commission—a call to a life of knowing Christ, making him known, and helping people grow in their faith—and following wholeheartedly…”

1. 27 “This is the pattern throughout Scripture, the pattern Paul describes in 2 Timothy 2:2… How many generations of disciples does Paul refer to in this one verse? Four.

• Paul was the disciple maker—‘The things you have heard from me…’
• Timothy was the disciple—‘The things which you have heard…’
• Faithful men were to be discipled by Timothy—“…entrust these to faithful men…’
• Other believers were then to be disciple by these faithful men—‘…who are able to teach others also.’

“…It is not enough just to be a branch on the vine. We must abide in Christ and become a branch that bears fruit.”

3. The characteristics of a disciple…

 

1. 28 – 29 Three Characteristics of a Disciple…

• A true disciple is a person who actively seeks a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and has a passionate commitment to know him, love him, follow him, and obey his Word, no matter what the cost.
• A true disciple is a person who actively seeks a personal relationship with an older, wiser believer—someone who loves Christ and can help him grow to maturity in the Lord and develop his spiritual gifts.
• A true disciple is a person who actively seeks a personal relationship with younger believers in whose life he, too, can spiritually invest.

Dr. Howard Hendricks of Dallas Theological Seminary put it this way: As a follower of Jesus Christ you need:

• A ‘Paul’—an older and wiser believer to invest in your spiritual growth;
• A ‘Barnabas’—a friend who encourages you, teaches you, and keeps you accountable; and
• A ‘Timothy’—a younger believer in whose life you can invest.”

1. 32 “…a disciple isn’t someone simply jotting down notes in a Bible study or on Sunday morning. A disciple is a person who is intentionally, purposefully following the life and conduct of someone older and wiser in the faith. A disciple is a person learning by example.”

1. 35 “Discipling a person involves more than just giving him information or teaching him a specific skill. The discipler-disciple relationship is different from a typical teacher-student relationship. It’s more personal, more practical, and more powerful…

• A teacher shares information. A discipler shares his life.
• A teacher aims for the head. A discipler aims for the heart.
• A teacher measures knowledge. A discipler measures faith.
• A teacher is an authority. A discipler is a servant.
• A teacher says, ‘Listen to me.’ A discipler says ‘Follow me.’”

1. 36 “A disciple must know that he’s a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he must understand that his discipler’s role is to help him become more Christlike.

4. How can I find someone to invest in me… pray, seek and ask.

1. 54 “The emphasis of the Great Commission isn’t simply on communicating the message; it’s on creating new messengers. It isn’t simply about telling the many; it’s about training the few. We aren’t called to simply spread the message wide; we’re called to go deep. The truth is, we all need a Paul in our lives, someone to love us and invest in us. Even pastors. Especially pastors.”

1. 59 “So prayerfully seek someone to invest in you… Scan the horizon. Watch. Pray. Trust that God will show you someone who can take care of you and invest in you.”

1. 62 – 64 Titus 1:7-9 is a good list of what might characterize someone who might help you to grow…

1. 65 “You won’t find a perfect leader to disciple you. But you do want to be on the lookout for someone truly ahead of you spiritually—wiser, more knowledgeable, and more faithful in following Christ than you are right now.”

1. 67 – 72 Ask… Often in Scripture, older, wiser leaders approach younger believers and invite them to be discipled. Certainly the ideal situation is for someone to reach out to you. Elisha didn’t ask Elijah. Peter didn’t ask Jesus. Timothy didn’t ask Paul.

“That said, however, nothing in Scripture prohibits you from asking someone to disciple you. It is, therefore, appropriate to prayerfully approach someone and ask to be discipled.

“Here are some suggestions on how to proceed with asking…

• Pray that God would lead you to the right person.
• Start slow. Build a personal relationship.
• Ask, and be specific. Be specific about what you are looking for. You might just start by asking the person to pray with you on a regular basis.
• Set a short, specific time frame for discipleship at first. Avoid open-ended, vague commitments. When you reach the agreed upon term, you both can reassess going on or not.
• Prayerfully set goals and come together with questions.
• Learn to listen and to follow. If you truly have a older, wiser believer, then listen, listen, listen.
• Don’t push too hard, relax and enjoy the experience.

5. Making Disciples Jesus’ Way…

1. 83 “…we believe there is no greater joy in life than becoming a spiritual parent. This involves creating a warm and loving and nurturing environment and raising spiritual children into mature men and women who will then be capable of leading spiritually productive lives and becoming spiritual parents themselves…

“The key to becoming a spiritual parent is following the model of the Lord Jesus Christ as found in the NT.”

1. 84 – 93 The model of how Jesus made disciples…

• He set and example of loving God without reservation, of being a mature man of faith, a fully devoted follower of his heavenly Father.
• He was able to clearly and effectively communicate the good news of God’s Kingdom.
• He asked his Father to show him the specific people he should invest in more deeply.
• He did not invest in just one person at a time. He formed a group and then built a team.
• Jesus’ discipleship strategy starts with his being personal and available. We must be prepared to live up “close and personal” with those we seek to minister to. You must spend time with those you hope to disciple.
• He taught his disciples how to pass on what they had come to believe and know. We do people no favors when we protect them from having to share their faith.
• Why be a disciple of Jesus if not to “Know him and to make Him known?”
• We learn that making disciples is about helping people to understand their place in God’s Kingdom
• We need to acknowledge that as disciples they have authority to win spiritual battles
• We must teach disciples not to trust in their own strength and power but to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit’s power.
• They must know that they have an important role in the Great Commission

6. Prayerfully consider whom you should invest in, but in the end God chooses for us.

1. 104 “…we don’t choose whom to disciple. God chooses for us. This is the good news, especially for those who have never discipled anyone before. The burden and pressure isn’t on you to find an open, hungry heart. The burden is on you to pray. The Lord will bring someone to you—and the right someone at that.”

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

1. 104 – 105 “Only God knows what truly lies within a man’s heart. Only God knows the true potential of a man. We cannot really know on our own. Not for sure. That’s why the process of choosing disciples must really be a process of prayer, even fasting, as we seek to know the specific people in whose lives God wants us to invest.”

1. 105 “Don’t make a decision too quickly. Don’t get ahead of God. Trust him. Wait on him. He knows your heart, and he is excited about your desire to disciple someone. He will bring along the right person at the right time as you love him and serve him faithfully and patiently and prayerfully.”

1. 108 “Evangelism is the place to cast a wide net. Discipleship is the place to be selective and personal.”

1. 109 – 120 Looking for F.A.T. Christians…

• The key to identifying a person’s faithfulness is observing his response to requests and assignments. If asked to do something large or small, what is their response? Do they act quickly, cheerfully, and complete the

assignment? (2 Tim 2:2)

• A person’s availability is measured by their internal motivation to serve the Lord. You can’t make a person want what you have to offer. Only if the person wants to be discipled will they make themselves physically, consistently, and sacrificially available.
• Being teachable means having the willingness to learn and to put into practice what you have learned. The true test of someone’s teachability is whether they put into practice what they are learning from the Lord through you and others. Not every heart is a willing heart, not every heart is good soil.

James 1:22-25 (NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.

7. Getting Started.   Matthew 4:19 (NIV) “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of “

1. 129 “Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed. Just take things one step at a time. Begin by understanding your two core objectives: 1. To obey the Great Commandments (Mt 22:35-40; Mk 12:29-32); 2. To fulfill the Great Commission—

(Mt 28:19-20).”

1. 130 – 131 “”The bottom line for us is simple: do more by doing less and doing it better. Don’t overreach. Start with one…. Go slow. Think small. Dig deep.”

1. 131 – 134 How do I ask someone if they would like to be discipled?

• Explain why you’re approaching them.
• Explain what you’d like to do together.
• Explain what would be involved.
• Explain how long a commitment this would be.
• Explain when you’d like to get started.

1. 136 – 154 They said yes. So now what do we do when we begin to meet?

• Share your testimonies
• Share a meal and get to know each other a bit better
• Spiritual assessment. Where are each of you spiritually?
• Find out about the other persons personal goals
• Set some goals for your discipling experience together
• Pray together. Pray about your time together, pray for each other, pray about known needs.
• Do Bible study together
• Teach them how to have a quiet time, and share some quiet times together.
• Talk about church involvement. Talk about baptism. If church or baptism are needs then encourage the other person in these directions.

8. Go deeper. Take them deeper. Create a community, build a team.

1. 161 “Once you’ve begun to meet regularly—one-on-one—ask God to bring others along whom you can also invest in and who can form a small discipleship group. …Begin by giving each person an opportunity to share his testimony with the others so you can really get to know one another. …As we’ve seen Jesus invited individuals to follow him, but he discipled and trained a team.”

1. 162 The habits of a highly effective disciple…

• Devoted to consistent, continual prayer (Col 4:2-4)
• Engaged in a consistent daily, disciplined study of God’s Word (Acts 17:11)
• Participates in a Bible-believing local church and enjoys Christian fellowship (Acts 1 – 2)
• Committed to obeying God’s Word in every area of life, lives marked by the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-25)
• Develops and uses their spiritual gifts to serve and build up others (Rm 12:1-8; Eph 4:11-16; I Cor 12 – 14)
• Shares the Gospel in a genuine, sincere and effective manner on a regular basis (Col 4:5-6)
• Takes young believers under their wing to train them and make disciples of them (Mt 28:18-20)

1. 163 “Don’t get nervous. It’s God’s responsibility—not yours—to develop this Christlikeness in those you’re investing in. Your job is to help. These are simply guidelines to help you know what you’re aiming at. And the job won’t get done in three months or six or a year or even three. It’s a lifelong process we’re talking about here, and this is just the beginning. So take a deep breath and relax.”

1. 163 – 184 Some important things to focus on to build the team and help the team grow spiritually

• The importance of fellowship. Encourage people to be engaged with a good church. Practice fellowship within the group. Engage people “where they live work and play.” Eat meals together. Play together.
• The importance of tithing and giving. Create a spirit of generosity. Help each other. Build a culture of generosity.
• The importance of sexual purity. Don’t become the morality police for everyone, people are accountable to God in this area not the group leader or the group. But encourage the truth of Scripture, and the need in the area of sexual purity to live within the bounds of Scripture and to be obedient to God in this difficult area.
• The importance of long-suffering. “It is not a pleasant topic, but rejection, abuse, revilement, and even death are part of the disciple’s life. There is no way of getting around that. So study what the Lord has to say in his Word about suffering, and study what he says about how to handle these attacks and these attackers.”
• The importance of spiritual leadership. “At the heart of biblical discipleship is the goal of helping disciples—spiritual followers—become disciple makers—spiritual leaders.” Help people develop their spiritual leadership gifts.
• The importance of spiritual gifts. Eph 4:7-16; Rom 12:1-8; 1 Cor 12; Help people identify and develop their spiritual gifts. God has given each of us spiritual gifts and we need to know what they are and use them.
• The importance of the church. God is still revealing himself and his character through the local church

1. 179 – 181 Key ideas about Spiritual Gifts

• Making disciples is not a spiritual gift, it is a command. Our spiritual gifts will enable us to do a more effective job when it comes to making disciples.
• Our natural talents do not necessarily have anything to do with our spiritual gifts
• Paul says it is permissible to ask God to give us certain gifts (1 Cor 12:31)
• Leaders don’t give spiritual gifts; they develop them.
• You will see supernatural results when you exercise a spiritual gift

1. 182 – 183 The purposes of the church

• To show forth Christ’s fullness (Eph 1:22-23)
• To show forth Christ’s unity (Eph 2:14-19)
• To show forth Christ’s wisdom (Eph 3:9-11)
• To show forth Christ’s glory (Eph 3:21)

9. Teach them to worship. Create environments where you worship together.

1. 207 “Unfortunately worship is too often misunderstood and overlooked as part of the Christian life…

“We were not simply created to thank God for the great things he has done for us, nor simply to ask him to do more great things for us, even things such as helping us lead people to Christ and make disciples of all nations. No, we were created to worship the Lord our God for who he is. Thus, we must be intentional about slowing down, retreating from the world, and entering the Lord’s presence to truly worship the God who loves us and gave himself for us.”

208 – 209 “Scripture teaches us that God wants a people redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ out of every nation, tribe, people, and language group worshipping the King in the beauty of his holiness…

“Worship is costly. It requires giving God our very best…

“In worship we come to give, not to receive. We come to minister to the Lord, just as the wise men traveled a long distance at their own expense to give costly gifts to the baby Jesus, not expecting anything in return (Mt 2:11).”

1. 208 – 209 Verses on worship: 2 Chron 29:11; Ps 2:11; Ps 66:1-4; Ps 95:6-7; Ps 96:7-9; Jn 4:23-24;

1. 210 – 218 Worshipping in Spirit and Truth

• “To worship ‘in spirit’ means we must enter worship in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, you must confess your sins, repent and turn back to the Lord, and ask him to fill you to overflowing with his Holy Spirit.”
• “Such acts (of repentance and preparation) prepare our hearts for true worship. They clear our minds and focus our attention on the One who is so worthy of our praise and adoration.”
• “Now here’s a critical point: praise is different from thanksgiving. We thank God for what he has done for us specifically. But we praise him for who he is, regardless of our circumstances.”
• Praise lifts our eyes to his greatness and power and eternal love and away from ourselves.
• “…actual worship literally means ‘bowing down’ before the Lord and ministering to him, giving to him, acknowledging his worth, and praising him for who he is.”

1. 215 – 216 The Names of God found in Scripture:

• Elohim (“God”) – Gen 1:1
• El Elyon (“Most High God”) – Gen 14:18
• Adonai (“Lord”) – Gen 15:2
• El Shaddai (Almighty God”) – Gen 17:1
• El Olam (“Everlasting God”) – Gen 21:33
• El Elohe Israel (“God, the God of Israel”) – Gen 33:20
• El Gibbor (“Mighty God”) – Isah 9:6-7
• Jehova-Jireh (“God my provider”) – Gen 22:14
• Jeovah-Rapha (“God my healer”) – Ex 15:26
• Jehova-Nissi (“God my banner”) – Ex 17:15
• Jehova-M’Kaddesh (“God who sanctifies”) – Lev 20:8
• Jehovah-Shalom (“God of peace”) – Jud 6:24
• Jehovah-Sabaoth (“God of hosts”) – 1 Sam 17:45
• Jehovah-Elyon (“Most High God”) – Ps 7:17
• Jehovah-Roi (“God my shepherd”) – Ps 23:1
• Jehovah-Tsidkenui (“God our righteousness”) – Jer 23:6
• Jehovah-Shammah (“God is there”) – Ezek 48:35)

1. 223 “…when it comes to worship, the central problem in too many modern churches is that the average believer goes to church thinking, What’s in it for me? He is not there primarily to please the Lord or honor him. He’s often there to learn, to meet friends, to have fun, perhaps to eat. All those are good things, but they are not worship…

“Many times we do not want to worship. Why? Because our minds are filled with distractions. Because we’re too busy with other things, even ‘spiritual’ things, that we think are more important. Because we are not in sync with God. Because we have sin in our lives. There are many reasons, but the same result—often we simply do not want to bow down and worship the God who loves us and made us and redeemed us.”

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. ² Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1. 224 – 225 “Let’s face it. We are sinful, selfish, self-centered people. We want what we want when we want it…

“…during a worship service we want to ask God for things rather than praise him for who he is. Or we fall asleep. Or we get distracted by someone sitting near us. Or we feel judgmental toward people around us. Or we feel judgmental toward people around us whose worship style is in some way different from our own. There are a million ways to be distracted, but the results are the same—we fail to worship God.”

1. 227 – 228 “It is vitally important to teach those you’re investing in to take time away from the crowds and the busyness of life to practice silence and solitude and time alone with the Lord. This isn’t an option; it’s a top priority.

“Life is busy. That’s a given. People have many needs. The poor—financially and spiritually—will always be with us. And many people in ministry often have a pastor’s heart. They want to care for every need. But it can’t be done. And we’ll harm ourselves trying. Thus, on a regular, consistent, disciplined basis, we must follow the model of Jesus. We must separate ourselves from the crowds and busyness of life and ministry and get away to be alone and quiet with the God who loves us and put this treasure in our jars of clay.”

1. 228 “After all, true worship is not merely a function; it is a lifestyle. It should be practiced every day, not just on Sundays. Once you begin to learn the very spirit of worship, you are no longer a passive spectator. You become an active participant in the church. Ultimately, true worship follows from your personal experience with the Lord, not simply from a theoretical knowledge you may have of God. It is the by-product of our deep love and passion for the Lord, and it involves our spirits, our minds, our emotions—indeed, our entire being.

”If you don’t regularly get away to be alone with God, you’ll never have the spiritual resources—spiritual capital, if you will—to invest in the lives of others.”

10. Characteristics of a disciplemaker…

 

1. 259 – 260 Joel and Lynn Rosenberg’s core principles to keep making disciples…

• Integrate marriage, family and ministry. Don’t let the invested life divide and conquer you. Minister together as a family. Let making disciples bring you closer together as a family.
• Listen and pray. Disciple making is not a curriculum. Engage with these people. Help move people forward as you are able.
• Lead leaders. Disciple new believers all the while focusing on leaders who can and will multiply their ministry to a next generation.
• Create a warm, safe place. There is great power in biblical hospitality. Allow people into your homes and lives.
• Focus on The Great Commission. Build a team that is committed to changing the world, don’t build a social club, be on mission as a team.
• Focus on The Great Commandment. Build a team that truly loves each other.

 

1. 261 – 278 A checklist for being a disciple maker…

• A good disciple maker practices hospitality (Rom 12:9-13)
• A good disciple maker cares for the whole person (Lk 2:52)
• A good disciple maker helps their team master the basics of the faith (1 Tim 4:1-5)
• A good disciple maker helps their team learn to share their faith with all men everywhere (1 Tim 2:1-8)
• A good disciple maker helps their team learn how to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:18-20; 2 Tim 2:2)
• A good disciple maker helps their team members become wise spiritual leaders (1 Tim 3:1-10)

1. 274 – 275 When is your task of making disciples complete? The analogy of a child growing eventually to become a parent.

1. 274 “When do I know I am finished? …There is no easy answer. Any investment you make in a person’s life is valuable. If you can work with a person only for months, then do it. If only for a year or so, then by all means, make the commitment. Remember, God is responsible for a person’s spiritual growth—not you. You’re only a tool in God’s hands.”

• A discipler begins as a caregiver for a spiritual infant.
• A discipler becomes a coach for a spiritual adolescent.
• A discipler winds up a colleague of a spiritual adult who becomes a spiritual parent, engaged in spiritual reproduction.

1. 275 – 278 The cost of not making disciples is high indeed…

1. 277 – 278 “It is not enough merely to serve in whatever specific ministry area to which God has called you. As God invests in you, you must invest in others. You must know them more deeply, love them more sacrificially, pray with them more regularly, train them more fully, and deploy them more effectively to obey the Great Commandments and fulfill the Great Commission.

“This is the invested life. This is the life to which God has called you. This is the life that pleases him.

“And should you live this life, you will hear him say to you—on that glorious day when you see him face-to-face—the most important twenty-nine words in all of human history: ‘His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21 (NIV). “