{"id":21810,"date":"2014-11-20T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-11-20T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dare2share.org\/uncategorized\/making-disciples-who-make-disciples\/"},"modified":"2020-12-23T04:46:53","modified_gmt":"2020-12-23T04:46:53","slug":"making-disciples-who-make-disciples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dare2share.org\/gospel-advancing-ministry\/making-disciples-who-make-disciples\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Disciples Who Make Disciples"},"content":{"rendered":"
Making Disciples Who Make Disciples<\/strong><\/p>\n As disciples of Jesus, it\u2019s our passion and privilege to follow after Him. And as we do so, He will help us (and our students) grow in Christlikeness and become more and more like Him! Isn\u2019t it amazing that our Triune God has promised to lead, teach and empower us as we seek to serve Him and make disciples who make disciples?!?<\/p>\n That\u2019s the supernatural dynamic that undergirds every youth leader\u2019s prayerful efforts to bring their ministry\u2019s mission and programming into alignment with Jesus\u2019 directive in The Great Commission. Think of it! As we consciously, consistently strive to make disciples who make disciples in the power of His Spirit, we are becoming more and more like Christ, day by day, moment by moment.<\/p>\n Consider these pointed, powerful verses that propel us toward purposeful disciple making:<\/p>\n Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did<\/em> (1 John 2:6<\/a>).<\/p>\n \u2026He <\/em>[Christ] is your example, and you must follow in his steps <\/em>(1 Peter 2:21<\/a>).<\/p>\n Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.\u00a0Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ\u2026<\/em>(Ephesians 5:1-2<\/a>).<\/p>\n And you should imitate me <\/em>[Paul], just as I imitate Christ<\/em> (1 Corinthians 11:1<\/a>).<\/p>\n What Drove Jesus Should Drive Us<\/strong><\/p>\n Nurturing His followers toward becoming multiplying disciples was at the core of most everything Jesus did. Behind each of His powerful miracles, simple parables, gentle touches and scathing rebukes was a heart that beat, burned and broke for those who were lost. And His unparalleled passion to rescue the perishing was transferred in full force to His disciples when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. The book of Acts is proof of this.<\/p>\n What drove Jesus should drive us: \u201cFor the Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are\u00a0lost\u201d<\/em> (Luke 19:10<\/a>). This is true in our own personal lives, but it\u2019s also a central tenant of a Gospel-Advancing youth ministry.<\/p>\n Unless we motivate and mobilize our students to embrace Jesus\u2019 cause<\/a> and reach their world with the transformative power of His gospel message, they\u2019re actually in danger of missing a core tenant of what it means to be a Jesus follower. They may mistakenly slip into adulthood with the distorted mindset that their life with Jesus is basically a series of random \u201cplease-help-me-now-God\u201d and\/or \u201csin management\u201d moments. This mindset is so widespread among our young people that it\u2019s been given a label by researchers: moralistic therapeutic deism<\/a>. Sadly, this self-absorbed view of faith emasculates teenagers\u2019 walk with God, and reduces their faith to something they may (or may not) bother to pull off the dusty shelf when they\u2019re feeling a need for divine intervention or some \u201c4-steps-to-a-better-life\u201d advice.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why it\u2019s SO critical that we actually \u201cdeploy\u201d our young people on their God-given mission while they\u2019re under our spiritual care. We must do all we can to help them learn to live out their mission of reaching their social networks and schools with the message of the gospel. When we empower and unleash them to make disciples who make disciples\u2014it will, in turn, nurture their spiritual growth and give depth and purpose to their relationship with Jesus!<\/p>\n Customize Your Plan<\/strong>
\nSo how do you deploy your students for THE Cause of Christ? It looks different in different circumstances, depending on your adult volunteers, student leaders, students and their school situations. It will involve prayer, outreach and gospel presentations in your youth group meetings. It will require equipping and mentoring your students on how to have serious spiritual conversations (Share 6 can help here!<\/a>). It may involve creating a story telling culture in your group (check out \u201cTake 5 for THE Cause<\/a>.\u201d) It will include helping them grow deeper through Bible study, teaching, modeling and just generally doing life together\u2014to name a few of the key components.<\/p>\n