Most Christians who attend church with any regularity have heard the Great Commission passage in Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV), “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I [Jesus] have commanded you…” Have you ever wondered what it really means to “make disciples”?

The Greek word used here for disciple, mathetes, means follower, learner, pupil, or apprentice.  An examination of the verbs Jesus used provides further insight. First, he says, “go,” which indicates this is an intentional rather than passive action that requires some planning and initiative. Next, He exhorts His followers to “make disciples.” There is the basic assumption that this includes sharing the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ (the Gospel). But it is an ongoing process that doesn’t end there; it includes teaching and modeling a surrendered lifestyle of following Jesus. “Of all nations” indicates that no one is excluded from the opportunity, and “baptizing” is an outward symbol of the inward change of identifying with Jesus in His death and resurrection. “Teaching” is a big assignment as He describes the curriculum and goals of those lessons. Disciplers are not to restrict their teaching to factual information about the Savior and the Bible. Essential to the lesson plan are teachers (i.e., the disciplers) who are models of obedience to God in their own walk with Him.

The discipleship process begins early with our children and grandchildren as we pray over them while they are still in the womb. Babies learn about the love of Christ through our tender, attentive responses and interactions with them. Toddlers learn about authority, patience, and kindness as we show them God’s creations, play and sing with them, or gently instruct their early life. We can begin age-appropriate discussions with preschoolers and early elementary-ages. At this stage and all ensuing ages, it is vital that we watch our own lives closely as our faith instructs our talk and our walk. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (ESV) makes it clear that a first step in teaching our children is to check our own heart status. Our goal is to become more like Jesus ourselves so we can help others to become more like Jesus.

Discipleship, similar to parenting, is a lengthy journey that requires energy, time, sacrifice, and work. Jesus had three years with His disciples which is approximately 1,095 days. If we see someone once a week, this would be equivalent to 21 years and once a month meetings would equate to 91 years. Jesus did not have a cookie-cutter approach, a formula, or program. Rather, He brought them into a life-on-life process where they could watch how He lived out His relationship with His heavenly Father in daily life. They shared struggles and joys, discussed issues, ate meals and worked together while building strong relationships. They listened as He taught them lessons and as He interacted with others. They watched Him pray and depend on God for guidance and strength. Jesus didn’t just teach content; He was a model of living out Truth each day in every circumstance.

The role of the Holy Spirit cannot be ignored in the discipleship process. We pray for those we love to have a hungry heart and an openness to hearing about God. Talking with God about those we love (prayer) is a prerequisite for talking with them about God. It is often hard to be patient until the Spirit has moved and prepared them to receive the Good News. Because this occurs at different times for different individuals, it is imperative to not depend on our own wisdom but ask the Spirit to give us understanding of their readiness to hear and willingness to listen. Spiritual growth and a relationship with Jesus Christ cannot happen without the power and work of the Holy Spirit. Every situation is an opportunity to influence or teach; we leave a legacy of little “seeds” whether we choose to or not. We must take the long view, waiting for those seeds to germinate and begin to exhibit growth. As farmers can attest, this may take a long time!

Discipling is a lifetime of faith formation. God’s role is to save our children. Our role is to pray for the Spirit to work in their hearts and trust that God will use our relationships for His good purposes. If we have obeyed and followed His commands, we are approved in God’s sight regardless of the results. A disciple is a messenger of God but, in the end, only God makes disciples.