DISCIPLES Should Be Our Priority.

Matthew 28:19-20

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

This was the priority. It still should be the priority. You can spend your life in many
different ways. You can do good works such as helping the poor. You can build great
church buildings. You can conduct great religious rallies.But you must do one thing if you are to fulfill the mission of Jesus: You must participate in the reaching of all nations with the Gospel message. All other activities--such as ministering to the poor, building churches, etc.--are valid only as they contribute to this
priority.

But this reaching of all nations is more than bringing people to a place of decision for
Jesus Christ. To accomplish the Great Commission you must progress beyond decisions
to discipleship.

DECISIONS OR DISCIPLES?

Two types of teaching are involved in the commission of Jesus:

FIRST: TEACHING TO LEAD MEN AND WOMEN TO SALVATION:
People must hear the Gospel in order to respond to it, repent from sin, and be born again.
Such teaching is also called "evangelism":
Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:19)

New believers are sometimes called "converts.” A convert is a believer in Jesus who has
been born again by faith and has become part of the Kingdom of God. (The Harvestime
International Institute course entitled "Leaven-like Evangelism" provides training in how to
evangelize and raise up new converts.)

SECOND: TEACHING AFTER CONVERSION:

After you have been taught the Gospel and come TO Jesus, you must learn how to follow
AFTER Him: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
(Matthew 28:20)

The commission of Jesus reveals that further teaching is to follow conversion and
baptism. New converts are to be instructed in all Jesus taught. This process is sometimes
called "following up" or "shepherding" a new believer. It is also called "discipleship.”
140

DEFINITION OF DISCIPLESHIP
The plan of Jesus is that you lead converts on to discipleship. A disciple is a convert who
is established in the basics of the Christian faith and capable of raising up new converts
and discipling them. The word "disciple" means a learner, a pupil, someone who learns
by following. It is more than head knowledge. It is learning that changes a person's
lifestyle.

THE DECISION/DISCIPLE CYCLE

Decision is only the first step of true discipleship. Converts must progress beyond
decision to become responsible members of the body of Christ capable of raising up other
new believers. Winning new converts is important, but training men and women to follow
Jesus and become spiritually reproductive is equally important. Each one you train will
convert others, disciple them, and train them to reach others.

This is the Biblical plan of discipleship demonstrated by Jesus. He chose twelve men,
discipled them, and trained them to reach others. As you learned in Chapter Four of this
course, this "each one-teach one" plan results in multiplication of believers, churches, and
denominations.

But always keep the objective clear: You are not discipling to build your own ministry or
denomination. The purpose of discipling is to reach all nations for Jesus Christ.
Achieving the Great Commission depends not so much on better techniques and greater
technology, but rather on the development of committed disciples. The following
diagram illustrates the continuing cycle of evangelism and discipleship:
Evangelism > Converts > Discipling > Disciples

Evangelism results in new converts. Discipling results in disciples who are able to
evangelize, produce new converts, and disciple them. The cycle then continues to repeat
the same pattern. even to the end of the age. 

2 Timothy 2:15

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.