Every session has a point—what each participant should walk away from the discussion knowing, feeling, and doing.

Main Idea: As disciples of Jesus made to glorify God, we accomplish our purpose by making disciples.

Head Change: To know that disciple-making continues past introducing people to Jesus into showing and teaching them how to follow him.

Heart Change: To feel motivated to share, show, and teach the Word of God through our words and actions.

Life Change: To proactively encourage those around us to know Jesus and grow in their faith.

What moves you from enjoying a work of art, such as a book series, song, movie, or painting, to becoming a fan of the person behind it? To what lengths have you gone to convince others to follow that creator too?

 It’s hard to keep quiet about an author who has created an unforgettable cast of characters or an artist with a particular style you can’t get enough of. If something is amazing, why shouldn’t everyone know about it? Such passion applies to our faith in Christ as well. We are meant to not only be followers of Jesus but proclaimers of Jesus. In our session today, David Platt reminds us that Jesus wants us to grow as disciples into disciple-makers.

Watch Session 3: Disciples Making Disciples (11 minutes).

David opened this session by connecting his points from the first two sessions: We enjoy and exalt God in all the nations (session 1) as his Spirit empowers us to become more like Jesus (session 2). In what ways has your experience as a Christian resembled David’s description?

We accomplish God’s purpose for us, David said, when we make more disciples of Jesus. Empowered by the Spirit, we are meant to introduce Jesus to others and help develop them into mature disciples. When did you first become aware that God was calling you to share the gospel with others? How did you react then, and in what ways have you incorporated God’s call into your daily life?

In Matthew 28:18–20, we read Jesus’s final command to his followers. He commissioned them to make disciples, to go far and wide sharing about Jesus. Their faith was never meant to stay within their small circle of friends. Who first told you about Jesus? After you trusted in Jesus, how were you taught and shown ways to deepen your faith?

David offered a four-layered method for making disciples. First, we go and share God’s Word—evangelize—with people who don’t know God. We tell them about Jesus, how he offers us forgiveness and has made a way for us to enjoy eternal life with him. Going may take us across the world or just next door. What has been your experience in sharing the gospel with people in your circles of influence? How comfortable do you feel talking about your faith in Jesus and explaining how someone can know him?

Some fear talking with strangers about Jesus. Others realize that faith-centered conversations with their loved ones could stir up conflict. Yet both audiences include people ready to hear the gospel and respond. What fears do you have about sharing your faith? What about evangelism excites you? 

The second layer of making disciples involves showing people how to follow Jesus. This, David said, is the step often not taken. But we must follow up sharing the gospel with teaching, encouraging, and modeling the Christian life. How did you learn to apply your belief in Christ to your everyday life, work, and relationships? Who explained Scripture to you? What has the process of spiritual growth looked like for you?

The third aspect of discipleship is teaching others to obey Christ’s commands. Often, we can be intimidated by the idea of teaching biblical truth to others on their spiritual journeys. We don’t feel qualified. We don’t have all the answers. But, as David pointed out in Deuteronomy 6:7, discipleship doesn’t require expertise, just example and guidance. As we go along, we can share wisdom and pray with people, and encourage them as they study Scripture and try to obey its leading. We are not so much experts as experienced helpers. If discipling others has been an intimidating thought, how does David’s explanation inform your understanding of the process? Who in your life could you walk alongside in their young faith journey?

Sometimes discipleship can involve teaching the Bible and theology. We may discover a talent for study and teaching, or we may find ourselves sitting with our friend and opening Scripture together to seek answers to our questions. Either way, disciple-making is a job for every disciple. Which part of disciple-making challenges you the most? Which part plays to your strengths? In what areas do you need to keep growing so you can continue to disciple someone in your life? 

Finally, discipleship involves serving the world. David will have more to say on this point in our next session, but he challenged us to remember Jesus’s phrase in the Great Commission that we would make disciples “of all nations.” To what extent do far-off people enter your thinking as you consider your own discipleship efforts? In what ways have you thought past your friends and neighbors to pursue a way to spread Jesus’s message to people far away?

David left us with a challenge: “Disciples of Jesus are disciple-makers for Jesus.” What can you do to embrace your identity as a disciple-maker both near and far?

LAST WORD