GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES

 Mark 3:13-15 “And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:”

Mark 3:16-17 “Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is” Sons of Thunder;”

Mark 3:18-19 “Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.”

 Every believer is called to be a disciple.

Every disciple is called to make disciples.

 Matthew 28:19 “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,”

 

WHO ARE WE INVESTING IN?  WHO IS INVESTING IN US?

 

There are people Jesus is calling us to invest in. There are people Jesus wants to invest in us.

 How does it happen?

1.      PRAY AND INVITE THEM

Mark 3:13 “And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.”

 Luke 6:12 “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He named apostles.”

 Mark 3:14 “Then He appointed twelve,”

Appoint – To make someone into something.

Jesus could see in the twelve what they couldn’t see in themselves.

Jesus can see in us what we cannot see in ourselves.

Jesus wants us to open our eyes to see what people around us can be in Him.

 

Mark 3:16 “Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter;”

 2.      BE WITH THEM

Mark 3:14 “Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him.”

 That is the invitation of Jesus to everyone of us.

Jesus wants to spend time with us. He wants us to spend time with others.

Discipleship flows out of relationship. Relationships take time.

We want to be teachable, available, humble, and vulnerable.

 

Rosenburg/Koshy – To be teachable is a willingness to learn and to put into practice what we learn.

 

3.      ENCOURAGE THEM IN MINISTRY

Mark 3:14-15 “Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.”

 EVERY BELIEVER IS A MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST!

Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

 

The Holy Spirit wants to equip every believer with power and authority and the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Preach – To be a herald for the King

Power – exousia – a delegated authority in the name of Jesus Christ

 

Mark 16:17 “And these signs shall follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons….”

Mark 16:18 “They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Invite other believers to minister with us.

As they grow, we step back and encourage them to step out.

 

Five Commitments:

a.      This day, I choose to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

b.     I will spend time with Jesus and His Word.

c.      I will step out in ministry as He leads me.

d.     I will ask the Lord who I am to invest in.

e.      I will ask the Lord who is to invest in me.

 

Discussion Questions

1.      Does the thought of investing in others overwhelm you? Why or why not?

2.      What would be some of the major barriers to investing in others?

3.      As you look back over your life, who has invested in you?

4.      How did they do it?

5.      Would you be willing to invest in others as the Holy Spirit helps you?

6.      Is the Holy Spirit putting someone on your heart to begin to invest in?