Plug In…Pull Forward
Teach – Part 3

Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 4:6-11

Key Verses: Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The final words of Jesus, called the Great Commission, include the entire process of making disciples. For the last two days we have been working through the steps. Today we come to the final step: teaching new disciples to obey all that Jesus taught while here on earth. Jesus did not want us to stop after the first two steps: going to people and introducing them to Jesus and baptizing them when they make a confession of faith. As wonderful as these two steps are, they are not enough, according to Jesus’ final words. New disciples need to be discipled. Discipling is the process of transferring knowledge from one disciple to another. In other words, a veteran disciple must be willing to take time with a rookie disciple to teach and encourage the rookie to maturity in their faith.

Some of God’s children make this process too complicated. In Jesus’ day, during the beginnings of this powerful process, no one had formal training. No one was a paid professional disciple maker. Jesus simply wanted those who were further along in their walk with God to love and care for those behind them, even if they were only a few steps back. Sharing a testimony or an insight from the scripture to a newer disciple is discipling. This is what it means to pull the kingdom of God forward: participate in the Great Commission. We must be a part of the process—at some level—in making more and more disciples!

Father, I am willing to participate in the process of making new disciples, but I need your direction to where I should plug in. Guide me today, In Jesus Name, I pray, amen.