31: Seven Lessons from Jesus
Key Passage
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…
Philippians 2:5
From the 20 Practices of Disciplemakers:
All of these behaviors and spiritual disciplines are the messages that you are sharing with those around you.
They, in the end, will be the most powerful discipleship lessons you will ever teach.
Jesus called His disciples to a connected lifestyle. He simply told His disciples, 'Follow me'. They lived it out together.
Jesus modeled the Kingdom… not religion, rules, or even the structure of the church. He says to heal the sick and cast out demons.
Jesus trusted them early in ministry activities. You can trust because He led the way in this.
Jesus helped them to learn from everyday life circumstances: a fig tree, sowing, resting, farming, finances, etc.
Jesus challenged them to grow beyond Himself. When the 5000 were gathered, He first asked His disciples to miraculously feed them.
Jesus commissioned them to multiplicative discipleship. He left them with this final, important thought in Matthew 28.
Jesus left. Are we bold enough to raise up disciples and then send them to carry on without us? Jesus did.
As we follow Jesus' example, we will see good fruit emerge from those with whom we walk this journey of discipleship. This is not a periphery Christian activity. This is at the front and center of Jesus' strategy to reach the world. He has allowed the advance of the New Testament church to rest on our shoulders, with His empowering grace, of course.
Great discipleship will make the biggest difference when raising a mature generation of believers who will take the gospel to the ends of the earth until all peoples have heard. And then the end will come.