Who, Me? Make Disciples? - How God Has Equipped YouSample

Day 4: A Focus on Jesus

A disciple follows Jesus Christ with the intent of becoming like Him. This implies, first, that he or she focuses on Christ.

Imagine what would have happened if Jesus had called to Peter and Andrew, “Leave your boat and nets and come join my Bible study class” and three years later had said, “Go into all the world and promote my three-year discipleship program.” Neither they nor we would give our lives for a class or a program. Such things are not worthy of our lives. But Jesus Christ is. Everything in life finds its meaning when we are properly related to Him. He leads, we follow. We know we are disciples when we allow Jesus Christ to order our lives—family, finances, career, pleasures, friendships, possessions, and so forth.

J. I. Packer was once asked what he saw as the greatest need in the church in the Western world. His response was that we must get back to the centrality of Jesus Christ. Paul said to the Corinthians, “But I am afraid that . . . your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3 NIV). One of the major reasons many Christians avoid discipling others is that they have lost that pure devotion to Christ. They give themselves to activities, classes, and programs, and that’s all they have to offer others.

One of the best disciplemakers I know was raised as a flower farmer. Because of the needs on the farm, Dirk had to drop out of high school. But his mind was alert to the Bible. He memorized a verse every day and then meditated on it while working. Such a heart for the Lord was contagious. Before long university students sought him out for help in their lives. It was the Person of Christ in his life that attracted others.

Read the following statements, and consider which of these accurately reflect what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12:  

• The lifestyle of Paul and his co-workers was a good example of true Christian living. 
• Paul knew how to be heavy-handed when he had to be. 
• Paul’s attitude toward the Thessalonians was rooted in his understanding of God’s ultimate aim for their lives. 
• Paul knew that the Thessalonians were watching his life. 
• Paul’s follow-up was characterized by his desire not to come across too strongly. He quietly observed the Thessalonians’ lives from a distance, and spoke up only when someone was obviously doing something wrong. 
• Paul strove to help the Thessalonians focus their lives on Jesus.