Jesus Style Leadership 4 - Sent & TeamSample

Make Disciples

Leadership Lesson

Jesus-style leaders follow Jesus’ commission to make disciples.

Read Matthew 28:18–20.

Comment

This statement by Jesus is famous. It’s called the “Great Commission.” Jesus is sending His disciples (and all the Christians who follow them) to take the gospel to the world. Some preachers call it the “Great Omission” because we are not doing well at making disciples. Others say that we treat it as the “Great Suggestion,” when in fact it’s God’s call for all of us. At the centre of Jesus’ commission, there is an imperative: “make disciples” (28:19). The disciples were to produce followers of Jesus just like themselves. This would be achieved by going, baptising, and teaching them to obey. It’s the same for us.

1. We go. We are not to wait for people to come to us, but we are to “go” to them. This does not necessarily mean that we have to go overseas, but it does mean that we have to get out of our comfort zone in order to reach people for Jesus.

2. We baptise. “Baptising” means more than dipping people in water. It involves helping them accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and then immersing them in water as a sign of this change in their lives.

3. We teach them to obey. “Teaching to obey” means helping them grow as followers of Jesus. For Jesus-style leaders, making disciples is more important than any other leadership task. If you lead in a secular environment, you may have to do this more by example than by word, but your ultimate aim is to make disciples of Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, I really do want to obey your Great Commission. Please give me the courage to get out of my comfort zone to share your good news, and help me to teach what it means to follow and obey you by both my words and my example. Thank you for giving me influence so that I can make disciples.

Personal Reflection

What are you doing this week to help someone become a disciple of Jesus?