Ch. 56 Discipleship To Achieve The Great Commission

What kind of soil am I?

As you read Matthew 13:3-10; 18-23 please ask yourself the following two questions:
1.) What kind of soil am I? and;
2.) What kind of soil do I want to be?

Matthew 13:3–10   3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 “Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 “But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 “Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 “And others fell on the good soil and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 “He who has ears, let him hear.” 10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

Matthew 13:18–23   18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 “The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

Only two things will go out into eternity: 1.) God and 2.) The souls of people. The extent to which you are involved with each is the extent to which you are involved with eternity. D.L. Moody said "Only one life, T'will soon pass. Only what's done for Christ will last".

Christ’s Example

What system did Jesus Christ put in place to spread the gospel to the world? He did not start a political party; He did not invent a magical product; He did not develop a series of programs to get people involved in a bunch of busy church work that keeps them from a deeper relationship with Him. Instead, He poured His love and truth into a small number of people, His disciples, and commissioned them to disciple more people.

Two verses frame the Lord Jesus Christ’s life and example to us. The first recorded words of our Lord (Luke 2:49) and the last words he spoke at the moment of His death (John 19:30) give a strong message:

Luke 2:49 (KJV) ...I must be about my Father’s business

John 19:30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:19–20   19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Discipleship Defined

Generally, a disciple is someone who learns from others, especially someone who then in-turn teaches others what they have learned.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines disciple as:
1: one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: such as
    a. Christianity: one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ's followers according to the Gospel accounts

Discipleship means to teach or train others with the goal of having them teach others.

Steps in God's Plan For Your Life

There are several steps in God's plan for every person's life:

1. Being Born-again
2. Walking in the Spirit (Understanding Law and Grace)
3. Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with other people
4. Discipleship
5. Defending the Faith (Apologetics)

NOTE: Apologetics does not mean apologizing for the Christian faith. Christian apologetics is the defense of Christianity against objections and answering questions regarding Christianity. The classic Bible verse regarding Christian apologetics is:

1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Stay Focused

To help you stay focused on the great commission, keep an eternal perspective by renewing your mind with the following types of verses:

Colossians 3:1–2   1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

Matthew 6:19–24   19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Philippians 3:8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

Luke 9:25 “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?

Romans 12:1–2   1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Galatians 2:20–21   20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

Many years ago, as a new Christian, I asked a mature Christian which books he recommends; I am very glad I asked Tom because he told me about The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert E. Coleman https://www.amazon.com/Master-Plan-Evangelism-Robert-Coleman/dp/0800788087/ Robert Coleman’s book clearly explains Jesus Christ’s method to save as many people as possible; that book inspired me to write this book. The contents of this book were inspired by God the Holy Spirit.

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