Jesus both lived as a disciple-maker and trained His followers to make disciples. What do we see Him doing that we can also do? What was His mindset and lifestyle as related to disciple-making?
1. Jesus lived in the present moment.
This ability to stay present to what was happening around Him made Jesus a disciple-maker. He was not in a rush to get to the next meeting, or the next event. He noticed people around Him and was present to them. The Lord was aware of the crowd passing by with the woman whose boy had just died, for example. He noticed. He engaged (Luke 7:11-17).
2. Jesus was always ready to make disciples.
For the Master, disciple-making wasn’t something He did at allocated times. It happened in His daily life.
Matt 4:18 tells of how Jesus found two of His most important followers. It says, as He was walking by the sea…
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.” Matt 4:18
Imagine with me…Jesus is strolling along the ocean. Maybe He is relaxing or having a special quiet time with His Father there. Then He sees two brothers out fishing. He strikes up a conversation and calls them to follow Him.
It wasn’t like Jesus was in disciple-making mode, or this was his “outreach” time. No, he was simply walking along the beach.
How ready are we to make disciples at any time? To notice people we come across and call them to come and follow Jesus?
3. Jesus taught through real-life stories and demonstrations.
As we read through the gospels, we see that Jesus constantly responded to the things in His world. A storm came up, it was a chance to show God’s power over the wind and waves. A shortage of food? Good time to show everyone that God is more than able to provide for their physical as well as spiritual needs. A fruitless tree they walked past? Great time to teach a lesson about what God does with our lives when they are not producing the fruit He desires.
Do you have that mindset of a disciple-maker? Are you turning real-life situations into opportunities to train people around you in the ways and nature of God? Do you demonstrate His Kingdom in everyday life?
Great reminders from C. Anderson – see the full posting on the site Pursuing Disciple Making Movements in the Frontiers .
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