Disciple-Making DisciplesSample

Where do we start?

In this Plan, we have been discovering what it means to be a disciple-making disciple. Because becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ, means becoming a disciple-making disciple. Jesus spent His life making disciples and He ends His time on earth by commissioning us to do the same, by calling us to bring others to Him, live surrendered to Him, love others the way He loved us, and remember that He is with us every step of the way.

We get to spend our lives on this journey of following Jesus and invite others to go with us.

But how can we tell if it’s working? If we are actually growing in our faith and other people’s lives are being changed for the better?

Spiritual maturity is hard to track. It’s not like growing physically where you can measure someone getting taller or moving from rolling to crawling to walking and then running.

But there are some measures the Bible gives us to track maturity, like the ability to persevere and endure hard things with patience and hope. The way we talk is also a mark of maturity. Do we complain and gossip? Or are we kind and honest? Do we make peace and seek unity or are we eager to start a fight and seek revenge?

In Ephesians 4, Paul outlines what true spiritual maturity looks like:

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV

You have a part to play in Jesus’ mission to transform the world. And when you play your part, the Body of Christ, God’s people, is built up. We grow in our unity, our understanding of Jesus, and our maturity as His followers.

This is what the Church is meant to be. God’s people living God’s way to accomplish God’s mission. All of us have a part to play. We’ve been called by God and filled by His Spirit to speak the truth in love as we become more like Jesus together. And we can trust that as we do what we can to build up others, we too will be built up in the process.

So what does this mean for us today? It means becoming like Jesus for the sake of others and inviting others to do the same. In other words, it means becoming a disciple-making disciple.

If you don’t know where to start, remember that Jesus is with you. He will always be with you. Then, take a step to start serving the people around you. Because that’s what Jesus would do. As you do, He’ll use you to transform others, and He’ll continue to transform you.

Challenge:What do you think spiritual maturity looks like? How might serving in your church or community help to grow your faith? What step can you take today to follow Jesus’ example and serve the people around you?

Pray and ask God to help you find a place to play your part in His plan to rescue and redeem the world through Jesus. If you attend Life.Church and are ready to take the step to serve, check out go2.lc/studentapp today! If you are part of another church family, talk to your youth pastor and ask how you can help meet a need in your community.