Part 3: Making Disciples

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of
the age.” (Mt 28:18–20 NIV)
A. Jesus’ vision of a disciple is about standing through the great time of testing
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone
who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show
you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down
deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that
house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears
my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on
the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it
collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Lk 6:46–49 NIV)
• 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and
Achaia… 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us.
They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—
Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. (1 Th 1:7–10 NIV) (cf. Mk.
15:43, Mt. 27:57)
12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay
or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to
light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s
work. (1 Co 3:12–13 NIV)
1 “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every
evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the
LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who
revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And
you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. (Mal 4:1–2 NIV)

27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be (lit. “is not able
to be”) my disciple. 28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first
sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?
29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it
will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish’…
33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot
be (lit. “is not able to be”) my disciples. (Lk 14:27–33 NIV

A. Stages through which a new disciple must pass:
1. Repentance, followed by baptism, is the initial stage of a disciple’s life.
Repentance is always presented in light of the Day of Judgement and the
Resurrection. Baptism is only done as response to sober repentance.
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter
and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied,
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(Ac 2:37–38 NIV)
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on
Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the
road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again
and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell
from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, (Ac
9:17–18 NIV)
2. Repentance takes on flesh in the vision for a life defined by following/obeying
Jesus until the end.
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.” (Mt
28:19–20 NASB95)
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will
receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will
come and will not delay.” 38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I
take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39 But we do not belong to those
who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
(Heb 10:36–39 NIV)
3. The vision for being a disciple until the end lays the foundation for the need for a
life of prayer and fasting
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you
may pray. (1 Pe 4:7 NIV)
4 … he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift
my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized
with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”…14 They
all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the
mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Ac 1:4–14 NIV)
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness
and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For
it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on
the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen,
and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Lk 21:34–36 NIV)
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand
were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’
teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Ac 2:41–42
NIV)
4. Lastly, this pattern of prayer and fasting with the aim of being Jesus’ disciples
and hold fast to His word until the end will lead to a life of bearing fruit.

29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word
with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and
wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the
place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Ac 4:29–31 NIV)
11 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12 “Those beside the road
are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from
their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 “Those on the rocky soil
are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm
root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 “The seed
which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go
on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life,
and bring no fruit to maturity (cf. vs. 12 ‘saved’). 15 “But the seed in the good soil,
these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and
hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. (Lk 8:11–15 NASB95)
22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to
the end will be saved. (Mt 10:22 NIV)
13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. (Mt 24:13 NASB95)
26 ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE
AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; (Re 2:26 NASB95)