Be A Disciple Maker For The Harvest Is Big

1) The harvest is bigger than we can imagine.

We cannot overemphasize the power of an invitation. There are millions of people out there in desperate need of an invitation to Christ. To be a disciple maker, you need to step out in boldness.

“Jesus said to his followers, “There is such a big harvest of people to bring in. But there are only a few workers to help harvest them.” – Matthew 9:37 (ERV)

2) The harvest is people receiving eternal life through faith in Jesus.

“The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!” – John 4:36 (NLT)

3) If we do not reach them, they will be lost for eternity. There are no second chances. You only have right now to reach them. God wants to use you to be a vessel for His will where you are.

“If I say, ‘These evil people will die!’ Then you must warn them. You must tell them to change their lives and stop doing evil. If you don’t warn them, they will die because they sinned. But I will also make you responsible for their death, because you did not go to them and save their lives.” – Ezekiel 3:18 (ERV)

Jesus said, "Go," not stay. Share on X

The Harvest Is Ripe

1) This is the year of the Harvest!

“Don’t you have a saying, ‘Four more months and then the harvest’? Well, what I say to you is: open your eyes and look at the fields! They’re already ripe for harvest!” – John 4:35 (CJB)

2) People will come if we invite them.
• 82% of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if invited. Statistically, only 2% of church members invite a single unchurched person to church each year.

3) People are desperate to understand the meaning of life.

• As Americans move beyond the pandemic, their perspective is shifting on some of the most significant questions facing humanity. Compared to a decade ago, U.S. adults today are more likely to regularly wonder about meaning and purpose in this life.

4) People have a positive outlook on the church and Christians.

• Among the Gen Z who have been exposed to the church & the Word they have a positive outlook on the church. 82% say That the church is a place to find answers to the meaning of life. 77% say they can see themselves being part of a church.

5) People are lonely and in need of meaningful relationships.

• 52% of Americans report feeling lonely.
• 47% report their relationships with others aren’t meaningful.
• 57% of Americans report eating All meals alone.
• Young adults between the ages of 18 and 22 are the loneliest age group.
• The number of people who live alone has increased by over 30% in the last few decades. Social isolation
  is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Loneliness can increase the risk of premature death by up to 50%.

It is time to become more than a follower today

How Do We Make Disciples?

• A few days before Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave his disciples some final instructions. These words are very important because they are the last words Jesus said to His followers. 

1) Preach the Good News.

God commands us to preach, to tell everyone about Jesus and what He has done for them. The harvest is truly ripe – all God needs is preachers who are willing to go and tell the World the Good News.

“And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.” – Mark 16:15-20 (NLT)

• Declare: “I am a preacher!”
• Question: If you are not fishing, are you really following?
• Note: The great commission cannot be fulfilled without intentionally pursuing the lost. Just as Jesus was sent by His Father, Jesus has sent us to win non-believers to faith in Jesus.
  

Just as the Father sent Jesus, Jesus is sending us to tell everyone, everywhere about Him.

“Again, He said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” – John 20:21 NLT

The power to save a soul for eternity and make disciples starts with us preaching the Good News.

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1) No one can be saved and become a disciple of Jesus Christ without someone preaching the Good News.

Everywhere that believers preach the Good News people believe and get saved. This is why the enemy has done all He can from the beginning of time to shut the mouths of prophets and Christians throughout out the World. The most powerful force to transform lives, set people free, save, heal, and restore is in the mouth of believers when they preach the Good News.

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes — the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” – Romans 1:16 NLT

• Power: (dynamis) strength and ability of God to transform and create, power to perform miracles, moral power, the power and influence which belong to the rich and wealthy, power resting on armies, power and resources arising from numbers, abundance,

God promises if we preach the Good News, He will confirm our Words with His Miracle-Working Power.

Jesus is still healing, casting out demons, and doing great works. He is now doing them through preaching believers. Unless we are preaching the Good News and making disciples, we are not giving anything for God to confirm. The Great Commission comes with a great promise. 

“These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.  ” … And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.” – Mark 16:17 (NLT)

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2) Teach The Word of God

Making Disciples is a command, not a suggestion. God’s will for every Christ follower is to make disciples. Only disciples of Jesus Christ can make disciples of Jesus Christ.

It is foolish for someone to call themselves a follower of Jesus Christ and refuse to fulfill His command to make disciples. Making disciples must dominate the lives of all believers. The end result of preaching the gospel should be to make disciples.

“Go therefore and make (teach) disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” – Matthew 28:19-20 (AMP)

• Declare: I am a Teacher of the Word of God!
• Teacher: (didasko) To be a teacher, impart instruction, explain.
• Question: What is God’s will for your life?
• Answer: It’s twofold, be a disciple and make disciples.
• Note: in order to make disciples, we need to go! Disciple-making is a verb and an action word. The word go
  means to pursue, go, after, or even travel. Disciple-making must be intentional and sacrificial. To be an effective disciple maker, we need to meet them where they are at. Only those who have accepted the mission to go and passionately pursue the lost will make disciples. Let’s run with the mission of Jesus Christ.

A. The word “make” in these instructions means to teach.

We make disciples through teaching others the Word of God.

Make (matheteuo) to teach and instruct others to follow and obey the commands of Jesus Christ. To enroll others as students with the purpose of developing them into scholars of the Word. (A scholar is someone who has deep knowledge of a particular subject.)

Disciple (matheteo): a student that follows the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus Christ; one who learns in order to obey and teach; one who develops the mind, habits, and character of Jesus Christ, by submitting to a teacher, master, mentor or coach. One who is committed to the mission of Jesus Christ to make disciples.

Disciples don't sit – they go, teach, and multiply. Share on X

We make disciples of Jesus Christ by teaching others to obey the commands and Words of Jesus. just toWe never teach to just inform, we teach to obey. We teach through our example and our teachings.

“Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20 NLT

The first command that we teach new disciples is to get baptized.

Baptism is a disciple’s first act of obedience after accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Baptism signifies that they have repented of our sins, died to our old way of living, and placed our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection for our Salvation. When they go down into the water it represents a death and burial of our old life and when we come out of the water it represents our new life in Christ.

“Go therefore and make disciples … baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” – Matthew 28:19-20 (AMP)

3) Disciple A Small Group

We will never be great disciple makers if we are not intentional about it. What we are serious about we put on our calendar and schedule it. Accept the call to become a D.G. leader. Make it your lifelong mission to learn the Word, obey and teach it to others, Make your home a Disciple-making center.

Since we are expecting the Biggest Harvest we need more leaders than ever to take care of and disciple them.

Declare: “I am a disciple that makes disciples”.

Note: This involves more than giving them information, disciple-making is about training the new disciples to obey and develop into leaders that make disciples. Disciple-making is not complete until the disciple is practicing everything Jesus commanded including the command to make disciples.

Question: Are you committed to the growth of others? Can you name them?

A. The best place to make and teach new disciples is in a small group.

Jesus taught the crowds publicly and most of the time taught His disciples in a small group setting. Jesus discipleship group was His hand-picked 12. They gathered around Him as He taught them. It should always go from rows to circles. In order to make disciples, we need to go!

“One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.” – Matthew 5:1-2 (NLT)

B. Leading a discipleship group gives us an opportunity to develop others to become teachers of the Word.

Our Church’s Mission: “Make disciples of Jesus Christ that make disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Watch The Full Sermon Here: