The Strategy for Fruitful Disciple Making

I begin with a couple of rhetorical questions: One, “Are you a disciple of Jesus the Messiah?” If you answered, “Yes,” the second question is, “Are you discipling others to the point of spiritual multiplication?”

Let me interrupt myself before getting into our text to define what I mean by “fruitful disciple making.”   

We must understand upfront that disciple making is not just a specific calling for a special group of people we term missionaries or pastors. It is an issue of universal obedience because every available believer is commanded to make disciples. Matthew 28:19, “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations…” The word “go” is not a command. It contains a 2^nd person plural pronoun, i.e. all of you as you’re going – make disciples.

Disciple making is not just for beginners. Yes, new disciples need basic training, but it’s a huge mistake to think that we can simply learn the basics in a twelve-week Bible study for new believers, flow into the general local church population, and live off that training.

What does it mean to build or make disciples? It’s more than just helping a person to become more like Jesus in inner essence of character. There must be an outer expression of doing what Jesus did – turning men/women into disciples. Disciple making is one born again person with God's own vision, imparting their whole life, love and learning to another person, by relationship, example, by leadership, and by teaching and training. This cannot be done in a classroom or in a church building in large numbers. It requires close-up, life-on-life, healthy relationships that model the message and methods and not just mouth them by teaching biblical facts.

No book of the Bible demonstrates the picture and process of making fruitful disciples like 1 Thessalonians. In the first twelve verses of Chapter 2, a wonderful model for ministry emerges. While there is no doubt that Paul is defending himself from some criticisms that had arisen after he had left Thessalonica, yet there emerges in this section a marvelous picture of fruitful disciple making.

But you may be asking, "How does this apply to me? Missionaries and pastors, especially like Paul, are a special breed apart and I am not a pastor or in ministry.” If that’s your feeling, then you need some clarity to your theology. How many ministers are in this class today? The correct answer is every believer is in the ministry. So, what does Paul’s strategy look like? What should we expect as we seek to obey our Lord’s command as stated in the Great Commission?

1. False Accusations and Satanic Oppostition Are to Be Expected - 2:1-2, 18

“For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.” 2:18, “ because we wanted to come to you - I, Paul, again and again  - but Satan hindered us.”

It was evident to everyone that Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica was a success, so the reference to ministry as “not being in vain” was concerning the integrity of Paul’s ministry. His coming was not empty or hollow, as if he were a mere salesman or marketer.

In reality, it required boldness in God (2:2) to come to them and to proclaim the gospel in light of what had happened to them in Philippi. (Read Acts 16:22-24). Paul and Silas had been shamefully treated and grievously insulted in Philippi. Gross indignities had been heaped on them in the way they had been treated - arrested on a false charge, stripped of their clothes, and nakedly and publicly beaten without a trial, and thrown into the inner prison with their feet in the stocks as though they were the most dangerous criminals. Still suffering from backs that had been beaten to a pulp, they came to Thessalonica knowing that the same type of opposition probably would meet them there as well.

Upon arriving in Thessalonica they had great success (read Acts 17:1-10). But after a short while (maybe 6 months), Paul was forced to leave town by night or risk being killed by the enraged mob.

While in a Athens he learns that the enemies of the gospel were trying to discredit his character so the people will discard the message of the gospel.

In spite of the purity of Paul’s life, the transforming power of his message, and his passionate love for the newly reborn disciples, the enemies of the gospel were having some success in convincing the Thessalonian disciples that Paul and his companions were nothing more than self-seeking frauds like so many other “spiritual teachers” of that time. Therefore, as distasteful as it was for Paul to have to defend himself, he answered his detractors directly and concisely for the sake of the truth.

By studying 1 Thess. 2, where Paul is defending his life and ministry while in Thessalonica, it is possible for us to reconstruct their slurs. We see how some were pointing an accusing finger at Paul and his missionary team, others were spreading scandalous stories about him, a few were trying to undermine his entire ministry - whatever way we look at it, some were so determined to discredit him that they launched a malicious smear campaign against him.

They were probably saying something like: “The preacher man ran away and wonder of wonders, he hasn't been seen or heard of since. He's just another one of a long line of phony teachers who tramp up and down the Ignatian Way. This guy's in the job only for what he can get out of it in terms of sex, money, prestige, and power. So when red-hot opposition arose and he found himself boxed in, he took to his heels and ran, you couldn't see him for dust. He doesn't give two cents for you; he's left you to fend for yourselves. Don't be so naive, he's much more concerned about his own skin than your welfare!”

How does this relate to making disciples of King Jesus? Upfront we need to not be surprised when false accusations are made against us and the gospel we are proclaiming. Also, we are not to suppose that just because it’s a dangerous place that the assignment changes. Sure it’s tough and the opposition is fierce because of supernatural evil, but we can have “boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict (conflict is “agon” from which we get “agony.”), and expect to bear fruit for our obedience. (Jn. 15:13)!

1a. Fruitful Gospel Application Must be Exemplified

1b. Fruitful Disciple-making is Built on the Foundational Truth of the Gospel of God - 1 Th 2:2, 4, 8, 9 (1:5; 3:8)

It was the gospel of God, the gospel of God's dear Son. There was no other message, no other theme, no human speech, or opinion. The gospel was the sole foundation upon which the apostle built his exhortations and reproofs.

The gospel stands against every other system of religion in the world, including some religions that go under the banner of Christianity. All these false “gospels” teach that the way you go to heaven is by some program of good works, by doing penance for your sins, going to church, moral behavior, helping the poor, and giving to the church. But the gospel is that we are saved from God’s judgment by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, resulting in good works.

It was, and still is, the most vital news in the world, and at all costs, it must be publicly posted to a watching world, shouted to a listening world, and lived out before a world that rarely sees reality. Paul never once got sidetracked by allowing other well-meaning individuals to lead him off the beaten track. For Paul, the main thing was to keep the main thing the main thing! All he told them from day one was the gospel of the sovereign, saving grace of God.

1c. Fruitful Disciple-making is Bracketed by the Motive of Pleasing God from the Heart – 2:4, 6

By bracketed, I’m referring to God-centeredness. We could also label this integrity before God. We please God when we seek His glory, not our own. Paul says (1 Thess. 2:4), “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.” He adds (1 Thess. 2:6), “nor did we seek glory from men.” Paul lived with a Godward focus. He wanted to please and glorify God on the heart level.

Years ago, an agnostic was contemplating suicide, but he decided that if he could find a pastor who lived his faith, he would listen to him. So he hired a private investigator to watch Will Houghton, a preacher who had become the president of Moody Bible Institute. When the report came back, it revealed that Houghton’s life was above reproach. He was for real. The agnostic went to Houghton’s church, trusted in Christ, and later sent his daughter to Moody Bible Institute. (“Our Daily Bread,” 11/83)

2. Fruitful Disciple-making is Based on Relational Togetherness Where the Love of God Finds Expression – 2:7-8

Paul’s affection for these new disciples in Thessalonica is visible in every line. In this short letter comprised of 89 verses, Paul uses the personal pronoun you, yours, etc. 116 times! Listen to 2:8, “affectionately longing for you, you became dear to us,”. Then look at 2:17, 19!

Dann Spader said, “Love is the signature card of true disciples. Disciple making cannot happen apart from loving, caring, relationships – both tender and tough love.”

Mark 3:14b, Jesus “… chose twelve that they might be with Him…”) Knowledge was gained by association before it was understood by explanation. The process is better caught than taught. What you’ve got is what the person closely and regularly associated with you is going to be infected with. Disciple-making isn’t just a matter of teaching a lesson but imparting one’s life (2:8, “were willing to impart our lives”).

Repeatedly we are told of Jesus’ love for his disciples. Wuest’s translation of John 13:1, reads, “having loved with a divine, self-sacrificial love His uniquely-owned ones, those in the world, He loved them to the uttermost.”

To disciple others effectively, you need a godly message - the gospel of God; a godly manner - evident love for others; and a godly motive - pleasing God from the heart.

3. Figurative Illustrations are Used to Make the Process Grasped More Easily

Paul uses four superb metaphors: the steward, the mother, the father, and the herald.

3a. Fruitful Disciple-Making Involves Acting as a Steward that is Faithful in Guarding the Gospel - 1 Thess. 2:4

Although the word "steward” does not occur in the text, the concept of stewardship is implicit in the phrase “entrusted with the gospel.” God had entrusted the gospel to Paul, as a householder entrusts his property to his steward.

A steward or house-manager owns nothing, but possesses and uses everything that belongs to his master. Joseph was a steward in the household of Potiphar (Gen 39:1-6). He managed his master’s affairs and used all his master’s goods to promote his master’s welfare. Every steward one day must give an account of his stewardship (Luke 16:1-2). If he is found unfaithful, he will suffer.

The message of the Gospel is a treasure God has entrusted to us. We must not bury it; we must invest it so it will multiply and produce “spiritual dividends” to God’s glory. Some Christians think that the church’s only responsibility is to protect the Gospel from those who would change it (Gal 1:6-9). But we also must share the Gospel for the multiplying of disciples, otherwise, we are quarantining it and keeping it from contagiously spreading to others, others, OTHERS!

3b. Fruitful Disciple-making Involves Acting as a Mother that is Loving and Gentle in Caring for Their Disciples

The image is not merely of a mother but of a "nursing mother" (trophos) who intimately and sensitively "cares" (thalpō) for her young. The word thalpō occurs in the Greek Old Testament for a mother bird caring for her newborn young or her eggs. She conforms her life to meet the needs of the new lives of her young, just like human mothers do. The mother must take the initiative to pattern her life around the life of the newborn in order properly to meet the child's needs. Ultimately, she sacrifices her needs to meet the needs of her offspring. She is "delighted to give of her life" to her children because she loves them.

3c. Fruitful Disciple-making Involves Acting as a Father that is Loving and Diligent in Equipping Them in Their Identity and Destiny

Discipling is spiritual parenting and one of the essential elements of good parenting isn’t first rules and regulations but having and maintaining a love relationship between parents and children. Fathers are about ensuring the future by reproducing sons in the present. It is imperative that every father imparts life and learning to his sons before he departs this life. Teachers may impart knowledge and prophets may predict the future, but fathers shape it. One is like a thermometer the other is like a thermostat. Fathers rear what they reproduce. Fathers are defined not by their own success but by that of their offspring.

Four Key Responsibilities of the Father in the Discipling Process:

1. Provides Direction/ leadership / headship / vision– Where are we headed?
2. Provides Doctrine / Instruction / Teaching – What is the plan to get there? Cannot delegate all of this to the Mother or to outside teachers – like Sunday School and youth groups; must take the responsibility himself; exhorting, encouraging, imploring – Teaching, reinforcing, reminding and teaching again – but all the time modeling the same truths … more is caught than taught.
3. Provides Discipline / Correction / Nurturing – How do we stay on track or recover? Tough Love; requires making tough decisions and sticking to them; setting the boundaries and the penalties and consequences for crossing those boundaries; mother will tenderly tend to cut the child some slack; the father needs to provide the sternness that makes the child take sin seriously; that develops the sense of the fear of the Lord in the child Heb. 12:6-11.
4. Provides Distinction – What is special about this child; what commends this child? What does the Father think of our progress? Father God commends Christ at baptism: Matt. 3:17 “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased”; At the Transfiguration in Matt. 17:5. Then He speaks audibly one more time as Christ prepares to go to the Cross – John 12:28 “I have both glorified it [the Father’s name] and will glorify it again”

Both metaphors - mother and father - actually complement each other beautifully. It is all about modeling, making, mentoring, motivating, and then moving them on and out to become DMD’s with TWI!

This where the involvement of a father is mega important, for any father worth his salt wants each of his children to walk in a manner worthy of the God who has called them. And that is what they needed to do; they needed to learn how to walk.

3d. Fruitful Disciple-making Involves Acting as a Herald that is Loving and Bold in Announcing God's Truth – 2:9

“For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.” The word “preached” or “proclaimed” comes from the root word “kerux” which means a herald. A herald or messenger was one entrusted with public authority, who conveyed the official messages of kings, magistrates, princes, military commanders, or who gave a public summons or demand, and performed various other duties. In the New Testament all believers/disciples are God's ambassador, and heralds assigned to be announcers of the good news from God concerning King Jesus and His kingdom.

A fruitful disciple-maker is confident in God's power, committed to God's truth, commissioned by God's will, compelled by God's love, and consumed with God's glory!

Many of you feel like you have little or nothing to give. But I tell you on the authority of God’s word: if you are a Christian, that is not true! You have Christ (Romans 8:10), you have the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), you have the Word of God (1 Corinthians 2:13), you have spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:10), you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and you are a fountain of living water (John 4:14; 7:38).

This is not a matter of personality, or special calling to the ministry, but of faith. Trust him and give yourself to becoming a fruitful disciple and disciple-maker so that the King has the reward of His sufferings!