The ultimate goal of disciplemaking is disciples in all nations. We can get caught up on the verb, “make disciples” in Jesus’ Great Commission. “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,” (Matt. 28:19-20). We can debate and discuss whether this should be organic or engineered. We can feel the pressure of developing intentional quality meetings with those we want to disciple, as well as the impulse that we need to spend as much time as possible with a disciple so that we can speak into all those unplanned teaching opportunities.
The pressure of mechanics, plans, studies, subjects, and lessons to cover can overwhelm a would-be disciple maker. And even with a well laid plan for discipleship, we can still feel like something is incomplete because Jesus’ relationship with the disciples was so intensely life on life. And in the midst of trying to figure out this balance, we can miss the bigger goal of Jesus’ commission.
“Make disciples of all nations.” This must have landed on his disciples with a heavy thud. Disciple making requires both structure and margin. Enough structure that you cover important subjects, lessons, theologies, and life application. And enough margin that there is room in life to be present for the unplanned teachable moments. And then the push to “all nations.”
Lingering in Jerusalem for too long was not acceptable. Making disciples requires depth and distance. My observation is that most churches struggle with this balance. They are overconcerned about distance and fail at depth. Or they are overconcerned about depth and fail at distance. That is like flying a plane with only one wing. They are thinking about the number of converts to be made, or they are worried about the theological depth of each disciple.
My prayer for CHBC is that we find our balance. That we build both wings of equal strength, structure, and stability. I pray we work at both the depth and distance of disciple making. I pray we equip believers and extend the gospel. Both pursuits exalt Christ. Equipping believers but failing to extend the gospel to the lost is not reflective of why Jesus came, what Jesus did while living on the earth, or what Jesus commissioned us to do.
Fix this balance in your own heart. As you raise your children, preach the gospel to them, and train them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. In your small groups, Sunday School classes, men’s or women’s Bible studies, weeknight groups, or any other group you are with, press for this balance in the group’s teachings, prayers, and applications.
Depth and Distance. Equip and Extend. That is Jesus’ commission to the church. Until we are serious about both, we are missing His plan.
By His Grace and For His Glory,
Pastor Mark
