Matthew 28 19 20 NKJV Go therefore and

Matthew 28: 19 -20 (NKJV) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. ” Amen. 19

Making Disciples MATTHEW 28: 19 -20

Making Disciples We all have 2 important goals in this life 1. To go to heaven 2. To take as many people to heaven with me as I can What Jesus says in Matthew 28: 19 -20 seems to point to this very thought

Making Disciples Jesus wanted disciples to be made of all men from all ends of the earth So it’s only natural that we might ask a few questions: 1. 2. What is a disciple? How do we go about making disciples of others?

Making Disciples The word for making disciples in verse 19 is the Greek word matheteuo It means to become a pupil; to follow one’s precepts and instructions A disciple was one who would learn from a teacher or rabbi

Making Disciples Jesus was often referred to as a rabbi (Mk. 9: 5; Jn. 3: 2; 11: 8) Being a disciple was about more than just learning from someone We learn from many people but we wouldn’t be considered disciples (ex. school teachers, managers)

Making Disciples It’s also about more than just simply following a person around There were costs to being a disciple, especially of Jesus (Lk. 9: 57 -62; 14: 26 -33) The costs were so great that some turned away (Jn. 6: 60 -67)

Making Disciples Being a disciple meant that one would become like their teacher in every way This included taking on his personality and characteristics; his very behavior “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher…” (Matt. 10: 25)

Making Disciples “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 16: 24) There is much involved in being a disciple of Christ It’s certainly not someone who is just a casual follower (ex. sports)

Making Disciples Many think and say that we see in verses 19 -20 is an order of how one converts another They say that Jesus gives the order of: 1. Make disciples 2. Baptize 3. Teach

Making Disciples Does this make sense? Does it confuse you? Me too! If Jesus isn’t giving these commands in order, then what was He doing? Notice the language…

Making Disciples Make disciples (matheteuo) is an imperative verb That means that it is the actual command here Baptizing and teaching are participles, which means that they show us how we are to make disciples

Making Disciples Now it makes more sense to us We are to make disciples by baptizing and teaching We baptize them to wash away their sins, to add them to the body of Christ, so they can be like Him (Rom. 6: 3 -6)

Making Disciples We then teach them all the things that Christ commanded One doesn’t have to know everything before they become a Christian; just enough to understand what they are doing Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch teaches us that (Acts 8)

Making Disciples In order for the apostles to make disciples, they needed to baptize and teach We see this throughout the book of Acts in the examples provided You’ll notice that they were still called disciples (Acts 6: 1 -2; 11: 26)