MULTIPLYING DISCIPLES EVERYWHERE

Ryan Brammer, Executive Pastor of Operations

At the end of every Gospel account and at the very beginning of Acts Jesus commissions His Disciples to “Go and make disciples”. After all that Jesus taught, after the modelling of faithful living, after the ups and down’s, the passion week, the miracles, the troubles, the fears, and the hopes, He commissions us to go into the world with the Good News.

This moment of commissioning was an invitation for Jesus' disciples’ to reflect and look back on their wild journey with Jesus, because He had laid out the method, the pathway, and the “how to” of Multiplying Disciples over those three years together. Jesus, the Master Teacher, had discipled them and shown them the way. Now, it was time to go and do the same.

Their calling is ours as well. Jesus' commission is for you and me.

The Alliance vision & prayer, along with RPC’s vision, is huge! And it absolutely relies on walking the pathway of discipleship with others, on calling others (just as Jesus called a few fishermen) to come and follow His way.

Multiplying

“Most Pastors assume that making disciples refers primarily to making better Christians out of existing believers. As a result, many churches have set low expectations for what being a good disciple means. What is missing is the notion that a disciple makes other disciples.” - Bill Hull (Conversion & Discipleship)

It can be all too easy to get cozy, to settle into life together and forget the call to go and make disciples. Now, let's be careful - we are also called to love one another, bear each other's burdens, gather together, worship together, and live this life together as God’s people. The call of multiplication isn’t a call away from these essential realities of following Jesus as a family of faith, rather it is a call to live out these realities in a way that impacts people far from Jesus.

Consider the Gospels. Jesus called His disciples to follow, learn, gather, pray, have fellowship… however He did so “on the road”, out there, in the midst of people in great need of a Savior. So whatever we do as followers of Jesus, we ought not forget the call to multiply, that the Good News of Jesus if for all.

Disciples

“The missing element in our discipleship is not a lack of teaching on missions, obedience, evangelism, or any other topic. The omission is a lack of intentional apprenticeship rooted in a covenantal community” - Bill Hull (Conversion & Discipleship)

A disciple is a learner, an apprentice, someone who dedicates their time and efforts to, quite literally, following their master, so they can gain the Master’s knowledge and capability.

When I was 16, I knew nothing about cars, mechanics, or fixing/repairing anything. I had to eat some humble pie and quite literally tell my friend Cam, "I don’t know what I’m doing" and, "Can you show me how to do all this?". I would watch as he fixed a thing, but then next time I’d get my hands dirty. The next time I’d do it, but he’d be there to coach, until finally I could just do the thing. This is how we parent. It's how new electricians and plumbers learn the trade. It’s also how people learn to follow Jesus and become disciple makers themselves.

Discipling another can feel daunting, but what if it was simply inviting another into your life that they may wrestle with God, ask questions, and simply see and experience how following Jesus changes your life?

• Discipleship is relational (“Come over for dinner. Let’s take a walk together. I will walk with you through life.”)

• Discipleship is intentional (“Let’s ask Jesus about this… What do the scriptures say about this? Let’s reflect together or pray together as life happens.”)

• Discipleship is messy (“You know, I don’t have the answer to that question. Yeah, I make mistakes too.”)

Everywhere

“Jesus commission to His disciples was not to have people come to us, but for us to go to them” – Bill Hull (Conversion & Discipleship)

Jesus went to his disciples and called them to something greater. The Disciples went with Jesus on the road into towns and cities. Discipleship has always been outward facing - seeking out those who need the Good News, and going to them.

This call lies at the very heart of our Alliance Denomination’s roots and its heart today. “Go, and make disciples”. It assumes we are on the move.

For many of us, we can get paralyzed in this. Paralyzed by a fear that “I can’t do that”, or “I don’t know enough”, or “I can’t just get up and move to another country”. But the word “everywhere”, means everywhere! So let me list a few prayers we can all pray as we step into the Fall together and consider how we play a part in “Multiplying Disciples Everywhere” at RockPointe.

1. Jesus, you have given me responsibility to disciple those in my care, in my home. What are you calling me to do in this? What do you want to say to me about this?

2. Jesus, you have placed me in my neighborhood with purpose. What are the open doors? Who are the “people of peace”? Where is the brokenness? What is a small step I can take with my neighbors?

3. Jesus, you have placed me in my workplace, on teams, in sports or on clubs with purpose as well. I am there as an Ambassador for you. How are you calling me to consider the role of “Multiplying Disciples Everywhere” in these places and spaces?

4. Jesus, my city, my Province, My country and My world is in such deep need of you. How are you calling me to step in? How can I help, partner or pray?

I am a firm believer that the call to make disciples starts with a prayerful posture - listening for the Spirit’s leading. You don’t have to be an expert, know everything, or have all the answers. You simply have to be willing to pray big prayers like these and be courageous enough to say “yes” when He leads.

And as we do all this, remember that God has always, and continues to, walk with ordinary people and empower them by His Spirit to achieve extraordinary results. He is with you in everything.

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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20

This may have been a bit long winded (whoops), but I am so passionate about discipleship. Because without it, I would not be here. Without someone courageously and boldly stepping out to make disciples, I would not know Jesus. “Multiplying Disciples Everywhere” is not just three “christian-y” words we like to throw around. It literally constitutes the pathway where people are saved and reconnected with God!

“Jesus, help each of us to follow your way and fulfill your Commission”

I look forward to seeing all of you this weekend at our Bearspaw Site for our Kick-off celebration! Love you a lot RockPointe family.