"... Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20.

How to make Disciples?

Paul's defined aim was to train and to perfect men into the image of Christ: Colossians 1:28-29.

Discipling is not mere impartation of knowledge but training men.
2Tim. 3:14-17; Eph. 4:11-16.
* Paul points out basis of operation as the Word of God.
a. to lead men to salvation,
b.to give profitable teaching,
c.for reproof,
d.for correction,
e.for training in righteousness.
The result being that the man of God is adequately equipped for every good work.
*Discipling means sharing the Word leading to salvation and then teaching them all that the Lord has commanded us. Teaching is not mere impartation of knowledge but actual experience of obeying His Word (e.g.baptism, 1John 2:3-5).
Without teaching you have no right to reprove them. Reproof means correcting them, how to get their wrongs right with the Word of God.
Training in righteousness is a sort of product of the above.
Righteousness: i.right wiseness, right thinking, &  ii. right action.
In combination, the former leading to the latter.
Thinking of God is pure, good and wholesome and with God's Word in us, we will think likewise and do right works.
All these build up the man of God--adequate and equipped for every good work.

What is involved in disciplemaking?
1. The Personal touch: The Bible shows Christ's discipling involved a personal touch, esp. in Mark's Gospel.
Paul's discipling method: 1Cor. 4:14-21.
a). Personal Presence: v.19.; Rom. 1:11-12; Phil. 2:12,24; Ac.15:36,18:23.
Takes time to develop 'life' in another person. Nortes are imprtant but the important thing is 'yourself'.
b).Send a personal proxy, not shove papers. Someone who really knows the Word & your intentions. 1Cor.4:17 --Timothy sent to Corinth; Phil. 2:19,25; 1Thess.3:2.
                      Eph.6:21,22- Tychicus sent to Ephesians. Col. 1: 4-7.
c).Write a letter: 1Cor. 4:16; Col. 4:16; 1Thess. 5:27; 11Thess.3:17; Philemon.
2. Primary Relationship: Essential to establish primary relationships because otherwise you don't know your goal, how to relate to that person. His response and accountability. 1Thess. 2: 7-12.
A. "as a nursing mother & child relationship":
a). ought to be gentle & give tender care. Don't expect std of adult for a babe. Be sensitive to babe's every area of need. Different stds- different expectations.
b). bond of affection. People are not blocks of wood. Be affectionate and express it practically.
c). to be willing to labor & suffe hardship.-- easy to make disciples in comfortable positions but what of shifts, etc problems?. Willing to give of ourselves and all we have. "Strive", "learning to give and recieve".
d). pace-setting by way of example. of your own life, behavior and lifestyle. Positive good things, negative humbling things- confesssing your sins to people and learning to be humble. God can not use the proud.
B. Father -child relationship: 1Thess. 2:11; 1cor. 4:16-17.
a. to exhort the child. Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. Give child opportunity to explain first before correcting him.
b. to encourage the child. 1Thess. 2:11.
c. to discipline the child. 1Cor. 4:21. balance of the rod and love needed. Be the shepherd and not the sheep. Keep your biblical std high and God will bless you.
Phil. 2:22. the child is to serve the father. As we disciple, teach them to respond as child to father. If you are a lousy follower, you will never make a good leader.Lousy sons never make good fathers. By your fruits you are known.

Basic Steps in Discipling: Isa.27:6; II Kings 19:30.

1. Tell him why:
- reason for your actions. give reason , stimulate.
-LAck of motivation prevents action being taken.
-Reason given for cause enables performance.
_Cause desire for growth-- inspire, provoke.
Isa. 27:1-5.-- 2basic reasons:
a). v.1 "enemy is defeated..." now time for us to take root, being free of hold of devil.
b). v.2-5: "Lord as keeper...watching vineyard every moment..take root." Jn. 15:16.
--Tend day and night to cause others to take root.

2. Show him how:
Isa. 27:6. "will take root"; roots grow downwards & deeper & wider they grow, the stronger will the plant be. Rooting is very important.
Col. 2:7-- The disciple is to be firmly rooted in Christ.
The believer takes root by being firmly rooted in the Word of Christ.
a). SHow believer how to be deeply rooted in the Word by demonastration- by doing with him.
b). Be patient with disciple, as often as needed, till he understands.

3. Get him started:
Isa. 27:6(b)-- "Israel shall blossom".
a). help him to practise & apply what he has learnt.
ai). must spend regular time doing it with him. Keep a pattern. e.g. meet at fixed /definite time.
--Like disciples becoming known as having been with Jesus...only in the Master's steps...
aii). remind him of the purpose of what you are doing.
b). keep encouraging & helping him improve it in his life.- pressing on forward.
The prayerful life of a believer reflects the effect of the Word in his life. Thus a prayerful life is that of a Christian life in bloom.
Growth is expressed in prayer life.
--observe prayer life.
--pray the truths learned from the word.-- The Word sunk in to soul will return to convict even the backslider.

4. Keep him going
Isa. 27: 6(c): "Israel shall blossom and sprout."
When a believer begins to show signs of growth, he begins to sprout.
a). keep the budding disciple doing what he has learned until he is able to do it by himself.e.g. O.T.- learns to how to learn from God.
b). at this point of time, you should observe him do it consistently for sometime and keep encouraging him therein.
c). spend regular times with him as check-ups, exchanging experiences & sharing of lessons learned.
The believer needs to be cultured in the Christian fellowship- with God and His people. 1Jn. 1:3.
Fellowship is essential to Christian growth- it keeps the believer going and in fellowship the best in the believer is brought out. Heb. 10:24,25.
It is vital to link the disciple to the Church fellowship.

5. Get him reproducing
Isa. 27:6(d): "fill the face of the earth with fruit."
God is a god of reproduction- we are to be disciple-makers. Jn. 15:16.

Spiritual lineage must go upto 4-generations:
Jesus--Disciples--Disciples--Disciples.
2 Tim. 2:2. Paul--Timothy--faithful men--Others.

a). We teach and help the disciple to impart to others what he has been taught and what he has learned.
b). We perfect his skill until he knows how to do it consistently by himself.
c). we keep him reproducing.

In training disciples, the goal is to produce and reproduce reproducers.
The quality of the plant is measured by the product of its fruit. By their fruits is the disciple also measured. Jn. 15:8,16.
The Lord so desires that we bear fruit, more fruit, much fruit and that our fruit should remain. Amen.