There are a number of behaviors that we easily see as disobedience to Jesus. In fact, more than we might admit, it is easy for us to point at others in judgment when we see these displayed in their lives. But it’s quite possible that a certain type of disobedience has become so commonplace that we are blind to it and walking in it ourselves.
In the great commission, Jesus gives a clear mandate to his followers: go and make disciples. This means introducing people to Jesus and baptizing them, as well as teaching others to obey the teachings of Jesus. Numerous examples in the New Testament inform us that to make disciples is to share our lives with others as we follow Jesus. It is an ongoing way of living and relating to others, centered on helping individuals in our sphere of influence become faithful followers of Jesus.
If I were to ask you the name of someone you are discipling, would you have an answer? I find increasingly that many of us know the great commission, but we aren’t obeying it too well. The hard truth is this: If we aren’t sharing the gospel and discipling others, we are not walking in full obedience to Jesus Christ. It seems we have grown comfortable, or at least have minimized, disobedience to Jesus in this area of our lives.
Not only is making disciples required of a life obedient to Jesus, but disciple-making is also the foundation of everything we seek to accomplish as churches. Disciple-making is essential for the development of leaders. And disciple-making is crucial if we are to see church multiplication taking place.
I am convinced a primary reason many aren’t discipling others is that they have never experienced being discipled and don’t know where to start. Can you think of a time you were discipled by someone? If so, great! This means you have an example to follow.
If not, let me encourage you that this isn’t complicated. The first person who discipled me did little more than invite me to coffee and to read through 1 Peter together. No planning, no curriculum, just honest discussion about Jesus and our lives. This was transformational for me. Disciple-making only requires two things. First, we must be walking with and learning from Jesus. Second, we invite others to learn along with us, to walk with us. Making disciples is every day, step by step, walking with others in the place we find ourselves. Disciple-making can happen even in the seemingly mundane of day-to-day living.
Here is the great news: If we collectively choose to obey Jesus and make disciples, each of us can be a part of real transformation in the lives of individuals and in our churches.
So if you aren’t already, can you pray for God to lead you to someone to walk with? If you need some guidance, please reach out to a leader at your church, your district leaders or our national office. We would joyfully help! Let’s choose together to refuse to be comfortable disobeying the commission Jesus has given to us.
Aaron Box began serving as the USMB national director in July 2024. Previously, Box served for 13 years as senior pastor of North Park Community Church in Eugene, Oregon. He has more than 20 years of ministry leadership experience and served on the USMB Leadership Board from 2014-2022. Box and his wife, Jennifer, have two children and reside in Eugene.
