Disciple-making is not just reading books together. Disciples are not made simply by one person sharing insights on how to follow Christ with another person or group of persons. A disciple is made when we serve. Discipleship is not an academic exercise. It is about following a person. Following a flesh and blood person but ultimately following Jesus.
Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many,” (Mark 10:45). The chief disciple-maker came as a servant. In John 13, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and then said, “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him,” (John 13:15-16).
We have said that disciple-making is like having a canoe on the water. To move that boat in a straight line, you need two oars paddling on each side of the canoe. One oar is evangelism and the other oar is discipleship. With that analogy in place, you might say that serving others is a way that calms the waters, so that movement is unhindered and less rocky.
Galatians 5:13-15 says, “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”
Paul reminds us in these verses of the freedom we have because of Christ. We are given a great deal of freedom. God blesses us with 24 hours each day, He provides for our needs, He gives us a mind, a mouth, and muscles through which we can think, speak, and act. And while the Bible reveals God’s law to us, we are no longer judged by the law, but by the gospel through grace. What freedom is found in Christ.
Galatians 5 urges us though, not to turn our freedom into an opportunity for the flesh. That freedom can cause us to become selfish, living to please our own desires. The best antidote for that fleshly attitude toward our freedom is in serving one another. The danger of continuing in living for your own freedom is that you will devour and be devoured.
Disciples do not devour one another; they lovingly serve one another. Knowing how best to serve someone is not always easy. Serving others is more than giving them what they want. It means seeking what will most help them grow in Christ and allowing God to use you in that process. When we take this attitude in serving, we are not only growing as a disciple, but we are helping to make a disciple.
Do you want to be the person at the table that simply devours everything put in front of you? Or do you want to be the one who intentionally and carefully selects what dish to place in front of others that will allow for them to grow and mature in health and moderation? I would rather serve others what Christ desires for them, than be someone devouring those for whom Christ died.
By His Grace and For His Glory,
Pastor Mark
