1. PERSONALDISCIPLESHIP
Be a disciple maker
Jesus was the moulder of lives. He radically changed
the lives of His first disciples, whom we now refer to as
the Apostles. What happened with this group of men
is the blueprint of discipleship training.
He called them from their ordinary lives to follow Him.
Literally, they left everything they knew, took to the
road, and followed Him around the country. They slept
outside. They witnessed as He taught thousands and
saw the many miracles. They learned from Him as He
taught them alone in the quiet moments between the
busy times of reaching the lost. They learned from His
example as He lived a sinless life.
As the potter in Jeremiah took the clay, placed it on the
turntable and created a beautiful and useful pot; so He
was creating something wonderful for His kingdom,
with this small group of men.
Then when it was time to leave this world and return
to The Father; He commanded them to go and preach
the gospel and make disciples. He sent them all over
the world to proclaim the good news of salvation and
to teach others; just as he had taught them.

2. A disciple is an apprentice who learns from the master
from teaching and example. A disciple is not just
learning a trade, but rather, a way of life.
We read about the great commission in Matthew
chapter 28. Jesus had risen from the dead and the
disciples were so happy to see Him again. But He
would soon leave them and return to heaven. The past
3 years had been their time of training; so that they
could take the good news of salvation to the world.
They had spent 3 years, living with Jesus and listening
to His teaching. They had watched Him as He
modelled kingdom living. They had become more like
Him, by living with Him. That is how they were His
disciples. Now it was their turn to become disciple
makers.
We are disciples of Jesus if we have put our trust in
Him for salvation and are daily learning to live like Him.
As His disciples, we too are commanded to be disciple
makers. The commission was binding on all of us who
love Him.
In our modern world, the gospel of Jesus death and
resurrection is just as relevant and just as needed as it
was then. Disciple making seems to be old fashioned

3. and irrelevant, but it is not. The people who are
redeemed form sin, still need to learn what it means to
love and follow Jesus. They still need to grow in the
new life they have been given.
Imagine a maternity ward full of babies who have been
left to fend for themselves. This would be
unspeakable. No one would leave the newborn
without food. So how could the church of Jesus Christ
even contemplate leaving new Born Christians without
help and support?
The new believer needs words of wisdom and truth
from those who are mature. They need to learn from
their godly example. They need to be encouraged in
the valley and in the storm by those who have survived
the same trials.
Making disciples is not about power and control. It is
not about bossing someone around until they become
like us. Making a disciple is serving them as we help
them learn. It is about encouraging them to discover
who God made them to be. It is about being a friend.
It is about being a mentor.
Making disciples is not the reserve of the Pastor or the
leaders. It is up to all of us to be salt and light to the

4. lost. It is up to all of us to help the Christians who are
not as long on the road to become stronger and more
mature. It is up to all of us to use the gifts God has
given to us through His Spirit, to minister and to serve
the body as we all grow together.
Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 should be known and
practised by all of God’s children. Not one of us is
considered insignificant or without purpose. Not one
of us can make excuses why we cannot help others on
their path to maturity.
We can pray for and with each other. We can speak a
kind word to encourage the weary. We can share a
word of testimony to reveal what God has
accomplished for us and can do for them. We can be
disciple makers just by living out the life that God has
put within us; as an example for the less mature to
follow.
The qualification for being a disciple maker is to be a
disciple. For each of us, that is manifest in different
ways, as we are all different people. The goal is to see
the body of Jesus Christ grow in Him, so that together,
we can glorify Him and reach the lost who need His
love and salvation.

5. A Pastor, as well as being a disciple maker; can train
others to be disciple makers. A Pastor can help the
body as a whole to grow and become a more mature
group of believers who can utilise their individual gifts
to help each other grow in Christ. A Pastor is like the
Captain of a ship; who trusts each member of the crew
to fulfil their function. He does not do all the work, but
leads as all work together.
The problem is that in many modern churches; the ship
has turned into a passenger liner. A small crew works
with all the energy they have; while the majority, sit on
deck, enjoying the view and sunbathing.
Pastors need to be able to discern between the sick
and weary, who need to be rested; and the lazy who
are just in it to get their needs met, like little greedy
children.
Then, with sensitivity, to teach from God’s word and to
lead by example, as the weary are energised and
healed; and the lazy are inspired to get involved.
References for introduction.

6. CHAPTERS
1 - THE CROSS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
2 - FOR ME, IN ME, WITH ME, AND THROUGH ME
3 - COME AWAY WITH ME MY BELOVED
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
HEBREWS 11 AND 12
2 PETER 1
EPHESIANS 4 and 6
GALATIANS 5
EPHESIANS 2
PHILIPPIANS 1 and 2
REVELATION 1-5
MATTHEW 5-7
MATTHEW 28
JOHN 10 and 13-17
1 JOHN 1-2
PROVERBS 3

7. JAMES 1
2nd CORINTHIANS 1
ISAIAH 52, 53 and 55
ROMANS 8 and 12
PSALM 22-25 and 103

8. CHAPTER ONE
THE CROSS; WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
First be a disciple
It begins at the cross; as we each, personally
acknowledge, that JESUS died for ‘me’. It begins at the
cross when we receive salvation and become children
of God.
The Shepherd has died for the sheep to bring us
salvation and new life. That life is a journey; where we
are mentored to become more like Jesus.
You cannot be a disciple maker if you are not a disciple
yourself. You cannot be a disciple without first
becoming a child of God. That only happens through
the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
In John 10 we read about Jesus being the Shepherd
who would give His life for the sheep. In order to be
like Him; are we each willing to have the same
attitude? Are we willing to give our lives over to God
to be used to serve others? Are we willing even if
necessary, to give up our very lives to help others come
into the fullness of God?

9. Just as Jesus is the anointed of God who came to set
prisoners free; through His own sacrifice. So too, we
who are anointed by His Spirit; are called to make the
sacrifice in order to help others to learn the truth that
will set them free.
Isaiah 53: The suffering servant
Psalm 22: Forsaken by The Father, that we might be
accepted.
John 10: The Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep.
Are we willing to follow His example and give all that
we are for the people of God; to see them grow into
maturity and fullness?
Read and re-read these 3 scripture passages. Soak in
God’s presence as you seek to be moulded into the
image of Christ.
Now read Philippians chapter 2. As Jesus was willing to
give up heaven and humble Himself to come to earth
to be our Saviour; are we willing to follow His
example? Are we willing to worship Him by
surrendering our lives in His service?

10. If you really do belong to Christ, and benefit from His
comfort and strength, and if you really do have His
Spirit within you, show it.
Paul challenged his readers to live like the believers
they claimed to be. Being a disciple, today in this
modern age, is portrayed as an extra option to being a
believer. This is not the case. Those who believe in
Jesus are called to be disciples and disciple makers as
part of who they are in Him.
We are called to be humble. We are called to live in
unity. We are called to put the needs of others before
our own. We are commanded to live the life of a
disciple.
Being a disciple and making disciples is clearly more
than teaching truth. It is about transforming lives as
that truth is lived out in the power of God. Unless our
lives are being transformed, we cannot be disciples,
never mind help others in their journey.
First go to the cross and receive forgiveness, salvation
and eternal life. Then live the life you were called to
live; as God uses you to help others find salvation and
live transformed lives.
This is what it means to make disciples.

11. CHAPTER TWO
FOR ME, IN ME, AND THROUGH ME
Practise what you preach, and be a living example of
God’s grace.
We are all involved in a process of change. Father has
not finished working with us and will never give up the
process of daily helping us to be more like Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 God has begun a good work in you and
will not give up until the day when Jesus Christ returns.
To be a leader of God’s people, we need to be humble
enough to acknowledge that we are still going through
the process. To disciple others, we need to admit that
God is still working in us. We need to be living and
growing in our faith. How can we help others along the
path, unless we first have walked that way?
In this chapter I would like to examine that process.
There is an order I have discovered over the years; a
pattern that keeps coming through in every truth and
doctrine.
It always starts with the plan and work of God for us.

12. Then He works in us and with us in partnership.
Then as His instruments; He partners with us in the
lives of others.
For each of us the journey began when we went to the
cross.
Right through scripture there was a plan in progress.
This was to bring the Messiah into the world, who
would reconcile man to God. This was to provide
forgiveness for sins and to bring us into relationship
with God as our Father. This was to send our Saviour to
die on that cross to provide salvation for us.
New birth is the point when we receive it.
Discipleship is the process of God working it out in us.
Our obedience sees us working with God to bring it to
others.
2 Peter 1:1-15 is a template for growing as a disciple of
Jesus Christ. Because of what He has done for us, God
can now work in us as we day by day choose to grow in
knowledge of who we are in Christ and what we can
become as He changes us.
The first step is found in verse 1, to receive the faith.
By hearing the gospel and responding to it positively,

13. we become children of God and followers of Jesus
Christ.
We leave our old way of life and thinking and start a
journey of change in attitudes and behaviours. This
may mean leaving old beliefs behind. This may mean
leaving generations of tradition behind and changing
our whole identity. This may mean leaving behind
addictions and immoral ways of behaving or treating
others.
At the beginning we are the people who need to be
discipled by others. We are the ones with the
questions that need answered. We are the ones who
to learn by example what it means to love and follow
Jesus.
At the point of positively responding to Jesus we
received His Spirit within us. We received His power to
live. We received the inheritance of His promises.
We just need to learn more about what this means.
We need to find out through teaching. Example and
our own personal experience; about the power within
and the promises that give us hope.
Peter gives a list of changes that are necessary for a
baby Christian to grow. Read 2Peter 1:1-15 and soak in

14. it. Discipleship is about growing in these qualities.
Discipleship is about becoming more like Jesus who is
the embodiment of these qualities.
It is not about reaching some point of perfection; but
about seeing progress. It is not about being better
than everyone else or looking good to impress them. It
is about opening our hearts to God, Trusting that He
has provided everything we need to change, and
letting Him change us daily.
In Galatians chapter 5, the choice is laid out for us,
between being filled by God’s Spirit and living for Him,
or feeding our sinful nature and living for our own
greed.
The impact we have on those around us, as salt and
light, only happens as we let God change us first. We
must first know God; know who we are in Christ and let
that knowledge change us. Then we can help others
grow, can bring hope to the broken and weary and can
bring the gospel message to the lost.
Mark 10:42-45; Jesus challenged His disciples on the
idea of what it meant to be a leader. The leaders in the
Gentile world, wanted to be seen as powerful and
important. They were all about control and getting

15. respect. But He required of them to lead in a totally
different way. Like Him, they were being asked to
serve. Those who would seek to be first must become
like a slave.
He is our example, and John 13 illustrates this role as
He washes their feet and tells them to serve each
other.
This is a message for us today. In order to lead, we
must serve. The most important role in the kingdom of
God is to make ourselves the least important in our
priorities.
‘The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give His life as a ransom for the lost.’
Going back to Galatians 5; there is a list of qualities
that the Holy Spirit is developing within us, called the
fruit of The Spirit.
LOVE 1 John 4:7-21
We learn that God loves us and demonstrated it
through the cross. We receive that love and learn each
day just how much He loves us. We not only read
about God’s love but experience it as He helps us
through the trials of life.

16. It is the love of God that got me over my past abuse. It
is the love of God that helped me in times of grief. It is
the love of God that motivated me to be a better wife
and mother. It is the love of God that motivates me to
pray for the needs of others and for the work of the
kingdom.
We are loved by God, then learn to love others, as we
forgive them for the things they have done to hurt us.
We learn to demonstrate love as we help them in
times of need.
This is the process of God loving us, who receive it,
grow in it and then pass it on. God’s love has worked
for us, in us and through us.
Love for us; Jesus went to the cross.
Love in us; we are healed and changed as we receive
God’s love.
Love through us; we show love to others and help
them to know and receive the love of God.

17. JOY
Isaiah 61:1-4: The Anointed One who came to set
prisoners free. In verse 3, we read that the oil of
gladness will be given to replace sorrow.
Father God provides joy for us by dealing with or sin,
by bringing us into relationship with Himself and by
giving us the promise of life eternal in His presence.
This is a joy that sustains us in the toughest of times.
This is the joy that is based on truth, not on emotions.
This is the joy that He places within us through His
Spirit. This is the joy that others see in us and want to
know why.
It is a joy that can be shared with others; as they are
brought into God’s salvation.
Isaiah 55 is a call to the people of God to turn to Him.
He promises lasting satisfaction that money cannot
buy. He promises peace and joy to those who will turn
back to Him.
I cannot personally put joy within another person.
However I can lead by example, as others see how my
life is transformed by it.

18. The best tool of discipleship I have is the live out
James chapter one in front of them. As I rejoice in God
through my trials, those around me see that God is real
in my life. As the fire purges me to bring me into
maturity, others are encouraged to grow in their trials.
Words can only teach so far; but real joy, that lasts
through the tests; speaks loudly to others.
For me; Joy is placed within me by The Spirit of God.
In me; Joy is a choice to worship God in the tough
times.
Through me; Joy is a witness to the reality of God for
those who see me living through tough times.
The Holy Spirit has placed within each of us who love
Jesus; the ability to grow in the qualities mentioned on
the list in Galatians 5. This is His work in us.
We partner with this work as we choose each day to
live our lives guided by them. As we grow in our faith,
they grow within us. We learn to be more loving, more
patient, more at peace, more kind and forgiving, and
more like Jesus.
Because we are changing, and living a more godly lives;
we impact those around us. They see God in us. They

19. receive from God through us. They are drawn to know
more of Him as they see His qualities in us. This is how
He works through us.
As we pray; lost souls are saved by the grace of God.
As we pray; the needy are provided for. As we pray,
the sick are healed. As we pray, Missionaries are
protected and see fruit for their labour.
As we give; the money is used to extend the kingdom
of God on earth. As we give the hungry are fed. As we
give, needs are met all over the world and in our own
community.
As we go; our neighbour gets a visit and loneliness is
dispelled. As we go, the gospel is preached to our
family and friends. As we go, out into our lives; people
are touched by God’s love revealed though how we
treat them.
All of this is God working through us.
As we set an example for other believers to do the
same; we are playing our part to make disciples.

20. CHAPTER THREE
COME AWAY WITH ME BELOVED
“I want to know Christ,” was the desire of Paul’s heart.
He had been converted from being a persecutor of the
church to a follower of Jesus years ago on that
Damascus road. He had preached the gospel and
planted churches all over the known world. He had
suffered for his faith and was at the time of writing this
epistle, in prison.
Yet, he still desired to know more of His Saviour. There
is always more to know. There is always deeper to go
in our relationship with the Saviour. Paul knew this,
but do we?
Revelation 3:20, is a call to all of our hearts from The
Saviour.”Behold I stand at the door and knock. If you
hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and
eat with you.”
He longs to enjoy deep fellowship with the people He
redeemed for Himself. He longs for our faith to be
about relationship and not head knowledge or religion.

21. The Apostles were disciple by Jesus as they spent time
with Him. You and I can only be disciple as we spend
time with Jesus.
Yes, we disciple each other in the body, as we use our
gifts to teach and encourage; but that is not enough.
We also need, individually and personally to each be in
fellowship with Jesus and to learn from Him directly.
A daily quiet time is essential to help us to grow. It is
important to just soak in the presence of God. As we
pray, we pour out our troubles, casting our burdens
and cares onto Father God, like children running to
Daddy with a cut knee or broken toy.
How much more then is it important to spend time
alone with God each day, if we are helping others to
grow? We cannot give to others, if we are not
receiving first from Father God. We cannot bring
others into maturity, if we are not growing in God. We
cannot feed others, if we are unfed. We cannot help
others to know God more if we are not getting to know
Him ourselves.
God’s children go to a meeting to hear a word from
Him. They sit in silence as the preacher stands up to
speak. They are hungry to hear something to help

22. them get through the tough times in life. They long to
know that God spoke to them as individual that day.
This will not happen, if the preacher is just quoting a
few Greek words and repeating what he has read in
some book. This will not happen if the preacher has
not sat alone with God and listened for a word that is
personal and relevant.
To make disciples you need a word from God to help
them grow. To give them that word, you need to be in
personal fellowship with God.
For your own sake and for the sake of anyone to hope
to disciple; spend time alone with God.
When you pray, listen, do not just speak.
When you listen, be willing to obey.
When you receive encouragement, be willing to pass it
on to others.
You cannot be an effective maker of disciples unless
you are on a real, personal journey, of relationship
with God. You cannot help others to grow the fruit of
The Spirit if you are not growing yourself. This is only
possible when you soak in the presence of God.

23. Do you want to know Jesus better each day? Does
your heart hunger for God as David’s did in Psalms 42
and 84? If the answer is yes, then even your valley
experiences can become sources of life for the lost. As
you journey through the valley of tears; your pain will
become the source of encouragement for those who
come after you. As you have received encouragement
from God’s love, you can pass it on to others.