WE ARE CALLED TO FIRST BECOME DISCIPLES THEN TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF JESUS!

11/28/25

I woke up one morning some time ago dreaming that I was teaching. I was asking a large crowd: “What are we called to do?” The answer? “Make disciples!” We are NOT called to make converts to a religion, nor to make faithful church service attendees or even “church members,” but to make followers of Jesus! DISCIPLES!

The biggest “catch” to making disciples? I cannot lead people to become something that I am not! To the degree that I am a disciple, that is the only degree to which I can “make a disciple.” As a minister, I cannot impart what I do NOT have. The good news? Through the Word and the Spirit, I can grow in Him until I become ALL that He wants me to be. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Jesus told the Pharisees that they made their “disciples” two-fold more the “child of hell” than they were. Pastor, people who are “saved” and/or sit under our ministries become who and what we are in God. Then they will always take that to the next level — for better or worse.

By definition, a “disciple” is a “taught or trained one who has a personal relationship with the One they are following.” Are we? Do we?  No matter how “faithful” to the “do’s and don’t’s” that we are, IF WE DO NOT KNOW HIM PERSONALLY, THEN WE ARE NOT HIS DISCIPLE! If we do not know Him, we cannot lead people to know Him! PERIOD!

IF we have truly become a Disciple of Jesus, then we will be compelled by His Spirit to be involved in the making of more disciples of Jesus! THAT IS WHAT HE DID! THAT IS WHAT WE WILL FOCUS ON DOING — IF WE ARE FOLLOWING HIM AS HIS DISCIPLE!

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “SALVATION” AND “DISCIPLESHIP.”

Jesus used the allegory of the grain harvest to teach about salvation. Biblically, grain is harvested as “sheaves” (bundles of wheat plants with every part of the plant intact). Sheaves must then be processed, which separates the chaff — the “ungodly” (everything that is not a grain of wheat) — from the grains of wheat. In this process each kernel is left individually intact and identifiable as “wheat.” This is equivalent Biblically to SALVATION.

BUT for the grain to serve its ultimate purpose (being made into bread), the kernels must all be crushed and ground to powder (flour), then mixed with oil or water to become “dough,” and finally, “BAKED” in an oven in order to become “bread.” This is DISCIPLESHIP. And, Jesus said, “Bread, this is My Body” (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:23; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17).

As it was with the Savior, so it must be with His followers. There is no other option. If our Savior had to endure the cross for us, we too must endure the “cross” for Him. It is impossible to be His disciple and avoid whatever “cross” that He allows to come into our lives! IF WE RESENT THE CROSS, THEN WE RESENT THE ONE WHO TRUSTED US WITH IT!

JESUS DECLARED EMPHATICALLY:

Luke 9:23-26

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

Believing and OBEYING the Gospel by submitting to the Biblical plan of salvation is ONLY the beginning! Truly becoming His/belonging to Him is a process and not an event. This process is called, “discipleship.” The process ALWAYS involves a “cross” for us — DAILY! ALWAYS!

LIFE ONLY COMES OUT OF DEATH! (2 Corinthians 4:7-18).

If by His Spirit’s empowerment (the Grace of God) I die to myself, then the promise is that He will live in AND through me. THAT is true spiritual life! It is the life of a Disciple!

Our salvation experience is not an end, it’s a new beginning! BUT it is ONLY a beginning. We cannot STOP at the “beginning” and please God. We MUST continue on through the process of discipleship until we know the Lord, until we have a personal relationship with Jesus.

2 Peter 3:18 But GROW in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

DISCIPLESHIP: LIFE IN HIM, THROUGH HIM, WITH HIM, AND HIM THROUGH US! In Jesus’ Name!

- Bishop C.M. Wright