EVANGELISM SEMINAR
Making Disciples
For the 21st Century
Dr. G. Earl Knight
Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventist
The Great Commission :: Matthew
28:18-20
“All authority (power) has been given to
me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore
and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I
have commanded you; and lo, I am with
you always, even to the end of the age.”
Who is a Disciple?
• One who forsakes all to follow Jesus.
James Montgomery Boice, Christ call to Discipleship, 13.
• One who is willing to be taught, a learner.
Discipleship involves commitment. It involves
identification with
Christ in His shameful death. Discipleship
involves renunciation of
oneself… It involves sacrifice for the sake of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
“It involves surrendering one’s own will
and one’s own rights to his life and
acknowledging that Jesus Christ has the
right to be obeyed, the right to rule. Our
Lord said that if a man is not willing to
forsake all that he has, he cannot be His
disciple.”
J. Dwight, Design for Discipleship, 18-19
Disciple - Mathetes (Greek)
A disciple is one who responds
in faith and obedience to the
gracious call of Jesus. Being a
disciple is a lifelong process of
dying to self while allowing
Jesus Christ to come alive in
us.”
Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essentials, 24
“Discipling is an intentional relationship
in which we walk alongside other
disciples in order to encourage, equip,
and challenge one another in love to
grow toward maturity in Christ. This
includes equipping the disciple to teach
others as well.”
Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essential, 17
To be a disciple is to be living in relationship
with the One who is discipling you. In this
relationship one is to be constantly learning
more about the person, while at the same time
living in subjection to Him. The word does not
suggest a rapid conversion to the person, but
a slow process by which one is made into a
disciple.
Discipleship is the process by
which one is led to accept Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior, fully
committed to a lifelong learning
relationship and growing towards
maturity in Christ. This includes
equipping the disciples to make
disciples of others.
The Biblical Picture of
Discipleship
Make Disciples Who…
GO
REPRODUC
E
Qualifications of a Disciple
• Surrendered to the Lordship of Christ
• Love and Concern for people
• Holiness
• Open and Transparent
• Committed Prayer Life
God’s Plan for Growing
A Healthy Congregation
Exodus 18:17-23
And Moses' father- in- law said unto him, The thing
that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear
away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for
this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to
perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my
voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with
thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou
mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt
teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew
them the way wherein they must walk, and the work
that they must do.
Exodus 18:21-23
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people
able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating
covetousness; and place such over them, to be
rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers
of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge
the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that
every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but
every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be
easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden
with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God
command thee so, then thou shalt be able to
endure, and all this people shall also go to their
place in peace.
Division for Effectiveness
Groups:
1000
100
50
10
Small Groups Four Functions
1
NURTURE
The new believers “continued
steadfastly in the Apostles’
doctrines”.
Then they that gladly received his
word were baptized: and the same
day there were added unto them
about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:41
Small Groups Four Functions
2
WORSHIP
In response to God’s creative
works and in goodness
towards His people we lift up
His name in praise and
thanksgiving. We worship Him
because He is worthy.
Small Groups Four Functions
3
COMMUNITY
A small group setting that
brings the members
together will result in a
closer community within
the body of Christ.
Small Groups Four Functions
4
MISSION
A small group must guard against
becoming inward. Without outreach the
group becomes stagnated and insipid.
As we reach inward to maintain our own
selves and others within the fold, we
must reach out to bring others within the
fold; we must reach out to save others
from the pitfalls of sin.
Ellen White on Small Groups
“The formation of small companies as a basis
of Christian effort has been presented to me
by One who cannot err.”
Testimonies Vol 7, p. 21
“The Sabbath School should be one of the
greatest instrumentalities, and most
effectual in bringing souls to Christ.”
Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 11
Ellen White on Small Groups
“The Sabbath School if rightly
conducted, is one of God’s
great instrumentalities to bring
souls to a knowledge of the
truth.”
Counsels on Stewardship, p. 115
Following Christ’s Method
“Christ’s method alone will give true
success in reaching the people. The
Savior mingled with men as one who
desired their good. He showed His
sympathy for them, ministered to their
needs, and won their confidence. Then
He bade them ‘Follow Me’.”
Welfare Ministry, p. 60
Types of Groups
Sharing/Prayer Group
The emphasis in this group setting is
on sharing experiences of what God
has done in their lives and praying for
a closer walk with God.
Types of Groups
Bible Study Group
The main focus of this group is the study
of Scripture and to seek how to apply the
Scriptures to their lives. Many of the Bible
study groups follow the inductive Bible
study method in understanding and
applying the Scriptures.
Types of Groups
Nurture Group
This group emphasizes fellowship.
There are members in our churches
that are in need of real fellowship,
especially newly-baptized ones or
those who are newly-transferred from
other churches.
Types of Groups
Support Group
A support group focuses on assisting
individuals who have particular needs.
These individuals have felt needs and
need to receive healing, love and
warmth. Examples of these needs are
single parenting, death, drug abuse,
alcohol recovery and divorce.
Types of Groups
Home Fellowship Group
A group of people who for various
circumstances meet in a home
rather than in a church for worship
and fellowship. This group may
have all the trappings of a church
service.
Types of Groups
Outreach Group
The emphasis of this group is
employing the members’ talents or gifts
in the building of the church spiritually
and numerically. This group must be
students of the Word and diligent
spoke-persons for Jesus Christ.
The Empowered
Disciples
The Empowered Disciples
Acts 1:8
“But ye shall receive power, after that the
Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall
be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,
and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto
the uttermost part of the earth.”
Divine Power Needed
“When Pentecost came to the Apostolic church,
three thousand souls were converted in a
single day, and the assurance has been given
us that the time is coming when there will be as
many converted in a day as there were on the
day of Pentecost, after the disciples had
received the Holy Spirit.”
Review and Herald, June 29, 1905
“When we bring our hearts into unity
with Christ, and our lives into
harmony with His work, the Spirit
that fell on the disciples on the day
of Pentecost will fall on us.”
Testimonies for the Church VIII, p. 246
Lay Involvement is Essential
“The work of God in this earth
can never be finished until the
men and women comprising our
church membership rally to the
work, and unite their efforts with
those of ministers and church
officers.”
Gospel Workers, p. 352
“Preaching is a small part of the work
to be done for the salvation of souls.
God’s Spirit convicts sinners of the
truth, and He places them in the
arms of the church. The ministers
may do their part, but they can never
perform the work that the church
should do.”
Testimonies IV, p. 69
Lay Involvement is Essential
“The best help ministers can give the members
of our churches is not sermonizing, but planning
work for them. Give each one something to do
for others. Help all to see that as receivers of the
grace of Christ, they are under obligation to work
for Him. And let all be taught how to work.
Especially should those who are newly come to
the faith be educated to become laborers
together with God.”
Testimonies IX, p. 82
The Effectiveness
of Personal Evangelism
“One of the most effective ways in which light
can be communicated is by private, personal
effort. In the home circle, at your neighbor’s
fireside, at the bedside of the sick, in a quiet
way you may read the Scriptures and speak
a word for Jesus and the truth. Thus you
may sow precious seed that will spring up
and bring forth fruit.”
Testimonies VI, p. 428-429
Six Keys to Successful
Personal Evangelism
1. Love for people
2. Coming close to the people
3. Making the proper approach
4. Preparation
5. Presenting the study
6. Getting the decision
How new disciples are made:
The Oikos Factor
OIKOS :: Immediate and extended family
Mark 5:19
“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto
him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how
great things the Lord hath done for thee, and
hath had compassion on thee.”
The Oikos Factor
Acts 16:31-34
“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they
spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all
that were in his house. And he took them the
same hour of the night, and washed their stripes;
and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
And when he had brought them into his house, he
set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in
God with all his house.”
Why the Oikos?
Natural Network
• Oikos members are receptive
• Oikos relationships allows for natural sharing
• Oikos relationships effectively assimilate new converts
• Oikos relationships tend to win entire families
• Oikos relationships provide new contacts
Why People Join
THE CHURCH
• Family relationships and
responsibilities
• The influence of Christian people
• A church visit – the program,
special events
• A search for community
• A personal crisis
Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
1
Empowering Leadership
The ministry of the leaders of the church must
focus on equipping other Christians to serve.
Ephesians 4:11-12
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ.”
Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
2
Gift Oriented Ministry
When Christians serve in their
area
of
giftedness
they
generally function less in their
own strength and more in the
power of the Holy Spirit.
Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
3
Functional Structures
Structures must serve the
mission of the church.
Mark 2:27
“And He said unto them, The
Sabbath was made for man, and
not man for the Sabbath.”
Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
4
Inspiring Worship Service
The worship service of the
church must inspire the
members. It is the Holy
Spirit that inspires people.
1 Timothy 5:16-19
Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
5
Passionate Spirituality
The spiritual life of the members
must be characterized by prayer,
enthusiasm and boldness.
Romans 12:11-12
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer.”
Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
6
Holistic Small Group
The multiplication of small
groups is the most important
principle in church growth.
Acts 2:46-47
“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did
eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Praising God, and having favour with all the people.
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should
be saved.”
Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
7
Need Oriented Evangelism
Our evangelistic methods must address the
needs of those we are seeking to reach.
1 Corinthians 9:20-22
“And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the
Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that
I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are
without law, as without law, (being not without law to God,
but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are
without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might
gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might
by all means save some.”
Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
8
Loving Relationship
The relationship of the members of
the church must be characterized by
love and affection.
John 13:34-35
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye
have love one to another.”
The Completed Cycle
of Disciple-making
Integration of New Members
• People should immediately be placed in a
small caring group. The small group setting is
the best place to nurture discipleship.
• People must enter the church with the
understanding that Christ has called them into
ministry. They must view their baptism as an
ordination into ministry and not just a symbol
of forgiveness for sin.
Integration of New Members
• People must be led to discover their spiritual gifts.
• People immediately must be led to identify their
extended family and begin the disciple-making
process within the networks that have been opened
by their coming to Christ.
• People must be taught not to depend upon the
visitation or sermons from an ordained, salaried
pastor as the source of their spiritual life. They must
be taught to develop their own study program.
THE END!