Followers, Not Leaders

Jesus is looking for followers, not leaders.  That might sound like an extreme statement, but consider how Jesus called his disciples. “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And He said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.‘  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” – Matthew 4:18-20 (ESV). 

My observation is that Jesus asked them to follow Him (not to lead) and their obedience was immediate and complete.  There wasn’t a lengthy appeal or explanation of the merits involved in His mission and yet their humble obedience resulted in the greatest gospel movements in history.  Every day, God is calling us to follow Him so that, we too, may be fishers of men.  The question is, are you willing to leave your nets and follow Him? 

Suggested I-will Statement:
I will commit to pray this week and ask the Lord what “nets” I must leave behind.  Once I have His answer, I will obey and follow His command.

7 Ways that Disciple-Makers Think Differently​

I was thinking about how a disciple-making mindset differs from traditional evangelism and these 7 statements seem to capture the key differences. I look forward to reading your feedback.

  1. We don’t try to exclusively evangelize everyone individually.  We prayerfully ask the Lord to direct us to unreached people groups and we search for those individuals that are willing to introduce us to their community.​ Then we allow the Holy Spirit to penetrate the heart of individuals and/or groups.
  2. We don’t invite people to come to our church to listen to a speaker or join our social club.  We go to their home or place of business to meet with their family or friends and form a discovery group.​
  3. We don’t present the gospel immediately in a canned presentation.  We pray, serving the community in love, spend time discussing the Bible in a group setting, and help people discover God’s character and way of salvation.  Then, at the right time and through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we invite them to follow Jesus.​
  4. We don’t study the Bible in order to merely gain knowledge about God.  We read and discover the truth in the Bible in order to know God and obey Him.​
  5. We don’t plant a church and hope that it will create disciples.  We plant seeds of truth among those with open hearts so that small groups of disciples eventually form into a healthy house church that will obey the truth and multiply.​
  6. We don’t rely on a trained minister, special delivery method or lengthy orientation.  Although some training may be needed to start the process, we teach a simple format that anyone can replicate for disciples to quickly multiply.​
  7. We don’t develop Christian leaders.  We develop Christ followers who are willing to obey God’s truth and make disciples who make disciples.​

Creation to Christ Series

The following set of Bible passages are known as the Discovering God or Creation to Christ series and there are multiple versions that include more or less of the same passages. Below is the set I am using.

1.  Genesis 1:1-25 – Creation: God creates the world

2.  Genesis 2:4-24 – Creation: God creates humanity

3.  Genesis 3:1-24 – The Fall of Man: The first sin and its punishment

4.  Genesis 6:1-9:17 – The Fall of Humanity: Noah’s flood

5.  Gen. 12:1-8, 15:1-6 – Redemption: God’s promise to Abraham

6.  Genesis 22:1-19 – Redemption: Abraham sacrifices his son

7.  Exodus 12:1-28 – Redemption: The promise of Passover

8.  Exodus 20:1-21 – Redemption: The Ten Commandments via Moses

9.  Leviticus 4:1-35 – Redemption: The sacrificial law

10.  Psalm 23:1-6 – Worship: Praise to God our shepherd

11.  Isaiah 53:1-12 – Redemption: Isaiah’s prophecy of suffering servant

12.  Lk. 1:26-38; 2:1-20 – Redemption: Miraculous birth of Jesus (Isa)

13.  Mt. 3; Jn. 1:29-34 – Redemption: Jesus’ baptism

14.  Matthew 4:1-11 – Redemption: Jesus tempted by the devil

15.  Mark 4:35-41 – Redemption: Jesus calmed the storm

16.  Mark 5:1-20 – Redemption: Jesus cast out demons

17.  John 6:1-37 – Redemption: Jesus fed 5000

18.  Luke 5:17-26 – Redemption: Jesus healed the sick and forgave sins

19.  John 4:1-26, 39-42 – Redemption: Jesus met foreigners

20.  Lk. 10:25-37; 15:11-32 – Redemption: Jesus told about the Way of God

21.  Lk. 18:9-14; Jn. 16:24 -Redemption: Jesus taught how to pray

22.  Matthew 6:1-34 – Redemption: Jesus taught re: alms, prayer and fasting

23.  John 11:1-44 – Redemption: Jesus raised the dead

24.  Matthew 20:20-28 – Redemption: Jesus taught how to be great

25.  Matthew 26:26-30 – Redemption: The Lord’s Supper/prediction of death

26.  John 18:1-19:16 – Redemption: Jesus was betrayed and sentenced

27.  Luke 23:32-56 – Redemption: Jesus crucified

28.  Luke 24:1-35 – Redemption: Jesus conquered death

29.  Luke 24:36-53 – Redemption: Jesus revealed self and goes to heaven

30.  Jn. 3:1-21; Mt. 7:13-14 – Summary: Do you want to follow the Way of God?

SOAP Inductive Method

The inductive method of Discovery Bible Study (DBS) can be presented in different ways, but a popular format uses the SOAP acronym.

Scripture

  • READ the Passage
  • Someone RETELL it in their own words

Observe

  • What STANDS OUT to you?
  • What does the text tell us ABOUT GOD?
  • What does this text tell us about OURSELVES/PEOPLE?

Apply

  • How can you put into action what God is showing you in this text?
  • Everyone create an “I will” statement.

Person

  • Who are you going to tell about what you discovered in this text this week?