If you want to know what a person values, watch how they spend their time. No matter what a person claims, what they actually do with their time will tell you what their priorities really are.

People who follow Jesus should make sure to follow Him in this area. Jesus’ highest priority was to do what His Father wanted Him to do. He said, “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him” John 8.29 NIV.

That’s exactly what we’re called to do. In the same way that Jesus’ priorities matched the priorities of His Father, people who follow Jesus should match their priorities with Jesus’.

Following Jesus means putting Him before yourself

Living like this requires us to be sacrificial and counter-cultural because so many of the messages we receive tell us to put ourselves first and do whatever we want to do. But Christians live for Christ, not for themselves. The Apostle Paul says, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” Galatians 2.20 NLT.

As Christ changes us, our priorities begin to change

As Jesus lives His life through you, His desires, priorities, and agenda replace our desires, priorities, and agenda. Or, maybe a better way to say it is that our desires, priorities, and agendas start to align more and more with His.

What were some of Jesus’ priorities? A review of the Gospels reveals several things. Gathering with others for worship was important to Jesus. As His public ministry was starting, Jesus went to the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath day, which is described as something He normally did (Luke 4.16).

Prayer was also important to Jesus. Luke reports that “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” Luke 5.16 NIV. There are more than seventy references in the Gospels to Jesus either praying or talking about prayer. Additionally, Jesus prioritized service of others (Mark 10.43-45), obedience to God’s Word (Matthew 4.1-11), sharing the Gospel (Luke 19.10), and cultivating relationships.

Seeking God’s Kingdom changes everything

Throughout His life, Jesus’ priorities were aligned with His Father’s desires. He wasn’t concerned about missing out on anything else because He knew the truth that seeking God’s Kingdom is the key that unlocks everything else that really matters in life. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” Matthew 6.33 ESV.

This post originally featured by our friends at Disciple First.

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What concerns me isn’t really that people are claiming these things. It’s how many people are following after them. They’re gullible. They’re hungry for something. And they’re not anchored to truth anymore, they’re anchored to their feelings, to whatever the newest fad is, to whatever voice is loudest. And honestly, that one’s on us as leaders.

Don’t assume that because your people agree on the basics, they’re stable. For two thousand years the church has agreed on the central truths of the faith. Did you know that? And yet the number one reason churches split in America is music. The number two reason is how we view the Holy Spirit and the miraculous gifts. So people can agree on the gospel and still get blown sideways. Agreeing on something isn’t the same as being grounded in it.

Scripture warned us this season was coming. Jesus said the love of most people would grow cold. Paul said people would end up loving pleasure more than they love God, driven by their own appetites and feelings. And Jesus said something we don’t talk about enough, that false prophets would show up performing real signs and wonders, convincing enough that they could deceive even the elect if that were possible. John put it about as plainly as you can. Don’t believe every spirit. Test them.

Read that again. The deception isn’t going to look fake. It’s going to look powerful. It’s going to actually do things. So here’s the question we have to wrestle with: what anchors a person when the lie is the thing performing the miracle?

The miracles in Scripture were never meant to be the main thing. God gave them to back up the message, to confirm that His Word was true. The miracle was always pointing you to the Word. It was never supposed to take the place of it. Our anchor was never the experience in the first place. It’s the Word. And when somebody is rooted deeply enough in it, they can watch a person do something miraculous and still say, that doesn’t line up with what God’s Word actually teaches, so I’m not buying what you’re selling.

Our anchor was never the experience in the first place. It’s the Word. And when somebody is rooted deeply enough in it, they can watch a person do something miraculous and still say, that doesn’t line up with what God’s Word actually teaches, so I’m not buying what you’re selling.

And here’s where I want to encourage you. Jesus said, “My sheep know my voice, and they will not follow another.” He didn’t say they’d be the smartest people in the room. He said they’d know His voice, because they’ve spent enough time with the Shepherd to recognize it. And that’s something you can actually build into people. You can take somebody who’s drifting and, over time, in the Word and in real community, root them so deeply that a thousand voices can be yelling and they’ll still pick out the one that matters.

So figure out what the big rocks are, the things you hold onto no matter what, and the preferences you can hold loosely and not fight over. Disciple your people in the Word until they can stand on it themselves, even when you’re not in the room. Because you can see where this is heading if we don’t, can’t you? A church that isn’t anchored won’t hold. But one that is can’t be moved.

So now more than ever, the most important thing we can do is help people get stable and secure. We want them rooted deep enough that when the pressure comes, they hold steady. His sheep know His voice. Let’s do the work that helps them hear it.

This post originally appeared on Jim Putman’s Blog.

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For decades Christians have understood this to mean “say a prayer of repentance and commitment to Jesus, attend church regularly, and live a generally good life”. There is a problem with this. Jesus never led someone through a ‘sinners prayer’ followed by a command to attend church services. No, he said, “follow me.”

What he meant was “forsake all that you have put above and before me; devote yourself to living life my way, according to my teachings, and my example. Become my disciple. Let me show you a better way to live – free from the trappings of hypocritical living and dead religion. Follow me into a life of service and love of God and others.”

We see this through all four Gospels – Jesus sought to bring transformation into people’s lives. He wanted them to live a life that was all about him – a life that says “It’s not me that’s living my life now – it’s Jesus.” Being a follower of Jesus is to put him at the center and to make him the supreme ruler of all that you are and all that you do. It is to allow him to lead you, by his Spirit, out into the world as an agent of transformation in the lives of others.

Jesus gave the keys to following him to his disciples. They are found in Matthew 28:18-20:

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Being a follower of Jesus means:

WE RECOGNIZE HIS AUTHORITY IN AND OVER OUR LIVES

We allow him to be Lord. We acknowledge his complete control and relinquish our dilution of control. We let him lead us. We follow him – he does not follow us!

WE MAKE DISCIPLES

Notice that disciples are commanded to go and make disciples. Being a follower of Jesus means calling others to follow Jesus. We are his witnesses given the mission of sharing the gospel and showing the world what he is like. Disciples mature and multiply.

WE GET BAPTIZED

We align ourselves to Jesus publicly through the act of baptism. He asked his followers to baptize new followers. This was the ritual for new believers in the early Church when they put their faith in Jesus and became his disciples. As we look at the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the epistle writings we cannot help but conclude that baptism was not an option – it was an expectation Jesus had upon those who would follow him. Followers of Jesus are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

WE OBEY JESUS’ COMMANDS

The disciples were told to both teach and obey Jesus’ commands. A follower of Jesus will take joy and great delight in obeying Jesus teachings. It is essential that to teach others to obey Jesus, we must first be doing obeying him. Every follower of Jesus is by nature a leader – we are to lead others into obeying Jesus and surrendering to his way of life – which is the best and most fabulous way to live life! To lead others we must first be doing.

Jesus expects his followers to obey what he taught – it is not an add-on to our faith or for the over zealous. We need to apply the Bible to our lives in a way that honors Jesus and places him at the centre of our lives. Simply put, followers of Jesus obey him!

WE GO TO THE WORLD

We share Jesus with a lost, broken, and hurting world. Throughout his life, Jesus took the gospel into public spaces. Today, we seem dedicated to keeping the gospel inside church buildings, but Jesus did the opposite. He shared God’s good and practical love in markets, next to bathing pools, in town centers, on mountain tops, on beaches, at a watering hole, on a road; at meals, at parties, sitting in the temple courts, and more.

Jesus expects us to take the Gospel practically and verbally to all the nations of the world. Are you seeking Jesus in order to hear where he wants you to serve him: Is it in your own community longterm? Is it abroad? Is it to move to another town that has little or no Gospel influence and voice? We are to take the Gospel where it is needed.

WE FOLLOW

Jesus’ disciples sought his wisdom, insight, and direction. They went where Jesus took them and went where he told them to go. They trusted him enough to submit to his discipline. They didn’t always understand him. They messed up. They learned. They grew. They walked and talked with him. They preached the gospel after his ascension. They took him out to the world.

We are only two weeks into 2013, why not start the New Year by re-reading the Gospels to see what Jesus taught and how he lived. Then, continue on in the New Testament by reading Acts to see how the first disciples followed Jesus and stayed devoted to him and his teachings.

Perhaps there is a need to get back to the basics and consider our own commitment to Christ. Jesus is looking for disciples who will follow him and make him the most important part of their lives so that he is in control of every part. It’s not always easy – you could say it’s a discipline at times – but it’s also the adventure of your lifetime.

This post originally appeared on Sonlife by Stuart McCormack

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The Beauty of Disciple Making in Diverse Cultural Contexts

The Great Commission to make disciples of Jesus is a universal command meant to traverse cultural, geographic, and time barriers. Every follower of Christ, irrespective of their cultural background, has a part to play. However, different cultures can highly influence how we perceive and practice discipleship. In South Asia, unlike the Western world, disciple making takes on a fascinating dimension. One defining characteristic that stands out is the strong sense of communal affiliation, which allows the gospel to move rapidly through established relational networks. Secondly, the South Asian culture presents a more patriarchal setup that both potentially amplifies or negates the spread of the gospel. Additionally, the intensity of the believers’ commitment to the gospel is astounding. Though they live in the face of severe persecution, the depth of their faith shines through their readiness to risk everything, defying logical American comprehension.

The Good News, Its Perception, and Impact

The gospel of Jesus Christ profoundly tackles the inherent needs within any culture, but the perception of what constitutes ‘good news’ varies. For instance, the good news for a Hindu might differ significantly from the good news for an American. In Hindu culture, introducing Jesus displays His power to erase all bad karma and break the cycle of rebirth. This message can radically change a Hindu’s perspective of God’s saving power. Similarly, in secular cultures, the gospel addresses deep-seated needs, although the context is vastly different. In essence, the gospel meets humanity’s deepest needs, regardless of their cultural background.

Laying the Groundwork for Disciple Making

For disciples in the American context, several practical steps can help lay the ground for a fruitful harvest. First, foster a tenacious commitment to prayer and fasting, paralleling the South Asian believers’ extraordinary practice. Second, sow as many seeds of the gospel as possible. Howard mentioned the practices of prayer walking and “intentional overseeding” in evangelism. “Prayer walking” involves praying for specific people in the community while physically walking around the neighborhood, symbolically sowing seeds of faith. Regularly pray by name for those who need to know and accept Jesus. Secondly, sow as many seeds of the gospel as possible. This sowing process includes intentionally going out to interact with the world and sharing the good news, without pre-filtering potential recipients.  “Intentional overseeding” involves sharing the Gospel with as many people as possible, extending the message to everyone without pre-filtering based on personal assumptions of who would be receptive. He underscored that these methods help cultivate the seeds of faith in a community and further spread the Gospel.

Moving Forward with the Vision of Disciple Making

Embracing the vision of disciple making culture calls for commitment and intentional action. As the disciples in American culture, we need to calibrate our understanding and practice of discipleship to mirror the ancient, yet timeless, biblical model. This requires us to disseminate the gospel unreservedly, pray fervently, fast regularly, and follow God’s lead in all we do. Whether in South Asia, America, or any other part of the world, we are called to live as faithful disciples of Christ. Leveraging our cultural contexts can lead to a transformative disciple making culture that reflects God’s heart for all nations. Howard encouraged individuals to actively seek opportunities to share the Gospel. While there are challenges present in the American context—individualism, isolation, and a desire for expediency—he reminded listeners that it is essential to continue to sow seeds broadly, trusting that God will create the harvest. Embrace the journey because the harvest is ready, and the world is waiting for the good news.

Resources

For further materials and training for discipleship, check out our new Disciple Making Culture 10 Minute E-Book

Interested in the current state of Discipleship in North American Churches? Check out our free resource: National Study on Disciple Making in USA Churches.

Interested in a free Ebook on Disciple Making Metrics? Check out our free Disciple Making Metrics Ebook

Also, visit e3partners.org for a plethora of free training resources and coaching. If you’d like to read more, check out their book Christian Extremism and explore the e-book Igniting Movements in Dark Places.

Join Josh Howard at our 2024 National Disciple Making Forum 

For King Jesus,

The Discipleship.org Team

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Two and half years ago we moved back to the US after serving with Youth for Christ International in Europe for 27 years. During that time, we worked with US military kids on 38 bases across Europe, missionary kids at a MK school in southern Europe, and the Young Leaders Director for national youth workers with YFCI in Europe. It didn’t take us long to realize that our training as early youth leaders in Sonlife would be invaluable to us in all three settings. To understand the strategy – from Scripture in the gospels – of how Jesus made disciples, served as a compass for our training of youth workers and an effective evaluation tool for our own ministry with teens.

Even though the materials have changed over the years, the strategy, of course, has never changed as it was given to us by Jesus himself in God’s unchanging Word. We found we could train right out of Scripture. It gave our youth workers such assurance that they were indeed making disciples, just as Jesus did – just as the early disciples did in the early church. Our favorite tool for training our staff was the Harmony Study and the Knowing Him 50-Day study on Jesus’ life and strategy. We used it with more than youth workers – to train national pastors, in women’s ministry, for small groups and Bible Studies, and even with Christian school teachers and workers and our student leaders at our missionary kid school.

When we returned to the US 2.5 years ago, we realized that many churches had lost their understanding of Jesus’ mission to “make multiplying disciples”, due largely to a lack of clear strategy from God’s Word. We began sharing what we had learned over the years and our experiences with various national ministries. We’ve had the pleasure of seeing several churches now use Jesus’ strategy for making disciples through a Sonlife study of Jesus’ life. We have also appreciated the “4 Chair Discipling” book and used it to help pastors and church leaders evaluate where those in their church are in the growth as believers. Just this last week, one of the youth pastors that we coached a couple of years ago reported that the entire youth ministry of his church now uses a disciple-making strategy from 4 Chairs, along with the growth level books written for the believer chair (chair 2).

We continue to serve as Youth for Christ Int’l missionaries in Europe, and will be going back to visit our missionaries this fall. We are already looking forward to sharing a 4 chairs, Foundations, and Strategy seminar with some of our national teams and missionaries, as God allows.

We, as Christians, need to understand our mission, and have a firm understanding of how to obey Jesus’ command to “make disciples” from Matthew 28. There is no greater joy than to see those in our care understand Jesus’ disciple-making command and obey Him.

This post by Art Melli first appeared here. Used with permission.

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This one may not be for you. This one is calibrated for those who aren’t easily satisfied. It’s for the few among us who like to go all in. If you’re pretty happy with where you are as a disciple and a disciple maker (and that’s okay!) this one isn’t for you.

Regardless, continue at your own risk…

David Goggins doesn’t do anything halfway. After tiring of his work as an exterminator, he decided to become a Navy SEAL. At the time he weighed 300 pounds, much too heavy to be allowed to even try. Three months later he returned weighing 190. Without spending too much time on his story, he passed the test to become a Navy SEAL, then became the only person to ever pass the most intense certification training that the Army and the Air Force has to offer as well.

Towards the end of his career in the military Goggins took up running. As you might expect, he wasn’t interested in jogging a couple miles through the neighborhood, instead he became an ultra-marathoner winning races up to 200 miles long.

For his next challenge Goggins decided to break the world pull-up record. It took three separate attempts, but on January 19, 2013, he completed 4,030 pull-ups in seventeen hours—setting the new world record.

Lots of people in the world are like Goggins, though not many are as intense. These people love a challenge, take life by the horns, and are committed to improvement. For them there is growth in the grind and joy on the journey towards excellence and success. They are motivated not to beat others, but simply to be the best they can, to reach their potential.

Our culture has various options for these go-getters. They are invited to compete in extreme ways. The goal isn’t to win, but rather to grow, to stretch their very best and to see where they stack up. Examples include ultra-marathons, long distance swimming, power lifting, memory competitions, etc. Not everyone wins, but everyone grows to a new level as a result of the training.

The motivation and energy of go-getters is powerful. It’s these types of people who move every facet of society forward by pushing limitations out. Over the centuries the church has benefitted from these types of people. Some of the most famous are: Martin Luther who challenged the Catholic church on 95 points, John Wesley who traveled 250,000 miles and preached some 40,000 sermons, and William Borden who left a life of earthly riches to take the Gospel to Africa, a region that would claim his life.

Can you relate to the passion of these go-getters? Do you know someone who does? Are you someone who is either all in or not at all? Are you motivated by challenge? Do you hunger after excellence as an aspect of worship (Romans 12:1, 1 Cor. 10:31)?

If so, this post is especially for you.

In most churches, disciple making is aimed squarely at the masses. The goal is to make it simple enough for everyone to do. Such “easy disciple making” is a fine place to start. Since we are all called to make disciples the goal of providing a low-bar entry point is helpful. The problem is when that low-bar entry point is the end point as well.

When easy disciple making is also the end point, it reduces disciple making to merely friendship, a few static questions, or simply reading the Bible or other prepared curriculum together. It’s the equivalent of banging notes out on a piano. Such a person is playing the piano, but if that’s all someone thinks a piano can be used for then it’s a turn off for many, especially for go-getters.

Again, easy disciple making is needed; disciple making is a call meant for everyone. However, there’s also a need for “next-level disciple making.” Here are three reasons why easy disciple making alone is insufficient.

First, easy disciple making is mechanical, but deep disciple making invites creativity. When disciple making can be learned and done too easily it remains shallow. Not only does shallow disciple making not expand into a lifestyle, but it also fails to penetrate the depths of a person’s vision and heart. Worse yet, it remains shallow in the life of the person being discipled. For most, that which lacks depth and intricacy is easily discarded.

Second, easy disciple making dehumanizes disciple makers. In other words, when it can be done by anyone then it can be done by anyone. When easy disciple making is the only option it leads the discipler to believe that his discipling ability isn’t affected by his immaturity. A healthy fear of passing on weaknesses should drive the discipler to strive for excellence. Additionally, disciple makers should be inspired to grow to maturity, to do his best, and to apply his specific gifting to those he disciples. Easy disciple making strips the process down so far that our humanity (both strengths and weaknesses) is largely ignored and deemed irrelevant.

Third, easy disciple making edges out go-getters that want to be challenged to reach new heights. It does so by communicating that only experts can innovate and that amateurs are left to implement. Many, including go-getters, see that the mechanics are easy execute. They see a piano that can be played with great ease—and what’s the fun in that?

So what’s to be done?

Church leaders need to value and clear space for higher-level disciple making practices. The church desperately needs next-level discipling because the best ideas for disciple making in our culture probably haven’t even been tried yet.

Our disciple making systems are churning out disciples who can play “Mary had a little lamb” on the piano, but are not skilled pianists.

What if disciple making demanded all of who you are?

What if no matter how hard you tried, you still had to trust God to do it?

It’s this type of disciple making that changes the discipler and the disciple. It’s this type of discipling that makes virtuosos.

This post by Justin Gravitt first appeared here. Used with permission.

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I’ve been a part of a local church in some capacity for over sixty years, and sometimes local churches do not work the way they ought to. We know that Jesus started the Church, and that truth alone tells us that the Church has God’s blessing. Perhaps the problem isn’t the plan for the Church, but the people working the plan. If God’s people are not operating the Church God’s way, then it make sense why often individual churches are drifting from the mission.

In Acts 20:28, the Apostle Paul gives a word of encouragement to the elders of the Church in Ephesus that may help us understand some of the keys to what makes the Church work well today. Paul says, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood.”

In this powerful statement Paul makes to the leaders of the Ephesian church, I believe we see some important principles for what makes the Church in general function.

Churches Need Godly Leadership!

The Elders in Ephesus served as overseers who ensured that the church stayed on track. That included everything from staying focused on the mission, to doctrinal truth, and moral purity. It is often said that “everything rises and falls on leadership”, and that is certainly true for the Church. The Church works best when it is being led by leaders who pay attention to themselves and the flock.

Churches Need Willing Followers!

Paul refers to the Church as a flock, and a good flock always follows the shepherd. Wherever you find a congregation of people who are willing to follow Christ and are on His mission, the church works. Churches that are turned inward and are filled with selfish agendas and strife often do not work. A house divided will never be a church that works the way God intended it to work.

Churches Need Total Buy-In From Every Member!

Church leaders and church members all need to understand how much the Church cost. Paul reminds the Ephesians that the Church cost Jesus His very life. Jesus “purchased” the Church with His own blood. Jesus loved and cared for the Church so much that He would be willing to sacrifice everything for her to succeed. Imagine what might happen if we were just willing to up our commitment to Christ’s Church just a little bit? If every believer were willing to give more, serve more, and invite more, we would be surprised how well the Church works by design.

The Church works when people work it the way God intended it to work. When a church has godly oversight of willing people who are making sacrifices, you will have a church that is fulfilling the God-given purpose for which it was created. 

This post by Ken Adams first appeared here. Used with permission.

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I’ve heard common excuses that hinder discipleship in churches. Some of these are unspoken excuses. So let’s talk about that.

One that pastors may not want to admit but are being held to the standard of driving results by their deacon or elder board.

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I talk a whole lot about being a disciple and building disciples. It’s my life’s mission! And it’s the main mission of Impact Discipleship Ministries (to inspire people and churches to be and build disciples of Jesus Christ.) In fact, I talk so much about “being and building” that I thought it might be worth a few minutes of your time to explain why I believe it is such an important thing and something to be pursued. 

I believe Jesus wants every one of His disciples to be something before they ever do something. Jesus wants a disciple to be rightly related to God, to themselves, and to others. We know this to be true because Matthew 22:37-39 says, “And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”  

Jesus’ words illustrate why it’s so important for everyone to live in a right relationship with God, self, and others. When we are living in right relationships, we are being who God wants us to be. Living in right relationships leads to true fulfillment in life. Being a disciple, first and foremost, means living in right relationships.

As a person grows in being a disciple, a desire to build more disciples is a natural overflow. You will naturally desire others to experience the fulfillment of right relationships when you are living in right relationships yourself. Being a disciples leads to building more disciples. Jesus desires for us to build more disciples when we are being disciples. 

“Being a disciple leads to building more disciples.”

Jesus instructed His original disciples to build more disciples in Matthew 28:19-20:“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 that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  

The steps for building more disciples are very clear. We need to go, baptize, and teach. We need to live in such a way that we are connecting with people who are not believers, helping them come to faith in Christ, go public with their faith through baptism, and then help connect them to a discipleship environment. That process works if we work it. 

Imagine what could happen if every believer focused on being a disciple and building more disciples? The world would be such a different place if it was filled with people that were seeking to live in right relationships and in turn helping others to do the same thing. 

This simple concept of being a disciple and building more disciples is exactly what Jesus came to do and what He desires for us to do. I truly believe that once believers understand why being a disciple and building more disciples is so important, they will be motivated to live out that lifestyle.

This post by Ken Adams first appeared here. Used with permission.

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I’ve heard common excuses that hinder discipleship in churches. One of these is fear. So let’s talk about that.

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Years ago Eminem asked, “If you had one shot, or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted—one moment—would you capture it, or just let it slip?”

Each March the NCAA basketball tournament reminds me to consider that question. As the national champions cut down the nets CBS shows a video mash-up that captures the emotion of the tournament’s best moments. A highlight for many fans is when the song “One Shining Moment” plays to a steady beat of stirring images. Though intended to tell the story of the tournament, the song also captures the heart of how we should view our life on earth.

If you’ve played sports, you know about these “one moments.” They are equal parts exciting and frightening. They make the difference in the outcome. It’s when you step to the plate with the game on the line or take the shot as time expires. Your team is counting on you and the crowd is on the edge of their seats. Tension in the air is palpable; everything hangs in the balance. But you don’t have to be an athlete to experience a moment like that, you are living in one right now.

Are you capturing your “one moment” or letting it slip?

Your choices answer that question every day. Scripture tells us that our life is a vapor, a mist, a moment (James 4:14). If you are reading this then your life is hanging in the air right now.

Right now you’re on center stage.

Right now, it’s your time.

This life, these few precious years, are your one shining moment. Still unsure? Consider this: Scripture makes it clear that this life is all you have (Hebrews 9:27), and all of creation is watching and wondering what will happen (Rom. 8:19), wondering who will respond to God’s call. Even the angels are watching us, perhaps wishing they’d been given a chance to be a human, to have an earthly life. The opportunity is before you and incredibly important.

Disciples seize their moment by growing into multiplying disciple makers. As they grasp the reality of this life, they are willingly surrender everything to His plan. As a result, their lives are lived with an agenda that transcends the values and priorities society tells us are important.

Those who make the most of their moment grasp and live into three realities.

1. Mission Vision

Disciple makers see the big vision. The battle for perspective is often the difference between a life well-invested and a life wasted. A disciple maker keeps THE mission in focus. He sees that God is committed to reaching all nations for Himself. He sees the whole story of God in the Scriptures—the message of reconciliation delivered through everyday people. He knows this moment in eternity is important, but not more so than any other. He reminds himself that God is not a part of his story; he is a part of God’s story.

2. Local Movement

Disciple makers balance big vision with local movement. The nations are reached one heart at a time, by the local spilling over to the regional and the regional finally reaching the globe. Each disciple maker must be faithful to her part, in her location. She must be diligent to pursue righteousness in her own life, to love and disciple others to maturity, and to give herself fully to the work the Lord has given her to do (1 Cor. 15:58). She can see the world through the lens of her local context. She isn’t seduced by the lie that touching many is better than transforming a few.

3. Urgent Motivation

Disciple makers live out the mission with urgency and intensity. God calls us to a kingdom role that’s bigger than a job, hobby, or interest. God calls us to become and to live out of that becoming (2 Cor. 5:17-18). It’s who we are. God calls us to advance a Kingdom that has been forcefully advancing since the days of John the Baptist. He calls us to be flames of fire who forcefully advance His Kingdom (Mt. 11:12 NIV). There is a resonant force that accompanies those who wholly embrace this calling. That force comes from the Holy Spirit who is described not as timid, but as powerful, loving, and disciplined (1 Tim. 1:7). So, then it’s no surprise that disciple makers advance the kingdom in the same way.

Embracing your one shining moment is not easy. Letting it slip is as easy as it is tempting. We are constantly bombarded by messages designed to sway us from the purpose God has given. The reality is there’s a daily fight through the disciple makers’ greatest obstacle. Day after day, we must struggle to maintain perspective on what it is we are here to do. Some days it feels like our purpose is buried underneath a mountain of more appealing options.

Still, disciple makers understand that God not only chose this as your moment, He also framed it. He chose this to be the time and the exact location for your moment (Acts 17:26). This moment—your moment—has been carefully crafted just for you to make an impact in His Kingdom.

The question is what will you do with it: will you capture it or let it slip?

This post by Justin Gravitt first appeared here. Used with permission.

The post The Disciple Maker’s One Shining Moment appeared first on Discipleship.org.