"Getting Started: Be a Fourth Soil Follower"

Part 4 of a series titled "Changing Soils"

 

The BIG Idea:

 

What do we do once we've found someone to "disciple?" God's Word gives us a wonderful example between Jesus and Peter to follow by examining several interactions between them. There is not one specific way to make a disciple, but there are specific things we must do if these new disciples will become disciple makers themselves.

 

Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret (Galilee); ² and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. ³ And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little distance from the land. And He sat down and continued teaching the crowds from the boat. ⁴ Now when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." ⁵ Simon responded and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets." ⁶ And when they had done this, they caught a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to tear; ⁷ so they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, to the point that they were sinking.⁸ But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" ⁹ For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; ¹⁰ and likewise also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear; from now on you will be catching people." ¹¹ When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him. -- Luke 5:1-11 (NASB)

 

A Quick Recap:

 

Matthew 13:3-23 is the "Parable of the Sower." Jesus identifies the four types of soils.

 

The Path = "Not Interested;" The Rocky Soil = "Too Shallow;" The Thorns = "Too Busy;"

Good Soil = "Fruitful"

 

John 15:5-17 is the illustration Jesus shares of how He is the Vine, and we are the branches.

 

"Remaining" means to stay connected to God. Jesus will bear much fruit through His followers. Jesus will answer our prayers. Jesus will be glorified through our large amount of fruit. Jesus will produce through us fruit that will last.

 

The entire faith journey can be summed up simply -- "Remain in Christ and allow Him to remain in you."

 

Experience is way more powerful than information. (II Corinthians 5:17-20 & John 4)

 

Disciple making is not something we do. It is who we are as a new creation in Christ.

 

We can learn to transition casual conversations to meaningful ones. The secret is to ask good questions. Key question for a spiritual transition - "Has anyone ever prayed for you about that?" Drip God into the conversation and make it a spiritual one. A message discovered is more powerful than a message delivered. We learn and obey more when we discover something ourselves. A disciple maker wants to help others do the same.

 

The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also. -- II Timothy 2:2 (NASB)

 

ILLUSTRATION: How we impact others.

 

-        Make a formal invitation.

 

-        Focus on obedience.

 

Jesus is NOT looking for the educated. Jesus is looking for the obedient.

 

²⁸ About eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter, John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹ And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. ³⁰ And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ³² Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him. ³³ And as these two men were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here; and let's make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"--not realizing what he was saying. ³⁴ But while he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ And then a voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!"³⁶ And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen. -- Luke 9:28-36 (NASB)

 

Disciple making is an invitation to friendship.

 

¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do what I command you.¹⁵ No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. -- John 15:13-15 (NASB)  

 

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" ¹⁴ And they said, Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets.  ¹⁵ He said to them, "But who do you yourselves say that I am?" ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." ¹⁷ And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." -- Matthew 16:13-18 (NASB)

 

Disciple making leads people to discovery.

¹⁵ Now when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My lambs."¹⁶ He said to him again, a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." ¹⁷ He *said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was hurt because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep. ¹⁸ Truly, truly I tell you, when you were younger, you used to put on your belt and walk wherever you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will put your belt on you, and bring you where you do not want to go." ¹⁹ Now He said this, indicating by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had said this, He *said to him, "Follow Me!" -- John 21:15-19 (NASB)

Disciple making needs to be obedience based and leaves room for accountability.

 

-        Guilt Based Accountability

-        Overly Graceful Accountability

 

Accountability thru discipleship leads to transformation.

 

Let us pray for God to work in and through us as a Disciple maker and for God to open our eyes to opportunities to make Disciples as "Fourth Soil Followers!"

 

Questions for Reflection:

 

According to Jesus, what is disciple making an invitation for in our faith journey and community?

 

What are the two basic steps in choosing to share life with others as we seek to make disciples?

 

What does accountability lead to in our faith journey?

 

Do you want to be a "Fourth Soil Follower" of Jesus?