8 Declarations for a Disciple Maker

Day 3: Disciple Makers Replicate Themselves

Declaration #3: A disciple maker replicates him/herself to carry on the message and mission of Christ.

1. It’s easy to live without an expectation or urgency to pass on the Gospel.
2. The lack of urgency means we fail to invest everything into someone through intentional living.
3. We cannot pour ourselves into everyone, but we can intentionally invest in one person and their family.
4. Pouring ourselves into one family will include teaching them how to disciple others, they will reproduce in another family.

Final Thoughts

It’s plain and simple, there are two ways of passing on the Gospel: the first is to have big families, raise Godly children and ensure that they stay in the church. The second is to invest and reproduce yourself in another. Investment means dedication and resources, you’re not a spiritual philanthropist, or Bill Gates, you likely only have the spiritual and physical resources to invest in one person or family at a time. Moses focused on Joshua, and Elijah focused on Elisha, focus on one and make sure you see it through to the end.

Biblical Devotion

Numbers 27:18-23  So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.  (19) Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight.  (20) You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey. (21)  And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation.”  (22) And Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, (23) and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the LORD directed through Moses.

1Kings 19:9-21  There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  (10) He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”  (11) And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  (12) And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. (13) And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  (14) He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” (15) And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.  (16) And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. (17) And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. (18) Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”  (19) So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. (20) And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” (21) And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.

Philippians 3:14-17  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  (15) Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.  (16) Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (17) Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

Jeremiah 29:11-13  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  (12) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. (13) You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 24:7  I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.

Psalms 19:14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Isaiah 26:3-4  You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.  (4) Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.