Jesus clearly and unarguably has called his disciples to be on the mission of making disciples. His last words spoken to his disciples before he ascended into heaven is recorded for us in Matthew 28. And again, his command is clear…
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. – Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus declares his absolute authority, and then he calls his disciples to go and make disciples, to baptize them, and to teach them. The honest question that we must ask ourselves is, are we doing this? Are you obedient to the command of Christ to go and make disciples?
More specifically, are you currently discipling anyone? Or, is anyone discipling you?
We have started a discipleship project called One Up / One Down / Many Around, and I would like to invite you to join us. You don’t have to live in San Antonio or attend Stone Oak Bible Church to participate in this. In fact, the project is for anyone who wants some practical steps toward living out Jesus’ command in Matthew 28.
So what is it? One up / One Down / Many Around is a discipleship project with three parts. First, One Up.
One Up.
Is there anyone in your life who you respect? Do you have someone in your life who you see their affection for Christ, their passion for the Gospel, and their faithfulness in walking with the Lord? Do you have someone in your life that you see leading their family, their life, or their career in a gospel-centered way? Is someone in your life just a few steps further down the road?
If so, ask them if they would disciple you. Ask them if they would mentor you in the faith. Ask them to be your “One Up.”
Ask them if they would meet with you regularly to ask you questions, for you to ask them questions, and for them to show you how they follow Christ. Contrary to what you may think, this request will not be burdensome. In fact. most people will be absolutely honored to disciple you, and this relationship will be challenging and life-giving for you.
As your One Up pours into you, the second part of this project is your One Down.
One Down.
Is there anyone in your life of whom you can come along side? Is there someone who you can help? Maybe someone who has already come to you for advice, or someone who is younger in the faith than you are. Is there someone in your life who is entering a new season of life in which you have more experience?
If so, consider asking them to coffee or lunch. Ask if you can mentor them. Ask them if you could find some time to meet regularly with them.
There are great resources to get a discipleship relationship started. Here is one for you to check out: Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden.
Most people do not have anyone who is pouring into their lives like this, and this relationship will be a tremendous blessing for both you and them. Who is your one down?
As your One Up pours into you, and as you pour into your One Down, the their part of this project is the Many Around.
Many Around.
We are designed for community. Discipleship happens in community. Who are the people around you in your life? Who are the people who are living life with you? Through the ups and the downs, through the sicknesses, through the struggles, through the transitions, and through the joys… Who are your many around?
If you don’t have a community around you, look for one. If you are local to north central San Antonio, click here to see some incredible community groups that you can join today. If you are not local, click here for help finding a great group for you to connect with.
Who are your Many Around?
As your One Up pours into you, as you pour into your One Down, and as you do this together with your Many Around, discipleship flourishes for the glory of God!
Who is your One Up? Who is your One Down? Who are your Many Around?
To hear more about the One Up / One Down / Many Around Discipleship Project, listen to our Vision Sunday Message below.