Matthew 28:16-20

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." These words were spoken to Jesus' disciples. These disciples were not supermen. They were ordinary people like you and me. The Bible even says that they doubted. Even after seeing the resurrection they had their doubts. Just as you and I sometimes doubt even after experiencing new life in Christ.

Long ago Jesus told ordinary people to go and make disciples and he says the same to ordinary people today. Jesus doesn't only call the gifted speakers or brilliant preachers to make disciples. He calls each and every one of his disciples to spread the Good News. You don't have to be a Billy Graham or a Robert Shuller to fulfill this command. If you are a disciple of Christ, then Jesus is commanding you to be an evangelist.

But how? How do we "make disciples of all nations?" That is the question I want to address today. We may realize that Christ is calling us to make disciples, but we do not know how to proceed. We are so used to leaving evangelism to the professionals that most of us don't know how to do it. Today I hope to give some direction on how to make disciples.

How do we make disciples? First of all: Be a disciple. It sounds simple, but we often fail to do it. We are so focused on what we are doing or should be doing that we forget who we are. We are people loved by God. People redeemed and saved by Jesus. People strengthened and guided by the Holy Spirit. When each of us became a Christian we did so by giving our lives to Christ. So we are people given or committed to Christ.

If we just concentrate of being followers of Jesus most other things will fall into place. If we are concentrating on following Jesus, then he will lead us. He will give us the guidance we need to fulfill his commands. You see, we don't make disciples on our own, we are partners with Jesus. His Holy Spirit will give us the right words and actions and will be at work in the other person to prepare them to respond to God's love.

Being a disciple first is important because you can't teach someone to do something you don't know how to do yourself. You can't guide someone if you don't know the way yourself. It will be like the blind leading the blind. Sooner or later both will fall in a ditch. Being a disciple of Jesus is a life long learning process. If you are in the process of learning, then and only then can you teach others.

Being a disciples is important because others will see you being one. Actions speak louder than words. People have to see your deeds before they will listen to your words. If people see you loving your neighbor, they will think you might really know something about love and the God of love. Being a disciple puts flesh and bones on the Gospel and lets people see it lived out in you. People are watching those who call themselves Christians and learning from them. Teach them of God's grace and love by simply following Christ's example and direction.

First: Be a disciple. Second: Be part of the church. It's possible to be a Christian without participating in church. It is possible, but it is awful hard. God established the church as the primary instrument of God's grace in this world. Through the church we learn about God's will We experience God's love through the church's love. We bear one another's burdens in the church. Some people think that all you need is the Bible to be a Christian. But even understanding the Bible is hard without other Christians. They help us wrestle with those difficult passages. And sometimes they challenge us to live them out.

Being part of the church also makes you part of a world wide network. You are not working alone. Jesus said to make disciples "of all nations." That doesn't mean that each of us has to become an overseas missionaries. Through the church we are part of a body of believes that spans the globe. By being part of the support of missions around the world we are part of an effort to literally make disciples of every nation.

Being part of the church also makes us an integral part of the local effort Each church is a branch office of the kingdom of God here in its community. We have a responsibility directly for making disciples right here. Being part of a church makes available for us resources for doing that right here. First it provides us with other Christians to pray with us. Prayer is very important and through prayer we are strengthened. And in the church we should pray for one another. In the church we also have access to teaching and inspirational materials that help in teach them to observe all that Christ commanded us.

Be a disciple. Be part of the church, and third invite others to do the same. Ask them to join you in your walk. People are more likely to do something if you invite them to do it with you than if you simply tell them to do it. Ask them to join you in a Bible study or in prayer. Challenge them to follow Jesus. Invite them to church!

Did you know that most of the people who become meaningfully involved in a church do so because a friend or neighbor invited them. Not because a pastor or evangelist did. People expect a pastor to invite them to church. When someone else does the offer seems more genuine. And if they sense your genuine love and concern for them, they will take it seriously.

People need the Lord and by inviting them to worship in God's house you are helping them. This is God's house. God's people gather here and when we gather, God uses us to minister to one another. Through regular worship God changes us from people who are closed in and selfish to people who are open and loving. We need that because being open and loving makes us part of God's wonderful work in Christ. And inviting someone or bringing someone to church exposes them to these influences.

Is there anyone in your neighborhood who needs the Lord? Is there anyone that you know who needs to know that God is gracious? Pray for them, and God will show you how you can help. Be Christ's disciple for them and show them God's love in the way you love them. Invite them to become a disciple of Christ.