The last command of our Lord Jesus was “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19 ESV). It was given to His eleven men, His disciples, and not to the multitudes. Why? Because it takes a disciple to make a disciple. If we are going to see strong, devoted disciples of Christ raised up under our leadership and discipleship, we ourselves must be a strong devoted disciple of Christ. It’s that simple.

 

One of the primary goals of Christian leaders and disciplers is the deepening of the spiritual lives of those they lead. Their followers must grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ, developing in their effectiveness for Him and deepening their devotion. It is God’s desire that they demonstrate Christlike qualities in everyday life. The Bible is alive with examples of this. Under David’s leadership the men around him won battle after battle, defending the kingdom against the enemies of God. But the greatest accomplishments were in the lives of the men themselves. How were these men described when they came to David? “All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him” (1 Samuel 22:2 NIV).  

 

Later after association with David, these men became strong, dedicated, mighty men of valor. Scripture describes one of them, Eleazer, as … “one of the three mighty men…with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle…. He stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazer, but only to strip the dead” (2 Samuel 23:9-10 NIV).

 

The influence of leaders and disciplers on their followers is interesting to observe in the Bible. For example, how many giant killers were in Saul’s army? None. When Goliath defied the armies of God, they shook with fear (1 Samuel 17:11). David, who came to bring food to his brothers, sized up the situation, went out in faith, and killed the giant. After David, the giant killer, became king, how many giant killers arose in Israel? Many. They were almost common in David’s army. 

 

“At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaites, and the Philistines were subjugated. 

 

In another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod. 

 

In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. 

 

These were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men” (1 Chronicles 20:4-8 NIV).

 

Why were there no giant killers in Saul’s army? One reason is that Saul himself was not one. However, under David’s leadership there were many. Why? Because David was one. This illustrates a powerful principle of leadership and discipleship which runs throughout the Bible. *It takes one to make one.*

 

Here are some questions for thoughtful prayer:

 

1. How would we feel if the Lord called us to shepherd a church of four hundred people like those described in 1 Samuel 22:2?

 

2. How do we react to this principle of leadership and discipleship: “It takes one to make one.” Are we encouraged, frightened, challenged, or? Why?

 

3. What signs do we look for to see if a person is ready to make disciples, either one-on-one or in a group setting? 

 

4. Read 2 Timothy 2:2. Does this pattern work with any age? Is it different with men and women? How about a parent to a child? 

 

Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:11-14 (ESV) what our primary work is as pastors, missionaries, evangelists and teachers. It says “And he (the Spirit) gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes”. 

 

Amen.