Year of Discipleship-Making Disciples Matthew 28:18-20
Year of Discipleship: Theme Overview
The goal of a Year of Discipleship is to focus the church community on growing believers into mature followers of Christ who actively share and multiply their faith. It’s about moving from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity while equipping members to make disciples themselves.
Key Theme Verse Examples:
- Matthew 28:19-20 — “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”
- 2 Timothy 2:2 — “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
Biblical Approach to Making Disciples
- Build Relationships First
- Jesus spent time with His disciples, teaching and modeling life with Him.
- Encourage church members to cultivate relationships both inside and outside the church.
- Practical Step: Launch small groups, one-on-one mentorships, or relational accountability partnerships.
- Teach and Model the Word
- Discipleship is rooted in Scripture. People learn to obey Christ by seeing Him modeled in life.
- Practical Step: Provide Bible study materials, workshops, and sermons that emphasize obedience, application, and transformation.
- Pray Together
- Prayer connects disciples to God and to one another.
- Practical Step: Hold weekly prayer groups and encourage prayer partnerships within small groups.
- Equip for Multiplication
- Disciples are not meant to remain passive—they are called to disciple others.
- Practical Step: Teach practical discipleship methods, mentoring techniques, and evangelism strategies.
- Practice Accountability and Spiritual Growth
- Regularly assess growth in faith, character, and obedience.
- Practical Step: Encourage journaling, goal setting, and check-ins to track spiritual growth.
Who are we? A community of learners/apprentices committed to following Jesus.
What are we doing? Learning to observe everything Christ commanded through study, prayer, and community.
Why are we doing it? To be conformed to the image of Christ and to fulfill the Great Commission.
What is the goal? Spiritual maturity and the ability to reproduce new disciples.
Matthew 28:19-20: The mandate to “make disciples of all nations”.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”