Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJ).

If believers make disciples who are obedient, God will multiply them. Obedience to God’s Word and multiplication growth are always closely linked.

“Then the word of God spread, andthe number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7).

Discipleship is a decision to follow Jesus and learn His ways

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me…” (Matthew 11:29).

Disciple means being an apprentice to someone. Therefore discipleship is helping people to understand, believe and obey God. Jesus spent over three years pouring Himself into His disciples. He molded their lives and modeled His message before them.

“A pupil is not superior to his teacher, but everyone [when he is] completely trained (readjusted, restored, set to rights, and perfected) will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40 AMP).” Acts 4:13

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Throughout history when people came to understand what Jesus was really offering, they would sacrifice anything - money, comfort, home or security, to get the chance to be an apprentice to Him. As new Christians commit themselves to be accountable to more mature believers, true discipleship and mentorship can be facilitated. Discipleship comes out of relationship and leadership comes out of discipleship.

The Church at Thessalonica and Ephesus are examples of a successful process of discipleship.

1. Paul cared for the believers as a mother cares for her children (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8).

2. Paul became a role model for the believers (1 Thessalonians 2:9-10; 2 Timothy 3:10).

3. Paul gave individual attention and instruction as a father (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, 1 Corinthians 4:21).

4. Paul taught them the Word. Biblical truth is an essential component of Biblical discipleship (1 Thessalonians 2:13 Amp).

5. Paul started by correcting their understanding of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7).

6. Paul took time to make disciples. He taught them in the school of Tyrannus daily for two years (Acts 19:8-10).

7. Paul’s strategy affects entire communities. His efforts in making disciples went beyond the school of Tyrannus encompassing the Ephesian Church and changing the spiritual climate over the whole area.

“I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:17-21).

If the Church today did what Paul did at Ephesus, we would have the same results: “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:20; see also Mark 16:20).

The result is a multiplication explosion leading to gospel globalization!

Yours for an Apostolic 5 Fold Revolution
Dr George Hill
President/Founder Victory Churches International