Love as the North Star in Making Disciples of Jesus

Posted on by

Love serves as the guiding principle in making disciples of Jesus. The prophets—Isaiah, Hosea, and Jeremiah—reveal God’s deep longing for a loving connection with His people. He desires not just for them to know about Him but to truly experience His presence.

Throughout Scripture, God uses the imagery of marriage to illustrate the depth of His love and commitment to His people. This metaphor helps us grasp the profound emotions He experiences when we turn away from Him—akin to the pain of marital betrayal. Thomas Aquinas defines love as “desiring the good of the beloved and seeking union with the beloved,”[1] encapsulating God’s unwavering pursuit of His people.

Abraham Joshua Heschel echoes this sentiment, writing, “The relationship between God and Israel, conceived by Hosea in terms of marital love, desertion, and the hope of new betrothal, calls not only for right action but also for mutual feeling. It implies not just legal obligations but also inner attitudes.”[2] In disciple-making, the discipler fosters a godly connection by not only building a personal relationship with the disciple but also integrating them into a spiritual family. This process ensures that the disciple experiences both individual and communal aspects of faith, reinforcing love as the foundation of their journey.

[1] Eleonore Stump, “Wandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of Suffering” (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010), p. 91.

[2] Abraham Heschel, “The Prophets” (New York: Harper Collins Publishers,1962), p. 72.

Posted in

A Tribute to Taylor Gardner

Posted on by

On December 29, 2024, the world lost a remarkable man, Taylor Gardner, who passed away at the age of 88. Taylor was more than just a mentor; he was a spiritual guide who profoundly shaped my journey of faith.

As the Christmas season wraps up, the film It’s a Wonderful Life lingers in my mind. The film poses the question, “What if George Bailey had never been born?” This question prompts me to ask myself: What if I had never met Taylor Gardner?

During my college years, God brought Taylor into my life at a time when I needed direction. As the Dean of Students, Taylor did something no one else had done—he pursued me. He truly listened, offering encouragement and empowerment. He saw in me a potential I couldn’t yet see in myself.

Taylor went beyond words; he created opportunities. Discipleship, as Jesus demonstrated, often requires personal sacrifice. Taylor exemplified this by creating a ministry position for me after graduation, even though it meant additional work for himself. He saw past my youth and inexperience and believed in the calling God had placed on my life.

For this, I’m eternally grateful. Taylor didn’t view my singleness as a disqualifier for kingdom service. Instead, he saw me as a man of God, deserving of value and inclusion. He was my Barnabas.

Barnabas was a pivotal figure in the early church, known for his encouragement and willingness to bridge gaps. When Saul, later known as Paul, converted to Christianity, the disciples in Jerusalem struggled to trust him due to his history as a persecutor. It was Barnabas who vouched for Saul, advocating for his acceptance among the apostles.

The account in Acts 9:26–28 illustrates this:

“When [Saul] came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles . . . So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.”

Later, Barnabas sought Saul out once again. Hearing of the gospel’s spread to Antioch, Barnabas recognized Saul’s potential to contribute to this growing ministry. He made the long journey to Tarsus to bring Saul to Antioch, where they spent a year teaching and building up the church (Acts 11:25–26).

Barnabas’s encouragement and willingness to act as a bridge enabled Saul to step fully into his God-given role. In many ways, Taylor Gardner was a Barnabas to me. He recognized my potential, encouraged me to step forward in faith, and provided a place for me in the work of the kingdom.

I shudder to think what my life might have been without Taylor’s influence. His example challenges us to be like Barnabas—to recognize, encourage, and uplift others, creating space for them to grow and serve.

May God raise up more men and women like Barnabas and Taylor Gardner, whose legacies remind us of the power of intentional discipleship and unwavering belief in others.

Begin with the End in Mind

Posted on by

The foundation of effective disciple-making is rooted in understanding the end goal. Our ultimate aim is to develop disciples who love God and others, reflecting the love of Jesus in their lives. This love, demonstrated through a deep relational connection with God and fellow believers, guides the disciple-making process. To achieve this outcome, the means must align with the desired end. Here are the key elements necessary for making true disciples of Jesus:

1. Pursuit

Just as Jesus actively pursued His disciples, a significant part of disciple-making is the intentional pursuit of individuals. Jesus sought out the twelve disciples, initiating a relationship that would transform their lives. In a similar vein, Barnabas sought Saul (later Paul), and Paul invested deeply in Timothy. This pursuit is not passive but involves actively reaching out to others, building meaningful relationships that foster spiritual growth.

 2. Belonging

Belonging is central to discipleship. Jesus modeled this through His deep connection to the Father and His disciples. He established a clear sense of belonging by expressing love for His Father and His followers, creating a community where love was the defining characteristic. This reciprocal belonging extends between Jesus and the Father, Jesus and His disciples, and ultimately between the disciples themselves. True discipleship occurs when individuals experience this profound sense of belonging within the community of believers.

 3. A Servant’s Heart

At the core of discipleship is learning to serve others selflessly. Jesus exemplified this by laying down His life for His disciples, teaching them to do the same for each other. A key aspect of this servanthood is not just serving the masses but showing sacrificial love to specific individuals. Lives are transformed when people experience the tangible love of someone willing to lay down their life for them. This personal and intentional act of love is what builds a lasting impact in discipleship.

4. Testing

Every disciple will face tests in their faith journey. Jesus demonstrated this when Peter was tested and sifted by Satan, leading to Peter’s denial of Jesus.. Yet, Jesus showed Peter the depth of His love and forgiveness, empowering him despite his failure. Testing strengthens the disciple’s faith and solidifies their belonging in the community, as they experience the grace and love of God and others even in their weakest moments.

The Means and the End

The methods we use to make disciples must reflect the goal of forming loving, relational followers of Jesus. If the end goal is to produce disciples with extensive Bible knowledge or theological understanding, then teaching and curriculum will be the primary tools. If the goal is to equip individuals for service, then apprenticeship and hands-on training are necessary. However, true discipleship cannot be reduced to knowledge or service alone; love is the distinguishing mark of a disciple of Jesus.

One can possess knowledge without love or engage in acts of service without love. Yet, it is impossible to be a true disciple without love. Love is the defining trait that sets a disciple apart and must be the guiding force in any disciple-making process.

Importance of a Relational Context

Discipleship is not merely an academic or transactional process. It thrives in a relational and communal setting, where individuals are deeply connected to one another through shared love and belonging. True discipleship happens in the context of relationships, as disciples learn to love one another and grow together in their faith. In conclusion, disciple-making begins with the end in mind: producing followers of Jesus marked by love. The pursuit of others, fostering a sense of belonging, developing a servant’s heart, and embracing the testing of faith are all essential means to achieve this goal. Above all, discipleship must be relational, rooted in the love that defines following Jesus.

Our Families and Disciple-Making

Posted on by

Elizabeth DeLuca asks the question, “How are the worlds in which we live shaped by the ways that households are thought and made? How does the scale of the household shape the spatial and temporal scales at which we claim belonging and responsibility?”[1]

Disciple-making establishes a person’s familial connection to her heavenly Father, Jesus, and to her spiritual siblings. The setting in which we make disciples will shape our disciple. The classroom creates students, a laboratory develops scientists, a bootcamp produces disciplined soldiers, and the familial forms disciples of Jesus.

Since love is the mark of a disciple of Jesus then an ideal place to form disciples is in the context of love in a physical family and/or a spiritual family. The family reflects the essence of God as a loving Father with His Son. God the Father relates to us as his children and Jesus relates to us as his brothers and sisters. “. . .that he (Jesus) might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:29; “So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” Hebrews 2:11

It is through the bond with a mother, father, and siblings that a person learns how to connect with God, but for many their families are dysfunctional or even toxic. For those that come from broken families, the disciple-maker should engraft her disciple into a spiritual family so that she can experience healthy connection with a spiritual father, mother, and brothers and sisters, because it is our love for our brothers and sisters that is evidence that we are maturing as a disciple of Jesus. The apostle Paul and his team made disciples by traveling around initiating these spiritual families, demonstrating familial love, and then later nurturing these communities by letters and visits. Paul explains, “We were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8

Where to from here:

  • Listen to the story of the homelife of your disciple to discover how her relationship with her parents maybe an emotional blocker to her relationship with the heavenly Father.
  • Explore your disciple’s relationship with his siblings. Does he project his attitude towards his brothers and sisters to Jesus?
  • Encourage your disciple to meet with other disciples of Jesus and seek to build a brotherly or sisterly relationship with them.

[1] https://culanth.org/fieldsights/series/the-household

Posted in

Mental Health and Making Disciples of Jesus

Posted on by

One way to love a person that has a learning disability, mental disorder, or who is neurodivergent is to help him attach to his heavenly Father, who is love. (Neurodivergent is a term that describes people whose brains develop or work differently for some reason. People with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, or other mental disorders would be neurodivergent.) God can seem distant to a person that is neurodivergent because the usual means of connecting to God by reading the bible, reading a Christian book, journaling, memorizing scripture, church attendance, and listening to a sermon are not easily accessible to him. The good news of Jesus is that God draws near to all people, even those that are neurodivergent.

Christianity tends to assume that a lack of spiritual desire of a person is because he is indifferent, rebellious, hardhearted, stubborn, or lazy. We suppose the problem is the person’s heart condition rather than asking the question, “What might I be missing in the life of my child or my disciple?” As a child cannot self-diagnosis a learning disability so you cannot expect that your disciple can self-diagnosis if they are neurodivergent.

A neurodivergent person’s relationship with God can frustrate him as a child can be discouraged when he is punished for poor grades when, unknown to his parents or himself, that he has a learning disability. “Why can other people connect to God, but it is so difficult for me?”

Some evidence that your disciple is neurodivergent:

• Little desire to read the Bible or spiritual books.

• Have trouble remembering or understanding what he read.

• Do things without stopping to think about the consequences.

• Addiction to alcohol or drugs.

• Read something over and over and not understand the message.

• Avoids going to church services, youth group, a bible study. (“What if they ask me to read something out loud?”)

• Relationships are difficult for her.




A couple of possible ideas to help a neurodivergent person:

• Help her/him find a therapist and get a diagnosis. (This can be very intimidating for the individual. I have driven folks to their first appointment just so they did not have to be alone.)

• Explore together ways of connecting to the heavenly Father. Read the bible together. Pray together. Listen to scripture. Listen to audiobooks.

• Engraft your disciple (or child) into a spiritual community that is sensitive to those that are neurodivergent.

Giving Access

Posted on by

Two important questions to ask when we make disciples of Jesus for the advancement of kingdom of God:

  1. What came into the minds of the twelve disciples when Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and make disciples?”
  2. How did the disciples do ministry because of the training they had received from Jesus?

The disciples had spent three intensive years with Jesus being trained by him to be his disciple. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John show the means by which Jesus trained his disciples and what lesson he taught them.

The Means

The means by which Jesus trained them was, a) by being in a friendship with them and , b) by placing them in a community of thirteen people. The twelve disciples lived with the teacher as he coached them on how to belong to that community.

(I am reminded of the debate the disciple had on which one of them was the greatest. Jesus took that opportunity to teach them to consider the others as more important.)

The Lesson

The lesson he taught them was love. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-3 This lesson was learned by the experience of Jesus laying down his life for them.

The Take Aways

To make disciples of Jesus you will need to give your disciples access to your life. This is part of the laying down of your life for your disciple. It does cost.

Engraft your disciple into a group with other disciples. This can be difficult and will take longer than you expect. Jesus took three years with his disciples.

Posted in

We Become What We Measure

Posted on by

This month my doctor ordered several tests for me to measure all kind of things. The results will tell us where I am healthy and where I am not. (Whoever heard of a “fatty liver” anyway?)

The apostle Paul measured two things to determine the spiritual health of his disciples, 1) their trust in the Lord Jesus, and 2) the disciples’ love for one another. Six times in his letters Paul probed into the state of the trust and love of the believers to discover how they were doing.  (Ephesians 1:15-16; Colossians 1:3-6; 1 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Philemon 4-7)

Trust

The first measure is trust. Trust is the confidence that your disciple places in the character, ability, and strength of Jesus. Does she live in joy and peace or is her life marked by anxiety?

Love

The second measure is love. Love is evident when your disciple desires good for his fellow disciples and he longs to be in union with those disciples. In other words, he is not competing with the others, jealous, or intimidated but rather he serves well and seeks to live in community. His life is not marked by detachment.

Monthly our leaders look together at each disciple to measure their trust and love, knowing that our community will become what we measure.

The Belonging Factor

Posted on by

Disciple-making is the gospel applied to my relationships in order to restore the world to the way God intended. To be a disciple of Jesus is to belong to the heavenly father, Jesus, and to fellow disciples. For 27 months Jesus pulled his 12 disciples together for them to experience belonging by a) teaching them the love of the heavenly father, b) by cultivating their love for one another, and c) to move them towards a unity that would be clear to outsiders.

People are to be in mutual relationship because they are the image of God. Yet the America culture values individualism emphasizing personal liberty, independence, self-reliance, and self-direction of the individual. To make disciples in North America is countercultural as we move a person from isolation into connection with God and his children.

Rarely do churches or ministries check the “belonging factor” of a person to determine his spirituality. Yet Jesus teaches us that the evidence of being his disciple is love and to be in unity with other disciples. In other words, the mark of spiritual maturity is the ability to love and to receive love.

 

Posted in

Disciple-Making and the Home

Posted on by

How do parents incorporate Jesus’s model of disciple-making into their home? Various ministries have followed Jesus’s approach but when it comes to our families we are not quite sure what discipling our children should look like.

Christianity in the West has known for years that 80% of our children are not becoming followers of Jesus.[1] Vast resources are given to children and youth ministries because we were told that it was vital to get our kids into children’s ministry and youth group, only to have our children leave God when they leave home. Parents feel spiritually inadequate and it is easier to leave the spiritual formation of their children to the professionals.

Recently I read the account of Jesus’s last evening with his disciples and I realized that I had looked at the question of disciple-making and parenting the wrong way.[2] Rather than trying to figure out how to fit our families into Jesus’s approach to disciple-making I saw that Jesus had patterned his disciple-making on a familial model so that our homes are the optimal place to make disciples of Jesus.

Jesus’s approach to disciple-making was based on the familial nature of the Trinity. He says to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” (John 15:9) Jesus assures them that their heavenly father has a home and in that home each disciple will have a place to belong. (John 14:2) Jesus goes on to promise them that he will not leave them as orphans (John 14:18) and that the heavenly father and Jesus will make their home with them, all familial language.

In closing:

  • Making disciples of Jesus should be in a familial way. (Jesus and the apostle Paul both used familial language to describe disciple-making.)

 

  • Our families can reflect the nature of the Trinity to the world.

 

  • Our homes can be a picture of the gospel to the world.

 

  • The family is a place for children to experience the nature of God and the wonder of the gospel.
  • No matter the age, create a familial environment to which your disciples can belong.

 

[1] https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/08/24/why-americas-nones-left-religion-behind/

[2] Gospel of John Chapters 13-17

Ecstatic Love

Posted on by

To be one of the twelve disciples of Jesus was an experience of love. Jesus had modeled his disciple-making after the mutual love between the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Kallistos Ware writes, “The circle of divine love however has not remained closed. God’s love is, in the literal sense of the word, “ecstatic”-a love that causes God to go out from himself and to create things other than himself. By voluntary choice God created the world in “ecstatic” love, so that there might be beside himself other beings to participate in the life and the love that are his.”[1]

This “ecstatic” love caused Jesus to come to earth and as John explained “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9 Jesus then formed a group of twelve men and for twenty-seven months he loved these disciples and he taught them how to love the other men in the group. One purpose of a disciple of Jesus is to be an image bearer of God to the world and a disciple cultivates this by learning to love other disciples. Jesus instructs his disciples, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34

The process of making disciples today should be little different than what Jesus first showed us. A discipler guides a group of men and women in how to receive love and how to love others. This discipling experience moves a person towards flourishing by being in mutual love with God and with fellow disciples because, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16

The evidence that disciples are maturing is their ability to love others and to receive love.

[1] Ware, Kallistos, The Orthodox Way (Crestwood: St Vladimir’s Seminar Press, 1979), p. 44.