A Lifelong Vision for Lifelong Disciple-Makers

By Jonathan Freeman

The other day I sat down with a college student for lunch. During the conversation, he asked some great questions about being a follower of Jesus. After hearing these questions, I then proceeded to ask him when he gave his life to Christ. He grew up in the Bible belt (Arkansas, specifically) so he had a very similar story to many of the students in our ministry. He gave his life to Christ during his student ministry days, but since giving his life to Christ there has not been much fruit. Stagnant. Void of growth.

I see this problem time and time again with many students who come through our college ministry. The story is like a broken record and goes like this: I was saved at a young age, grew up in the church, attended every Sunday, but I haven’t really grown since then. For whatever reason, it seems we have boiled salvation down to a decision instead of casting the vision for what it truly means to be a lifelong disciple-maker for Jesus. Upon sharing the gospel with every student, I tell them this: Salvation is not the finish line, it’s the starting line. I want them to know that following Jesus is a lifelong decision. It’s a one-time decision with lifelong implications for their life.

J.T. English, in his book Deep Discipleship, says it another way: “Conversion is not the touchdown, it’s the kickoff. It’s the beginning of the game.”

The conversation I had with this student was heart-breaking but a good reminder to press on in the ministry Jesus has assigned every single one of us—to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). This student didn’t know how to read his Bible, had never been discipled, but desired these things. The solution to this problem is not more programs, shallow Bible studies, or events, but deep discipleship. Read More

Sadly many older adults as well as young people have not been adequately discipled. A laissez faire attitude toward discipleship with its unwillingness to get involved in or influence the way that other people say that they are following Jesus has contributed to this lack of adequate discipling. This attitude takes the position that every Christian follows Jesus in their own way. Jesus, however, set out very clear teachings for his disciples and he himself exemplified what he taught. He further maintained that his teachings were not his own but God's and that he was fulfilling the Old Testament prophesy that God himself would teach his people and make them his disciples.