OUR METHODOLOGY
This is the 3rd in a series of articles on the Church's Commission by David 
Denny, Exec. Director of Grace Baptist Missions.  Published in the GBMI ADVISOR, 
November, 1997

	Many today are proposing new ways to build churches.  The church growth 
literature is voluminous. It has become a band wagon within fundamental circles. 
It uses principles drawn from sociology and marketing to change the church to 
appeal to a changing culture.  
	Others propose new ways of evangelism.  Formulas are created to get a 
person to profess faith in Christ. Para-church organizations  are formed for 
evangelism with little concern for teaching and doctrine.  The commission, to 
them, means only a profession of faith.  Teams  to go to foreign fields to 
conduct evangelistic campaigns, not to plant churches and make disciples. 
	As a result, we have many churches today that are filled with people who 
have made a profession of faith, may even have been baptized, yet do not truly 
know the Christ of the Bible.  These individuals are untaught in the doctrines 
of the faith.  In fact, they don't want to hear about doctrine.  Instead they 
want to "celebrate Christ."  They want to be moved emotionally, be entertained, 
and commune socially with others who share their values.  This is not Biblical 
Christianity!  This is not what the Great Commission commands us to do!  
	Paul said,  "For we are not as many, which corrupt [meaning huckster, as a 
tricky peddler] the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the 
sight of God speak we in Christ" (2Cor. 2:17).
In 2Cor. 4:2 he said, "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not 
walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully [adulterating 
the Word]; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's 
conscience in the sight of God [Not to whim, foible, prejudice]."
	If we are to fulfill our commission we must do so Biblically in the power 
of our sovereign God.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven 
and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name 
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe 
all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even 
unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matt. 28:18-20).

	The key to this command is the goal of the commission- to "...make 
disciples...baptizing...teaching them to observe all things that I have 
commanded you..." We need to ask two questions:
	What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?
	How are disciples made and taught?

The answers to these questions will define the methodology of Biblical missions.  
Then we should be able to verify our methodology from the record of missions 
found in Acts.

What Does It Mean To Be A Disciple?

	Disciples are "...those who believe in and commit themselves to Christ's 
teaching." "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue 
in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed" (John 8:31).
"True disciples are not merely those who give ear to Jesus' teaching, but are 
those who "continue" in His word" (Timothy W. Bantle, Local Church Discipleship,  
Marion, NY 1988, p.ii). To "continue" means to obey, to direct one's life by it, 
to submit to it's directives.  
	The term is used in a broad sense to refer to many who take the name of 
Christ but do not submit and commit to His Lordship.  This was the case in the 
time of Christ:
"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered 
him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we 
believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 
6:66-69)
	Other disciples (broad sense) went back and walked with Him no more. The 
12 disciples (narrow sense) continued with Him.  A "true disciple" is synonymous 
with a "true Christian."  "A disciple is not someone above and beyond the normal 
Christian; the disciple is the Christian"(Bantle, pp. ii, iii). 
	In contrast, the twelve apostles are often referred to as disciples.  But 
these were men highly trained for leadership roles which were foundational for 
the church yet to come (Eph. 2:20).  
As such they do not qualify as the norm upon which to establish a definition of 
"disciple." They were disciples and more- they were trained for the apostolic 
office. 
	Some would suggest that a person can be saved and then later decide to 
become a disciple.  This is a false position not supported by scripture.  The 
scriptures do not speak of Jesus teaching about "true Christianity." He invites 
the multitudes to a life of discipleship.  
 The great commission commands us to "make disciples (in the deepest, fullest, 
narrow sense of the term) of all nations.  We are to teach them "all things 
whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:19-20).
	The term "disciple" is used 269 times in the New Testament.  The word 
"Christian" is found only three times and it was first introduced to refer to 
disciples (Acts 11:26).  It is the command of Jesus that the church be a 
disciple making church. The term disciple is used to describe the same people in 
the Epistles as "believers," "the elect," "saints," and "the church." It seems 
evident that a "disciple" (a learner, follower, believer) is synonymous with 
"saint," "believer," or "Christian."

Marks of a True Disciple

	A true disciple accepts the yoke of Christ (Matt. 11:28-30).  The picture 
is that of a young bullock being yoked with a large, mature bullock for training 
and learning. The true disciple places himself to receive His truth, to be His 
student.  Christ becomes his teacher and guide.  
	A true disciple commits himself to fellowship with Christ (John 15:4-5).  
God desires fellowship with man.  To enter into a saving relationship with Jesus 
Christ is to enter into communion with God.
This relationship will evidence itself in the life of the disciple. Christ will 
be the love of his life. Fellowship is both a demand and consequence of 
discipleship (Bantle p.5).
	A true disciple denies himself and takes up his cross and follows Christ 
(Luke 9:23, 14:27). The cross is a symbol of shame.  Persecution, suffering and 
even death may result in the life of a true disciple. For unto you it is given 
in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his 
sake;(Philippians 1:29).
It is costly to be a disciple of Christ. He must deny himself- his will, his 
affections, his ambitions, his goals. The will and mind of Christ becomes his.  
He places Christ in the driver's seat of his life.
	A true disciple persists in prayer (Luke 11:1).  Prayer requires an 
intimate relationship and dependence upon God. The disciple's relationship with 
God is as simple as that of a child to his papa (Rom. 8:15).
	A true disciple submits to Christ as his highest authority (Luke 14:26).  
This is a matter of the will.  To what authority will I submit?  Will I allow 
natural ties to rule my life, or Christ to rule it? Note three excuses in the 
parable in this text (Luke 14:28-33). The piece of ground represents material 
things; the yoke of oxen represents business success and secular ambition; the 
wife represents natural ties which often supplant the authority of Christ.
	A true disciple places himself as a steward of God (Luke 14:33). He 
recognizes all he has is God's.  He owns nothing.  Time, talents, wealth, and 
material possessions belong to God by virtue of creation and redemption (1Cor. 
6:19-20). Jesus clearly teaches that nothing less than total commitment to 
Himself and His ministry will suffice for a disciple.  In Matt. 19:16-22 the 
rich young ruler's possessions were more important to him than following Christ. 
Obviously, you can't be a disciple of Christ and still worship the wealth of 
this world. Luke 14:28-32 teaches us that whether building a tower or winning a 
war it is not how much man has, but what he is willing to commit that counts. 
	A true disciple continues in Christ's Word (Jn. 8:31).
Perseverance with Christ and in His Word is an indication of the reality of 
one's profession of faith. Note the parable of seed and the sower in Lu. 8:4-15. 
Each soil represents a different reception of  the Word. The true disciple 
(disciple indeed) is not perfect.  He commits sin and will fail Christ at times. 
But the general tenor or thrust of his life will be persistence in the faith.  
When he falls into sin he will seek cleansing and not wallow in the mire (2Pet. 
2:22; 1Jn. 1:9). The Word should dominate the thought life, control the speech, 
mold the ambitions, ideals, goals, and shape the attitudes and behavior of the 
disciple of Christ. The Word should be elevated to the place of supreme 
authority in his life.
	A true disciple loves other disciples of Christ (Jn. 13:34-35).
Brotherly love is a new sign or indication of separation unto God like the 
previous signs of circumcision and Sabbath keeping. This love for the brethren 
leads to fellowship and separation from the world. Redeemed people are to stand 
together as a spiritual community separate from the world but not removed from 
the world where they are to witness (Jn. 17:15-18). This concept of discipleship 
underscores the necessity and importance of the local church as a place of 
fellowship (Heb 10:25). The true disciple is not obsessed with himself; not 
occupied with serving selfish desires (Phil. 2:3-4; Rom. 12:10).

How Are Disciples Made and Taught?

	Discipleship is the process or methodology employed  to bring about 
spiritual maturity in the true believer. Baptizing and teaching are the basic 
parts of discipleship. Baptism as a public testimony of  the salvation 
experience demonstrates the believer's commitment and identification with 
Christ. Teaching is a continuous process through which the disciple is enabled 
to rightly live the new life he/she has in Christ.
	The local church is the instrument through which the Holy Spirit works to 
bring about spiritual maturity in the saints.  

"The church is to accomplish what Jesus did in His incarnate state...The church, 
the "Body of Christ," is the continuing form of the incarnate Lord on 
earth....Where Christ himself once stood and singularly discipled men, now His 
Body, the church, corporately disciples men!..."(Bantle, p. ix). 

The church must display the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:29; 2Cor. 3:18) The Body 
must live and walk as Jesus walked (1Jn. 2:6; Eph. 4:32; 5:1-2).
"...The church, corporately, now disciples people, moving them on from initial 
conversion to maturity.  It was once accomplished by One man; One supernatural, 
sinless, Savior.  Today it is accomplished by the unified ministry of the 
members of His Body, in local churches!" (Bantle, p. ix)

	Discipleship, then, requires church planting for it requires the 
disciple's total involvement in the life and ministry of a local church over an 
extended period of time.  A new believers' Sunday school class, a discipleship 
class with the pastor, a 14 week Bible study with a mature Christian are not 
adequate to accomplish the mandate to "make disciples," although these may be 
the first part of the process. 

	The process of discipleship has two parts. Induction is the beginning in 
which the new convert is taught what a disciple is.
Indoctrination is the process of sanctification in which new ways of life are 
learned and lived; old habits broken, new habits learned; and a new world-life 
view is developed to control all we are and do.

"It is an ongoing process for the rest of our earthly life.  It is accomplished 
by incorporation and involvement in the local church.  This is what our Lord has 
described in detail in His Word in the Epistles.  The term "disciple"  is 
replaced by the term "church."  The same demands that Christ made in the Gospels 
for being a true disciple are found in the Epistles demanded of the church 
saints" (Bantle, p. xii)

The Record of Missions in Acts Verifies This Methodology

	Biblical missions is planting churches, to make disciples by baptizing 
them and teaching them to observe all things Christ has commanded. The record of 
missions found in the book of Acts clearly supports this methodology. 
	The missionary first is personally called by the Holy Spirit (13:2). 
Previously the gospel spread as a result of persecution. Here it becomes a 
deliberate program- the birth of missions. The local church, led by the Spirit 
of God, commissions and sends [releases] the missionaries (v.3). They went to 
peoples beyond the Jews, to the Gentiles. They preached the gospel and made many 
disciples.  Interestingly the word "taught" in Acts 14:21 is the same word found 
in Matthew 28:19 meaning "make disciples."  It was not just mass evangelism but 
a teaching ministry.  The word translated "confirming" (v.22) means to 
strengthen, to give additional strength, to help.  These recent converts from 
heathenism were ill informed, were persecuted, had broken family and social 
ties, and greatly needed encouragement and instruction to grow in the Lord.
	Churches were established and elders [pastors] were ordained [appointed] 
to carry on the work (vv. 22,23).  The word translated ordained or appointed has 
the meaning of elect, or appoint by vote. This would imply the local body of 
believers had been organized and elected the elder [pastor] by vote, not  
appointed by the missionaries. 
	The missionaries relinquished responsibility, moved on (v.23) and 
eventually returned to their sending church where they gave a report (v.27) and 
"abode a long time with the disciples" (v28). They recognized that the work was 
God's, "...they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened 
the door of faith unto the Gentiles" (v.27).
	We can do no less and no better than to pattern our methodology of 
missions after that found in the Word of God. The modern church growth movement 
is based on human wisdom of marketing, sociology, and psychology.  It denies the 
sovereignty of God who said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall 
not prevail against it" (Mt. 16:18). We may not see the crowds the church growth 
people will see- but crowds gather for many reasons, the least of which is true 
worship and fellowship.  Our goal must be to faithfully fulfill our commission 
and make disciples for Christ.
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Extensive reference to the book, Church Discipleship has been made in this 
article. Copies may be obtained by writing Pastor Timothy Bantle, Grace Baptist 
Church, 3040 Walworth Rd., Marion, NY 14505