The simplest definition of disciple is a “follower or student.”
Most people know that Jesus made disciples, but he is not the only example of a disciple-maker. There the Old Testament, for instance, there are several stories that highlight the impact of life-on-life ministry. Jesus provides the ultimate model for making disciples, and the disciple-makers in the Old Testament are certainly not perfect. Despite their faults, we can learn much from these other disciple-makers.
What do we mean by life-on-life missional discipleship? We define it this way, “Laboring in the lives of a few with the intention of imparting one’s life, the gospel and God’s Word in such a way as to see them become mature and equipped followers of Christ, committed to doing the same in the lives of others.”
Although these disciple-makers did not yet know about Jesus, they worked to impart their own life and God’s teachings into the lives of others, so that the next generation could, in turn, invest in future generations of disciple-makers.
Let’s get started.
Abraham and Isaac
The story of Abraham and Isaac demonstrates the importance of parents acting as the primary disciple-makers of their children, and how much our example matters.
We don’t know much about the ways Abraham spoke to Isaac at meals or in the fields, but we do know that Isaac clearly saw Abraham act in obedience to God, even in extreme situations. Isaac went with Abraham to Mount Moriah in Genesis 22, he saw his father’s radical faith, and he was there when the Lord provided a ram to take his place.
On the flip side, we also see Isaac imitating his father in a negative sense. When Abraham goes to Egypt in Genesis 12, he convinces his wife Sarah to pretend to be his sister, otherwise the Pharaoh might kill him to marry Sarah. This is a horrible plan that lacks faith in God, hurts his wife, and causes pain and suffering amongst Pharaoh’s court.
In the same way, in Genesis 26, Isaac lives amongst the Philistines and their King Abimelech. He tells them that his wife, Rebekah, is his sister for the exact same reasons his father had done in Egypt. When the king finds out, his response of frustration is just like the Pharoah’s.
These stories highlight how important our example is for the people we disciple. When you live in close relationships with others, they will imitate you. Like Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1, we should imitate Christ so that those we disciple will imitate us in a positive way.
Jethro and Moses
Jethro was the father-in-law of Moses, and they spent about 40 years together in the land of Midian. Moses worked for Jethro, tending his sheep. When God spoke to Moses in the burning bush, Moses went to Jethro to ask for permission to quit his job and move his family to Egypt to follow the Lord’s calling. Jethro blessed him and said, “go in peace.”
Later, as Moses attempts to lead the people through the desert in Exodus 18, he seeks advice and wisdom from a trusted source: Jethro.
One of the first things we see in this chapter is the way that Jethro celebrates the work God is doing through Moses. Exodus 18:9 (ESV) says, “And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.”
Jethro was the leader of the people Moses lived with in Midian, but now it is Moses’s turn to lead. Jethro celebrates and encourages Moses, which is exactly what every disciple-maker should do when their disciples first seek to go out and make disciples themselves.
Not only that, but Jethro provides some guidance and wisdom for Moses. Like many leaders, Moses is over-exerting himself as he tries to keep up with all the responsibilities. What does Jethro call Moses to do? Teach others to do the same thing that Moses is already doing (in other words, make disciples).
Here is what Jethro says in Exodus 18:21, “Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.”
Moses did exactly this, he started training and enabling others to lead the people.
Moses and Joshua
Effective discipleship is multi-generational, and we see that occurring with Moses. Not only did he learn from Jethro, but he invested in Joshua, who would one day take the place of Moses and lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Throughout their time in the wilderness, Joshua is frequently referred to as “Moses’ assistant” and accompanies him in key moments. He learned for years under Moses, watching him, imitating him, and listening to him.
In Numbers 27, Moses actually commissions Joshua to take his place. Verses 22-23 (ESV) explain the scene like this, “Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the Lord directed through Moses.”
Effective discipleship leaders know the value of this – when their disciples are ready to go and make disciples themselves, they should commission them. Jesus would later do this in the Great Commission in Matthew 28. When you are a respected leader and mentor, your words of commission can be encouraging, empowering, and motivating.
In Joshua 1, after Moses has passed away and Joshua has taken over, he receives even more encouragement from God. When God commissions Joshua, he reminds him in verse 5, “Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.”
We can take heart from this as well – for Jesus echoes the same sentiment to his disciples in the Great Commission. In Matthew 28:20 (ESV) He reminds us, “behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
When we disciple people, and they in-turn begin to make disciples themselves, we can take courage because we know that discipleship is God’s “plan A” for transforming lives and building His kingdom. Just as he was with Joshua and with the disciples, so he will be with us, even to the end of the age.
Naomi and Ruth
The story of Ruth is a short but powerful picture of the ways God uses kindness and discipleship to transform the world and build His kingdom. The book contains no major miracles, but it does provide us with a picture of life-on-life living.
In Ruth 1:16 (ESV), Ruth says these famous words to her mother-in-law Naomi, “For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”
Ruth left her homeland to serve and stay with Naomi in Israel. Throughout their time together, Naomi guided Ruth through both practical and spiritual matters, helping Ruth find Boaz and directing her through the cultural steps to ensure Boaz could be her kinsmen-redeemer.
Each key character in the story demonstrates acts of kindness, and through these simple things God would change the world. Ruth and Boaz gave birth to Obed, who gave birth to Jesse, who gave birth to King David (Ruth 4:21-22). In other words, if they had not lived this way, Israel’s greatest king and the ancestor of Jesus would have never been born.
We often think that people who make a big impact for God and His kingdom have performed incredible miracles or spoken to huge crowds, but the story of Ruth reminds us that simple acts of kindness and life-on-life discipleship can have a profound impact on the entire world.
Elijah and Elisha
The call of Elisha feels very similar to the stories of Jesus calling his disciples. When Elijah finds Elisha, he is at work plowing the farms. Elijah calls him to join him in ministry, and after saying farewell to his family, Elisha begins to follow Elijah and assist him (1 Kings 19:19-21).
Elisha stays with Elijah throughout the rest of his ministry, learning from him and walking with him. He refuses to leave Elijah’s side, even on the day in which Elijah gets swept up into Heaven. Before leaving, Elisha asks Elijah for a “double portion of your spirit on me.”
He wants God to work in him and through him the same way God worked through Elijah. As we saw earlier with Moses and Joshua, discipleship is most effective when we demonstrate and lean into our dependency on God. He is the one who does the work, and God is the one who will remain with those we disciple, even after we are gone.
This is a great reminder that we should pray for those we disciple consistently, praying that God will be at work in them and raise them up to be even greater disciple-makers.
Conclusion
Jesus is the ultimate disciple-maker, but he isn’t the only one in the Bible. Throughout Scripture we see other individuals living in life-on-life relationships, imparting their spiritual gifts and wisdom for the benefit of others.
These pictures of discipleship remind us that we don’t have to be perfect to be effective disciple-makers. Instead, we build life-on-life relationships, speak truth, and depend on the power of God to do the work in us and through us.
Who in your life could you disciple?