Day 32

32 - Reproducing: Make Disciples Who Make Disciples 

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and

the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.” Matthew 28:19-20a

The gestation period (the time that elapses between conception and birth) of human beings is 9 months. The gestation period for a lion is 3 1/2 months; a bear, 6-8 months; a horse, 11 months; a whale, 12-18 months; an elephant, 17-24 months. The gestation period for a dog or cat? 2 months. A rabbit? One month. A chicken? 22 days. A rat? 21 days.

Each creature has their own special reproductive timetable, and it is most often different from every other animal. The reproduction time may differ from species to species, but all species reproduce. Reproduction is a normal and necessary facet of the life and continued existence of a species.

Read Genesis 1:21-22, 28, and 8:15-17.

• What did God say that every living creature should do? 

* * * * *

God didn't want every species to just exist. He wanted them to multiply, and to do that they must reproduce. Reproduction is normal and necessary.

Reproduction is also normal and necessary for disciples of Jesus. This is not just for our continued existence on the earth, but to help populate Heaven! It was never Jesus' intention for His disciples to just exist. He wants us to reproduce and multiply, to make other disciples.

Read Matthew 28:18.

• These were some of Jesus final words to His disciples before He ascended to Heaven. What had been given to Jesus? 

* * * * *

Jesus essentially told his disciples that He is the boss of all things, and everything on heaven and earth (stars, constellations, universes, trees, mountains, storms, wild and domestic animals, etc...) has to obey Him. He has all authority over all things. And now from that position of authority, He was giving them instructions.

Read Matthew 28:19.

• What is the instruction Jesus is giving His disciples? 

* * * * *

Many people believe the command from Jesus here in Matthew 28 was to "go," but that's not the case. The command was and is to "make disciples" ("going" is part of making disciples). Jesus not only told his disciples to make disciples, he showed them how to make disciples. He showed them how to "reproduce" disciples. Our call is not just to be a disciple like Jesus, but also to make disciples like Jesus, following the example of Jesus.

To be a Chair 4 Disciple-Maker, we must not only remain in Jesus and model Jesus, we must also reproduce disciples who remain in Jesus and model Jesus.

Read Acts 9:1-30.

• After Saul moved from Chair 1 to Chair 2 (believer), what helped him become a disciple? (see verses 18-19, 27-28) 

* * * * *

Disciples in Damascus helped "disciple" Saul, and then the very apostles whom Jesus told to "make disciples" in Matthew 28:19 began to disciple Saul. Saul would later be renamed Paul (Acts 13:9), and he began to reproduce disciples. He led a young man named Timothy to faith in Christ.

Read 1 Timothy 1:2.

• What does Paul call Timothy?

Read 2 Timothy 1:5-8a.

• What do we know about Timothy? What does verse 8 say Timothy should do? 

* * * * *

Read 2 Timothy 2:1-2.

• What does Paul tell Timothy to do? How many generations of disciples can you see here?

* * * * *

Paul instructed Timothy to reproduce, making disciples of Jesus who could make disciples of Jesus. He didn’t specify a gestation period (every 21 days, 4 months, 9 months, or 2 years). Reproduce disciple-makers, wherever you are with whomever God has brought into your life. 

Apart From Him…

• Thank God by name for the people who have discipled you. Ask God to help you take the authority and call of Jesus to "make disciples" and "be fruitful and multiply" seriously. 

* * * * *

Walking As Jesus…

• Memorize 2 Timothy 2:2. 

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• My Personal Disciple-Making Plan: