Missions Textbook 49
Natural Discipleship

We Never Saw It Coming: An Introduction to Christian Missions (textbook)

Discipleship doesn’t have to be a program. If we can talk an unbeliever into reading the Bible with us, that is evangelism. If they stick with it, and they make a decision to follow Jesus, they have become a disciple A continued reading of scripture will result in growth and maturity; that could be called discipleship.

In Acts 13:13 and following verses, Paul and his traveling companions went into a smaller city in Asia Minor called Pisidian Antioch. They preached a lengthy sermon in the synagogue, and “the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath” (Acts 13:42).  Paul and Barnabas agreed, and after that sermon, “when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region” (Acts 13:48-49).

There was, of course, dissention, and to avoid persecution, Paul and Barnabas left the city. In Acts 14: 1, Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium, where “they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.” The rest of the story describes the divisions arising from these professions of faith, and when some of the dissenters tried to stone them, Paul and Barnabas left and went to Lystra, and the same thing happened there: Some became believers, but some of their persecutors had followed them from Antioch and Iconium, so the apostles left there as well.

They went to Derbe, and “after they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch” (Acts 14:21). There is not a time frame given, but the story follows in rapid succession, so that there is no more time gone by than it would take to walk between these cities.

What did they do in these cities when they returned? They were “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God’” (Acts 14:22).  In addition, they “appointed elders for them in every church, [and] having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed” (Acts 14:23).

That’s it. They had God’s word – at that time, in the form of the Old Testament – and they had Paul’s teachings over a couple of weeks at most. Yet somehow, they were called disciples, and some of them were recognized as elders of the fledgling churches in each city. In some cities, such as Corinth, Paul stayed longer.

When Floyd encouraged people to read the Bible with him, they did not know that the Holy Spirit was in the words they were reading. When they made a decision to follow the Lord, Floyd saw no reason to stop reading and to begin a “discipleship program.” God’s word was doing such a good job of growing their spiritual life, that it seemed best to continue.

Sometimes, they would be excited to bring their unsaved friends to the Bible study. If that happened, Floyd would either begin a new Bible study or would start over again in the first study. Either way, the new believer became the substitute leader if Floyd had to miss for some reason. In fact, Floyd sometimes missed, just to give the new believer the opportunity to lead the study. Because Floyd had set the “curriculum,” if you will, as reading the verses in order and in context, there was very little danger of anyone teaching anything heretical.

By the time the new believers had reached the end of the gospel, they began wondering if they and Floyd were the only people in the world who read the Bible. They were now ready for the book of Acts, which is all about the beginning of the church, and they greatly enjoyed meeting other believers. They were eager to read Acts and to learn about what Jesus had intended the church to be like – so different from the religion around them – and to discover that they could actually have a part in it.

As they continued to meet, pretty soon, they began to show evidence of gifts that the Holy Spirit had given them. They were ready to serve, teach, preach, and counsel. Floyd and Bernd Flock and Walter and many others would train and coach them. There was no joy quite as great as sitting in a preaching service or Bible study and listening to someone that you led to the Lord expound God’s word to the entire group. And sometimes the Holy Spirit gave him or her insights that surprised and convicted you. What Joy!

We Never Saw It Coming: An Introduction to Christian Missions (textbook)

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