I've been doing a lot of reading lately on discipleship. Rather, what I've been studying is trying to release to baggage of the word and move more towards disciple-making. It's been an interesting process to say the least. And this is only a tiny tidbit of the conversation. It is not intended to give all the answers. In fact this will probably leave more questions. That's good. So let's dialogue about this together.

The more important factor in making disciples is that one must first be a disciple. Now you're probably saying, "Duh. Thanks captain obvious. Why am I reading this guy's blog?" I know it's at the risk of sounding pedantic, but truly this is an issue of belief vs. action. We often say "I totally believe that!" but we don't live it. The truth is that in order to make disciples, one must first, in one's inner most being, live out the things that Christ calls us to (I suggest reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan or Radical by David Platt). But that begs the question: what do I mean when I say disciple? I don't mean: Christian. While all disciples are indeed Christians, that word contains about five centuries worth of messy baggage that I don't want to deal with right now - I know - call me selfish. When I say disciple I mean: Christ-follower. I mean someone who sits at the feet of Jesus daily. Someone who is endlessly praying for others and trying to do the work of God.

But here is the kicker. So often we can try so hard to do the things of God that we forget the first and most simple rule of being a disciple: that only God can do the work in me. In John 15, the famous passage that speaks of "abiding" - which in Koine (New Testament) Greek is from 'meno' (long o) and means: to remain, continue to exist within, sometimes with the hope of expectancy. It's with this in mind that Jesus says "Abide in me, for apart from me, you can do nothing." That is, if we should ever leave, to try to exist apart from Christ, then you begin to do it on your own. We cease to rely on the power of God. We may think that we're relying on God...we may even say that we're relying on God. But the truth is, that apart from "abiding" in Christ - we can do nothing! We must rely on the POWER OF GOD.

In another discussion that Paul had with the Corinthians (1 Cor. 3:1-9) - he reminds them in their dispute over who they would wish to follow - Paul says that it isn't man who does anything. Man can plant and water, but only God can cause the growth. So why do we constantly try to do it on our own?

Perhaps herein lies the confusion. We are vessels, instruments by which God has chosen to use for the sake of his kingdom. He uses us to do his own work. So how much "work" do we do? When do I know that I've done enough? When do I rely on God?

We should always rely on God. Even in our works it is God who is working through us. Perhaps Colossians 1:28-29 may sharpen this. Paul says "Him (Christ) we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me." We see that while Paul is doing the work, he is reliant on God for the strength to do it.

So here is what God is teaching me. I can do nothing. I need God's power to work within me fist and foremost to BE a disciple, let alone to make disciples. Further, every work that I do is an opportunity for Christ to do a work through me or for me to try and do it on my own strength, reliant on my own abilities and techniques. The latter will fail to produce lasting fruit. So I should never leave the fold of God and try to do it on my own. I must abide in him at all times. I must choose to never leave my primary role in making disciples...to be a disciple myself. Doug Field says that he often found himself trying so hard to "do" the work of God without "being" a person of God. He had left the fold in order to do it himself, despite that he thought that what he was doing was good. He states that he'd rather have one volunteer leader who is trusting in God than ten leaders with great skill who are not trusting in God. Are we trusting in God? Or are we doing it ourselves?

My friends, it is never good to leave the vine. In order to do anything for God's kingdom, we must hold fast to that which is the source of our own discipleship. To be disciple-makers we must first be disciples who cling to their master. Let's sit at the feet of Jesus together, and pray that God may remove us from the equation, allowing us to fully trust in him.

Let's engage and interact with each other by sharing your own struggles with this. What is God teaching you right now? How is the power of God at work in you?