Chapter 3 – Making Disciples in the Early Church

Does anybody else want to see how something works? See how an organization runs? Do cross-training. See how a book gets ordered, purchased, shipped, cataloged, dressed, checked in etc.?

What are you doing and why are you doing it? How did you know that would work? Why does it make that sound? How do you know what to do? What if it doesn’t work? How long will it take? How many times will it have to be performed?

This isn’t working. I don’t understand why you’re doing it this way. It doesn’t make sense. Why are you asking the people you are? Why do you ask for help and then not take it?

Describe your work flow. Make a blueprint of your path. How can we make it better for you? How can we accommodate you? Make a list of priorities in order. How are they being met? Does what you’re doing fall in line with your vision or mission statement? If not, what is more important? What has to go? What needs to stay?

This chapter clearly set out how the early church made disciples. It filled in the blanks and brought to the reader’s attention what is sometimes glossed over. Who is operating that way today? Can I see how? Jesus was very careful about choosing his disciples. He took his time. We certainly wouldn’t have chosen the ordinary people he did, from vastly different and even opposing backgrounds, but they were exceptionally effective in the end.

You did not choose me, but I chose you.

Do I choose who I intend to disciple? Does that mean I need to be chosen as well? I know I need to be discipled. Where does one go to acquire the right person? I certainly cannot be assigned to someone. If I am not chosen, well, then, am I just not chosen?

People cannot just be placed in events and studies where no one ever connects. I repeat. NO ONE EVER CONNECTS.

Sometimes you get an inkling of something greater and it remains elusive.

It’s not working. IT’S NOT WORKING.

And I’m rambling. Sorry. I just cannot believe the things that I am hearing.

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak…

2 Corinthians 4:13 (ESV)