This document discusses making disciples for the 21st century. It defines a disciple as someone who forsakes all to follow Jesus, is willing to learn, commits to identifying with Christ's death through sacrifice, and responds in faith and obedience to Jesus' call. Effective discipleship involves lifelong learning and allowing Christ to transform us. Small groups are emphasized as the primary means of nurturing disciples through worship, community, nurture, support, outreach and mission. Empowered disciples rely on the Holy Spirit and use personal evangelism to witness and make more disciples.

1. MAKING DISCIPLES
FOR THE 21ST
CENTURY
DR. G. EARL KNIGHT
GREATER NEW YORK CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST
EVANGELISM SEMINAR

2. THE GREAT COMMISSION ::
MATTHEW 28:18-20
“ALL AUTHORITY (POWER) HAS BEEN
GIVEN TO ME IN HEAVEN AND ON
EARTH. GO THEREFORE AND MAKE
DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS,
BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF
THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TEACHING
THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS THAT
I HAVE COMMANDED YOU; AND LO, I
AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE
END OF THE AGE.”

3. WHO IS A DISCIPLE?
• ONE WHO FORSAKES ALL TO FOLLOW
JESUS.
JAMES MONTGOMERY BOICE, CHRIST CALL TO
DISCIPLESHIP, 13.
• ONE WHO IS WILLING TO BE TAUGHT, A
LEARNER.
DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES COMMITMENT.
IT INVOLVES IDENTIFICATION WITH
CHRIST IN HIS SHAMEFUL DEATH.
DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES RENUNCIATION OF
ONESELF… IT INVOLVES SACRIFICE FOR
THE SAKE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

4. “It involves surrendering one’s own will
and one’s own rights to his life and
acknowledging that Jesus Christ has the
right to be obeyed, the right to rule. Our
Lord said that if a man is not willing to
forsake all that he has, he cannot be His
disciple.”
J. Dwight, Design for Discipleship, 18-19

5. A DISCIPLE IS ONE WHO
RESPONDS IN FAITH AND
OBEDIENCE TO THE
GRACIOUS CALL OF JESUS.
BEING A DISCIPLE IS A
LIFELONG PROCESS OF
DYING TO SELF WHILE
ALLOWING JESUS CHRIST
TO COME ALIVE IN US.”
Disciple - Mathetes (Greek)
Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essentials, 24

6. “Discipling is an intentional relationship
in which we walk alongside other
disciples in order to encourage, equip,
and challenge one another in love to
grow toward maturity in Christ. This
includes equipping the disciple to teach
others as well.”
Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essential, 17

7. To be a disciple is to be living in relationship
with the One who is discipling you. In this
relationship one is to be constantly learning
more about the person, while at the same time
living in subjection to Him. The word does not
suggest a rapid conversion to the person, but
a slow process by which one is made into a
disciple.

8. Discipleship is the process by
which one is led to accept Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior, fully
committed to a lifelong learning
relationship and growing towards
maturity in Christ. This includes
equipping the disciples to make
disciples of others.

9. The Biblical Picture of
Discipleship
Make Disciples Who…

10. GO
REPRODUCE

11. QUALIFICATIONS OF A
DISCIPLE
• SURRENDERED TO THE
LORDSHIP OF CHRIST
• LOVE AND CONCERN FOR
PEOPLE
• HOLINESS
• OPEN AND TRANSPARENT
• COMMITTED PRAYER LIFE

12. GOD’S PLAN FOR GROWING
A HEALTHY CONGREGATION
AND MOSES' FATHER- IN- LAW SAID UNTO HIM, THE THING THAT
THOU DOESN’T IS NOT GOOD. THOU WILT SURELY WEAR AWAY,
BOTH THOU, AND THIS PEOPLE THAT IS WITH THEE: FOR THIS
THING IS TOO HEAVY FOR THEE; THOU ART NOT ABLE TO
PERFORM IT THYSELF ALONE. HEARKEN NOW UNTO MY VOICE,
I WILL GIVE THEE COUNSEL, AND GOD SHALL BE WITH THEE: BE
THOU FOR THE PEOPLE TO GOD-WARD, THAT THOU MAYEST
BRING THE CAUSES UNTO GOD: AND THOU SHALT TEACH THEM
ORDINANCES AND LAWS, AND SHALT SHEW THEM THE WAY
WHEREIN THEY MUST WALK, AND THE WORK THAT THEY MUST
DO.
Exodus 18:17-23

13. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people
able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating
covetousness; and place such over them, to be
rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers
of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge
the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that
every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but
every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be
easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden
with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God
command thee so, then thou shalt be able to
endure, and all this people shall also go to their
place in peace.
Exodus 18:21-23

14. DIVISION FOR
EFFECTIVENESS
Groups:
1000
100
50
10

15. THEN THEY THAT GLADLY
RECEIVED HIS WORD WERE
BAPTIZED: AND THE SAME DAY
THERE WERE ADDED UNTO THEM
ABOUT THREE THOUSAND SOULS.
NURTURE
The new believers “continued
steadfastly in the Apostles’
doctrines”.
Acts 2:41
1
Small Groups Four Functions

16. 2
Small Groups Four Functions
WORSHIP
In response to God’s creative
works and in goodness
towards His people we lift up
His name in praise and
thanksgiving. We worship Him
because He is worthy.

17. 3
Small Groups Four Functions
COMMUNITY
A small group setting that
brings the members
together will result in a
closer community within
the body of Christ.

18. Small Groups Four Functions
4 MISSION
A small group must guard against
becoming inward. Without outreach the
group becomes stagnated and insipid.
As we reach inward to maintain our own
selves and others within the fold, we
must reach out to bring others within the
fold; we must reach out to save others
from the pitfalls of sin.

19. ELLEN WHITE ON SMALL
GROUPS
“THE SABBATH SCHOOL SHOULD BE ONE OF
THE GREATEST INSTRUMENTALITIES, AND
MOST EFFECTUAL IN BRINGING SOULS TO
CHRIST.”
Testimonies Vol 7, p. 21
Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 11
“The formation of small companies as a basis
of Christian effort has been presented to me
by One who cannot err.”

20. “THE SABBATH SCHOOL IF
RIGHTLY CONDUCTED, IS ONE
OF GOD’S GREAT
INSTRUMENTALITIES TO
BRING SOULS TO A
KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.”
Ellen White on Small Groups
Counsels on Stewardship, p. 115

21. “CHRIST’S METHOD ALONE WILL GIVE
TRUE SUCCESS IN REACHING THE
PEOPLE. THE SAVIOR MINGLED WITH
MEN AS ONE WHO DESIRED THEIR
GOOD. HE SHOWED HIS SYMPATHY
FOR THEM, MINISTERED TO THEIR
NEEDS, AND WON THEIR CONFIDENCE.
THEN HE BADE THEM ‘FOLLOW ME’.”
Following Christ’s Method
Welfare Ministry, p. 60

22. THE EMPHASIS IN THIS GROUP
SETTING IS ON SHARING
EXPERIENCES OF WHAT GOD HAS
DONE IN THEIR LIVES AND PRAYING
FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD.
Types of Groups
Sharing/Prayer Group

23. THE MAIN FOCUS OF THIS GROUP IS THE
STUDY OF SCRIPTURE AND TO SEEK HOW
TO APPLY THE SCRIPTURES TO THEIR
LIVES. MANY OF THE BIBLE STUDY
GROUPS FOLLOW THE INDUCTIVE BIBLE
STUDY METHOD IN UNDERSTANDING AND
APPLYING THE SCRIPTURES.
Types of Groups
Bible Study Group

24. THIS GROUP EMPHASIZES FELLOWSHIP.
THERE ARE MEMBERS IN OUR
CHURCHES THAT ARE IN NEED OF REAL
FELLOWSHIP, ESPECIALLY NEWLY-
BAPTIZED ONES OR THOSE WHO ARE
NEWLY-TRANSFERRED FROM OTHER
CHURCHES.
Types of Groups
Nurture Group

25. A SUPPORT GROUP FOCUSES ON
ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
PARTICULAR NEEDS. THESE
INDIVIDUALS HAVE FELT NEEDS AND
NEED TO RECEIVE HEALING, LOVE
AND WARMTH. EXAMPLES OF THESE
NEEDS ARE SINGLE PARENTING,
DEATH, DRUG ABUSE, ALCOHOL
RECOVERY AND DIVORCE.
Types of Groups
Support Group

26. A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO FOR
VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES MEET
IN A HOME RATHER THAN IN A
CHURCH FOR WORSHIP AND
FELLOWSHIP. THIS GROUP MAY
HAVE ALL THE TRAPPINGS OF A
CHURCH SERVICE.
Types of Groups
Home Fellowship Group

27. THE EMPHASIS OF THIS GROUP IS
EMPLOYING THE MEMBERS’ TALENTS OR
GIFTS IN THE BUILDING OF THE CHURCH
SPIRITUALLY AND NUMERICALLY. THIS
GROUP MUST BE STUDENTS OF THE
WORD AND DILIGENT SPOKE-PERSONS
FOR JESUS CHRIST.
Types of Groups
Outreach Group

28. The Empowered
Disciples

29. “BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, AFTER
THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON
YOU: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO
ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL
JUDAEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE
UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.”
The Empowered Disciples
Acts 1:8

30. “WHEN PENTECOST CAME TO THE
APOSTOLIC CHURCH, THREE THOUSAND
SOULS WERE CONVERTED IN A SINGLE DAY,
AND THE ASSURANCE HAS BEEN GIVEN US
THAT THE TIME IS COMING WHEN THERE WILL
BE AS MANY CONVERTED IN A DAY AS THERE
WERE ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST, AFTER
THE DISCIPLES HAD RECEIVED THE HOLY
SPIRIT.”
Divine Power Needed
Review and Herald, June 29, 1905

31. “When we bring our hearts into unity
with Christ, and our lives into
harmony with His work, the Spirit
that fell on the disciples on the day
of Pentecost will fall on us.”
Testimonies for the Church VIII, p. 246

32. “The work of God in this earth
can never be finished until the
men and women comprising our
church membership rally to the
work, and unite their efforts with
those of ministers and church
officers.”
Gospel Workers, p. 352
Lay Involvement is Essential

33. “Preaching is a small part of the work
to be done for the salvation of souls.
God’s Spirit convicts sinners of the
truth, and He places them in the
arms of the church. The ministers
may do their part, but they can never
perform the work that the church
should do.”
Testimonies IV, p. 69

34. “THE BEST HELP MINISTERS CAN GIVE THE
MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCHES IS NOT
SERMONIZING, BUT PLANNING WORK FOR
THEM. GIVE EACH ONE SOMETHING TO DO FOR
OTHERS. HELP ALL TO SEE THAT AS RECEIVERS
OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST, THEY ARE UNDER
OBLIGATION TO WORK FOR HIM. AND LET ALL
BE TAUGHT HOW TO WORK. ESPECIALLY
SHOULD THOSE WHO ARE NEWLY COME TO THE
FAITH BE EDUCATED TO BECOME LABORERS
TOGETHER WITH GOD.”
Lay Involvement is Essential
Testimonies IX, p. 82

35. “One of the most effective ways in which light
can be communicated is by private, personal
effort. In the home circle, at your neighbor’s
fireside, at the bedside of the sick, in a quiet
way you may read the Scriptures and speak
a word for Jesus and the truth. Thus you
may sow precious seed that will spring up
and bring forth fruit.”
The Effectiveness
of Personal Evangelism
Testimonies VI, p. 428-429

36. 1. LOVE FOR PEOPLE
2. COMING CLOSE TO THE
PEOPLE
3. MAKING THE PROPER
APPROACH
4. PREPARATION
5. PRESENTING THE STUDY
6. GETTING THE DECISION
Six Keys to Successful
Personal Evangelism

37. • FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
• THE INFLUENCE OF
CHRISTIAN PEOPLE
• A CHURCH VISIT – THE
PROGRAM, SPECIAL EVENTS
• A SEARCH FOR COMMUNITY
• A PERSONAL CRISIS
Why People Join
THE CHURCH

38. THE MINISTRY OF THE LEADERS OF THE
CHURCH MUST FOCUS ON EQUIPPING
OTHER CHRISTIANS TO SERVE.
Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
Empowering Leadership
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:11-12
1

39. Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
Gift Oriented Ministry
2When Christians serve in their
area of giftedness they
generally function less in their
own strength and more in the
power of the Holy Spirit.

40. Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
Functional Structures
3 Structures must serve the
mission of the church.
Mark 2:27
“And He said unto them, The
Sabbath was made for man, and
not man for the Sabbath.”

41. Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
Inspiring Worship Service
4
1 Timothy 5:16-19
THE WORSHIP SERVICE OF
THE CHURCH MUST
INSPIRE THE MEMBERS. IT
IS THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT
INSPIRES PEOPLE.

42. Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
Passionate Spirituality
5 The spiritual life of the members
must be characterized by prayer,
enthusiasm and boldness.
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer.”
Romans 12:11-12

43. Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
Holistic Small Group
6 Acts 2:46-47
“AND THEY, CONTINUING DAILY WITH ONE
ACCORD IN THE TEMPLE, AND BREAKING BREAD
FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE, DID EAT THEIR MEAT
WITH GLADNESS AND SINGLENESS OF HEART,
PRAISING GOD, AND HAVING FAVOUR WITH ALL
THE PEOPLE. AND THE LORD ADDED TO THE
CHURCH DAILY SUCH AS SHOULD BE SAVED.”
The multiplication of small
groups is the most important
principle in church growth.

44. Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
Need Oriented Evangelism
71 Corinthians 9:20-22
“AND UNTO THE JEWS I BECAME AS A JEW, THAT I MIGHT
GAIN THE JEWS; TO THEM THAT ARE UNDER THE LAW, AS
UNDER THE LAW, THAT I MIGHT GAIN THEM THAT ARE
UNDER THE LAW; TO THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT LAW, AS
WITHOUT LAW, (BEING NOT WITHOUT LAW TO GOD, BUT
UNDER THE LAW TO CHRIST,) THAT I MIGHT GAIN THEM
THAT ARE WITHOUT LAW. TO THE WEAK BECAME I AS
WEAK, THAT I MIGHT GAIN THE WEAK: I AM MADE ALL
THINGS TO ALL MEN, THAT I MIGHT BY ALL MEANS SAVE
SOME.”
Our evangelistic methods must address the
needs of those we are seeking to reach.

45. Eight Quality Characteristics
in Natural Church Development
Loving Relationship
8John 13:34-35
THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH MUST
BE CHARACTERIZED BY LOVE AND
AFFECTION.
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye
have love one to another.”

46. The Completed Cycle
of Disciple-making

48. • PEOPLE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE PLACED
IN A SMALL CARING GROUP. THE SMALL
GROUP SETTING IS THE BEST PLACE TO
NURTURE DISCIPLESHIP.
• PEOPLE MUST ENTER THE CHURCH WITH
THE UNDERSTANDING THAT CHRIST HAS
CALLED THEM INTO MINISTRY. THEY MUST
VIEW THEIR BAPTISM AS AN ORDINATION
INTO MINISTRY AND NOT JUST A SYMBOL OF
FORGIVENESS FOR SIN.
Integration of New Members

49. • PEOPLE MUST BE LED TO DISCOVER THEIR
SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
• PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY MUST BE LED TO IDENTIFY
THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY AND BEGIN THE
DISCIPLE-MAKING PROCESS WITHIN THE
NETWORKS THAT HAVE BEEN OPENED BY THEIR
COMING TO CHRIST.
• PEOPLE MUST BE TAUGHT NOT TO DEPEND UPON
THE VISITATION OR SERMONS FROM AN
ORDAINED, SALARIED PASTOR AS THE SOURCE OF
THEIR SPIRITUAL LIFE. THEY MUST BE TAUGHT TO
DEVELOP THEIR OWN STUDY PROGRAM.
Integration of New Members

50. THE END!