The Great Commission occurs numerous times in scripture. Each of the Gospels ends with a commission and Acts begins with it. One of my personal favorites is the Parable of the Good Samaritan which concludes with Jesus’ words, “Go and do likewise.”

I think we misinterpret the meaning of this divine command. The Great Commission does not instruct us to go around the world and build church buildings. Neither does it instruct us to hold conferences, have concerts, publish books or attend conventions. All of these are good, but they are not God’s priority. God’s priority is simple: “Go and make disciples.” Or, “Go make disciples.”

Discipleship cannot be done in a classroom, a seminar or by attending a great church. Discipleship is relational. It is the impartation of Christ in us. It is the life flow of Jesus pouring out from our overflowing cup into the cups of others.

A great missionary whom God used to literally impact half a continent once told me, “In the United States, you have the best preachers and teachers of the Word. You have the most impressive facilities. You have many Bible schools and seminaries. You have wonderful worship music. You have qualified administration of ministry. But you have the worst disciplers, and you are losing your nation.” I believe his words are so unfortunately true.

Maybe we don’t make disciples because it doesn’t produce quick results, and we are a society that wants to see quick results, even in church. Maybe we don’t make disciples because it is too much of an investment of time. Maybe we don’t make disciples because we don’t know how!

The key to knowing how to make disciples is found in how we raise our children. After all, our commission is really to raise our spiritual children in the ways of the Lord.

How do we raise a child? We provide food, shelter, and nurture. We teach basic skills. We help clean up their messes. We teach them the importance of living under authority. We raise them in an environment of unconditional love.

How do we disciple someone? We provide:

• Food – We bring them to the Lord’s table and teach them to eat.
• Shelter – Not just church, but Psalm 91 shelter.
• Nurture – We nurture their faith, their talents and giftings in the body of fellowship.
• Teach basic skills – We teach them how to grow in relationship with God and make choices that honor Him.
• Help clean up their messes – Yes, we do! And as we do, we point them to Christ.
• Teach them the importance of living under authority – Authority in Christ, God’s Word and His church.
• Raise them in an environment of unconditional love – 1 Corinthians 13!

And we do all of these things in relationships with them! For true discipleship can occur only in relationship … as Christ did with 12 Disciples. Why should we think we should do any different?

We say we want revival. We will know there is revival when there is an awakening to the Great Commission. Real revival is consumed with the heart of God, and God’s heart is revealed in the Great Commission: Go make disciples!

After all, how do we change the world? One person at a time.