In the Great Commission, Jesus told his closest friends to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). After ministering to others, it’s beneficial to know whether we are actually fulfilling that instruction.

Have we in fact made disciples of the people we’ve ministered to? How can we be sure?

Are we living out Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples?

Fortunately, the Bible has given us some guidelines to help us define discipleship. Characteristics of righteous people are mentioned throughout the Bible and certainly agree with each other. We must learn to interpret scripture through the lens of scripture itself.

Looking God’s attributes is an ideal way for us to see the qualities we need to reach for.

We need to know who God is if we are to identify His followers.

A disciple is one who is a follower and learner of a person or group. The goal is to learn, live, and be like Jesus Christ.

The path of discipleship is a journey that includes studying the Bible, fellowship with others, receiving ministry, and doing ministry. The Bible gives us a variety of characteristics that are desirable in a disciple.

What are these qualities? The Bible is clear on the qualities of discipleship.

Below are 5 characteristics of a disciple of God, as shown in Scripture, and consequently 5 qualities of God Himself.

The Bible tells us that God is patient with us, slow to anger and abounding in love (Psalm 86:15).

Consequently, the Bible also calls us to be patient, kind, and gentle. We do this by bearing HIS fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22). When we allow His fruit to grow in our lives, our actions naturally become more patient, kind, and gentle.

God is reflected in the Bible as having a very clear plan for humanity and sticking with it (Philippians 1:6). The very life and death of Christ is the fulfillment of this plan. As He resonates through his disciples, they will begin to let Christ become ruler over every aspect. Wasteful living is rejected and daily activities are carried out with the purpose of serving God.

Christ gave up everything to be the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation. The Bible calls us to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). This means being willing to give up our own desires, dreams, and comforts to instead be a blessing to others. There have been many examples in history of disciples showing this sacrificial love to violent people whose lives completely changed. They saw their need to also have that kind of sacrificial love.

It is Biblically true that we are all saved by grace and not by works (Ephesians 2:9). Its also true that our works are an indication of our salvation (James 2:18). We are not saved BY good works. But, if we are saved we will DO good works. This is also true in our willingness to work. There is a big difference between resting in the Lord and laziness. Laziness can de defines as not willing to work. Whereas, resting in God is finding the strength in Him to be able to work and work well. A disciple will still work to earn a living, and be willing to work hard as a blessing to others.

In our human nature, we are often quick to judge. How often to we place labels & expectations on others?.

Through Christ, we should be ready to believe the change in others. Its always useful to remember the changes God caused in us. The Bible calls us to always look for the good in others. Just as, in fact, God always saw the potential in us (Ephesians 4). Remember Jonah? He’s described in as having an attitude contrary to God’s attitude toward the people of Nineveh. Nevertheless God worked powerfully IN him and THROUGH him! God saw Jonah’s potential even when Jonah was not living up to that potential. We need God’s grace to be able to see the potential in others.

These 5 qualities of a disciple of God are by no means conclusive.

God is the one who causes His nature to grow within us (1 Corinthians 3:7). We cannot be better people without His strength and guidance. While we all still struggle with sin and can fail many times, by His grace we can start to show more of the attributes mentioned above. These attributes will be some of the markers that can confirm that indeed, Christ lives within us and we are His disciples.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today! 

Peter is a big, burly man but tears filled his eyes as he told his story. He had been an angry, violent alcoholic and his parents-in-law had taken his wife and daughter away, fearful of what he might do to them. His life was in ruins.

Then Peter met a disciple of Jesus Christ. He discovered that Jesus could change his life in ways that his Hindu gods could not.

His family was reconciled and Peter found a fullness of life in Christ that he never imagined possible. His new church asked him to take the discipleship–mission training they had developed with Global Disciples and then commissioned him to plant a church in an unreached village.

Peter needed a way to support his family, so he also took the Small Business Development training developed by his church with the help of Global Disciples. When asked the question, “What’s in your hand?” Peter thought back to his boyhood experiences on a farm.

To support himself as a church planter and have an identity that made sense to the people in the village to which he was going, Peter developed a business plan for pesticide spraying. The guidance and support he received through his church from Global Disciples were enough to get a small loan and purchase a backpack sprayer with a small gasoline motor.

In the last several years, Peter has planted five churches in surrounding villages, building relationships through his business. He has been able to support his family and earned enough money to buy a small field to raise crops of his own. Now his face glows with delight.

Recently Peter was able to buy a second backpack sprayer, but not expand his own business. He’s giving the new sprayer to another church planter who recently completed the Global Disciples training and is now going to make disciples and plant new churches in unreached areas.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

The church is so many things to so many people. A house for people who have nowhere else to go. A sanctuary for those who need to escape the world around them. A foundation for people seeking to help others. And for some, it is a place where they can learn and share Jesus’ words around the world.

Indeed, any ordinary person can become an extraordinary influence in this world by being a beacon of Christ’s teachings. The Christian Church isn’t just for Christians; it’s a place where everyone is welcome, regardless of religious background, race, or sin.

Jesus didn’t just teach His followers in the temples; He taught them in the markets, towns, fields, and anywhere else He went. His disciples weren’t just the twelve men who followed Him around. In addition to the men and women who traveled with Jesus, He taught the ordinary people who wanted to learn.

“Then Jesus said to the crowds, “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.” – Jesus in Luke 16:16-17

Jesus was a carpenter, not a priest. He didn’t have a doctorate in theology or ministry. He was a teacher, and He taught anyone who wanted to learn the word of the Lord. He taught children. He taught adults. He taught His disciples. And He taught people who weren’t His disciples, but who came along, curious to hear more. In fact, most of the Bible was not written by the twelve disciples. Many of the Bible’s greatest stories were told by people who didn’t meet Jesus face to face.

Even today, Jesus’ teachings can be spread by anyone. It only takes one ordinary person who wants to share God’s word with another to become a beacon of influence, like the disciples of old.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20

For anyone who is interested in sharing the message of Jesus Christ with others, the church is a great place to start. Take what you know of the Bible and teach it to others. You can use your voice and share His message in song. Use your hands and volunteer to help the needy. Or, you can join one of the thousands of ministries worldwide and lead others in their faith.

We live in a busy, noisy, and dirty world. It’s a strange world where the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and everyone else pays the middleman just to get by. Making the world a better place starts with our beliefs, our friends, and in our families.

That is why we love the church so much. It’s a place where people come together to be changed, a place where anyone and everyone is accepted, and where you can learn about God, love for one another, and all of His ways to love and care for the world and us.

The world may have changed since the earlier days, yet the Christian Church hasn’t. It’s still a place where anyone is welcome and where anyone can learn how to share His love and message with others.

The church isn’t just a place where people go to hear the teachings of Jesus; it is a place where they can learn how to share those teachings with others. What once was, is no longer. What was, is now. And what will be, is yet to be. The world may experience many shifts, but God’s words are constant.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

“There are many people who honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain because they teach human rules as doctrines.” – Matthew 15:8-9

When it comes to showing your faith in Jesus Christ, there’s often a pressure or fear that others will be quick to judge your words or faith. You may feel like you’re put under the spotlight, with no witty comeback, no solid argument, or a satisfying answer to questions.

Sharing the gospel isn’t about defending your faith to other people, but about giving your faith to the world. There’s not always a “right” answer when it comes to sharing your faith, but here are a few ways to help you with sharing the good news (or gospel) of Jesus Christ.

There’s rarely a time when you need to “defend” your faith to someone else because it’s not meant to be defended. Your faith is something you harbour within your heart, not by guarding it, but by giving it freely to the world.

When you feel like you’re being put under pressure, trying to “defend” your faith will only cause you to become protective and defensive, which might work against to those you’re trying to share the gospel with.

Don’t let the words of other people cause you to think you’re not a believer, but instead allow your own words to show your faith to the world.

Life is about communication, and how we share our faith with the world is no different. It’s can feel like you and the person you’re talking with are opposite sides of a magnet–each repelling the other.

When you initiate the conversation, and the other person might not be so welcoming, that’s okay. Don’t get hung up on trying to correct their ways, but remember the main goal of sharing your faith is to make a connection with a person and show them your faith, what it means for your life, and what faith in Jesus can be for them.

Sharing your faith isn’t about forcing your beliefs on someone, but showing them what Jesus offers among the variety of beliefs in our world. When you understand what topics interest people, you’ll also be able to see things or concepts that help you connect with a deeper faith-related conversation.

Don’t shut your doors on learning what someone has to share with you. If there’s a topic that interests you, be ready to ask questions. Don’t shy away from exploring another person’s interests, and they will in turn be more open to what you have to say about yours.

Sharing your faith is about building relationships with the world. Your faith isn’t about you, but about God and how you can share His love with the world. When you start to see it from that point of view, taking the time to share your faith and having the confidence to do so will be easier than what you expect.

How can we help you share your faith more effectively?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Discover the inspiring stories of Bibek and Sajit, who remain faithful despite facing christian persecution from their families.

Weekly we hear stories of disciple-makers who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, despite the contradictory religious ties of their families.

To make matters worse, many of these disciples live in communities where respect for elders trumps religious truth, and disagreement within families can result in alienation. Here are some of their stories:

Bibek was raised in a strong orthodox Hindu family. Consequently, his parents were devoted to their Hindu gods and goddesses. Discontent with his parent’s worship, Bibek sought the counsel of a Christian man in his village. After purchasing a Bible and attending Christian church services, Bibek felt compelled by the love of Jesus, and confessed his sins. He kept his new faith a secret from his family for some time. But, when they learned that he was a follower of Jesus Christ, they were very disappointed. Although he has tried to explain Jesus is the only way to heaven, his family continues to practice Hinduism.

Sajit attended a discipleship training where he accepted the Lord as his Savior and began worshipping Jesus Christ. Following the training, he returned to his home, where he would be the only believer. His father was the head Buddhist priest in their community. In fact, Sajit was hated by not only his family, but his entire village. False rumors spread quickly, and people on the street would spit on Sajit as he passed by. Six months later, he attended a leadership training, and found a job in the crusade against human trafficking. Through this position, the Lord provided Sajit with a positive reputation, and relationships among law enforcement officials in his village. As a result of the Lord’s provision, he has been able to share the Gospel with the community that persecuted him, and bring many of them to Christ.

The obedience of Bibek and Sajit is inspiring, as they remain faithful to Jesus Christ despite persecution from their families. Their faith has developed an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, and the courage to disciple in the wake of persecution.

At Global Disciples Canada our mission is to work alongside the Body of Christ to equip believers to be disciples who follow Jesus and fulfill His mission. By putting our efforts where disciple-makers will go and make disciples among people who have not yet heard the Good News of Jesus, we are fulfilling the mission Jesus gave to all His disciples to multiply “even to the ends of the earth.”