Making disciples is our God-given mandate. He also gave us a plan to fulfill this mandate. Jesus modeled this for us by gathering twelve men around Him and teaching them in the context of everyday living, then the early Church expanded on this method. 

The Mandate: The Great Commission 

Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)

All authority 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 the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. 

This charge that Jesus gave His disciples is very important. He didn’t say “All authority has been given to me in Heaven and on Earth. Go therefore and preach the Gospel.” Nor did he say “Go therefore and heal the sick.” Nor did he say “Go therefore and plant churches.” Each of those things are significant. They are Biblical. They are very important parts of what we do.  

The charge He actually gave His disciples was “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” That is the root, the very core, of our mission here on earth. Everything else we do grows out of, or is connected to, this mandate. 

A mature disciple is a fully-formed follower of Jesus Christ. Now, you can’t make a disciple of someone without introducing them to Jesus. So, the first step of disciple-making is obviously touching people with the love of Jesus in practical ways, preaching the Gospel, and sharing your testimony. But, discipleship doesn’t end there.  

The mandate that we have been given, the mandate that we as believers embrace, is to make disciples of all nations. How are we to do this? What does that look like? What is the plan? 

Right before Jesus ascended to Heaven, He told His disciples, “Wait, I’m going to send you another Comforter. I’m going to empower you to fulfill My mandate. I’m going to send you the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 1:4-5, 8 (NIV) 

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,  and to the ends of the earth.” 

During Pentecost, Jesus’ disciples waited in an upper room. The Spirit of God fell on them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, tongues of fire appeared on their heads, the whole city turned out to see what was going on, the Gospel was preached and 3,000 people professed faith in Jesus right there on that day (see Acts 2:1-41). Just like that, the Church went from being just a small group of people who followed Jesus to a crowd of many  thousands. This small group multiplied and exploded overnight.  

This event ushered in Jesus’ way of doing church: The Acts 2 model of doing church—Jesus’ plan for our fulfilling His mandate to make disciples. (This is operational principle #10 which we discussed in week 4.) Let’s go a little deeper. 

Acts 2:42-47(NIV) 

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

As we can see, there are actually two models which together comprise the Acts 2 model of doing church. 

The first model—the gathering in the temple courts—is about believers coming together in larger corporate settings to worship Jesus, hear Biblical teaching, be built up and encouraged. This corresponds to the “Love God” portion of the Manna  Triangle—Inspiring Worship Services.  

The second model—gathering in homes—is about small groups. This corresponds to the “Love Others” portion of Manna’s Triangle. It is in small groups that people can develop life-giving relationships, learn to do life together, explore together how to put into practice what is taught. It is in small groups that people learn to discover and use their gifts, talents, and abilities. It is in small groups that people can share their lives, interests, passions, challenges, and victories. It is in small groups that life-change  happens in ways that can’t be experienced in larger corporate settings.  

The Acts 2 model of doing church is a big part of Jesus’ template—His Plan—for making disciples. We are to gather in the large corporate settings. And, we are to be a part of small groups. 

There is yet another very important aspect of Jesus’ plan. It has to do with the primary purpose of Church Leadership (aka “full time” vocational ministry leaders) and the place of ministry in  the church body. As we see below,  

Ephesians 4:11-16 (NASB) 

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body  of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the  stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint  supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. 

The primary purpose of the vocational ministry leaders is to provide an environment which equips people for their God-given ministries. But the equipping doesn’t end there. When people are in small groups—“fitted and held together”—they will be able to equip and minister to each other—“every joint supplies”. The  overall result is that disciples will be made and the Kingdom of God is advanced.

A Manna Church Small Group consists of three or more people who gather to build community, to grow and serve together. Manna Small Groups provide an environment where people can (1) grow in their relationship with Jesus, (2) develop meaningful  relationships, and (3) discover and develop their God-given passions, giftings, and talents. These groups can meet in homes, coffee-shops, restaurants, church-buildings—anywhere people can gather.  

Why “Free Market” Small Groups? 

Free Market Small Groups capitalize on who you are—your interests, passions, burdens, abilities, gifts, and talents. They provide a culture that encourages freedom of expression, opportunity, and creativity to explore and develop. 

It capitalizes on where you are. Every person is a leader and already has a God-given group of friends—an oikos—that he or she can influence in a positive way. Our oikos is our personal community—our sphere of influence—people with whom we = spend significant time. It is through these relationships that the Gospel most frequently spreads. Most people come to Christ with the aid of family members or friends. The Free Market Small Group system is the perfect environment for drawing unbelievers within your oikos.

We can’t overemphasize the power of “Oikos influence” or “Oikos evangelism”. Why? Because we often underestimate the amount of influence and power that resides in us. The Spirit of God resides inside you. Jesus came and lived a sinless life, died, and then He rose again for you. When you received Him into your life as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit took up residence  inside you. You already are in a variety of relationships. You  already have spheres of influence. One of the great things about a Free Market Small Group system is it enables you to bring the Person and ministries of the Holy Spirit into those relationships.  

You are more powerful than you think! Because of who you are and Who you carry inside you, you are more special than you think. You really can change your world! 

Making disciples doesn’t require going to a seminar or leading people through a booklet. It requires being intentional about helping the people around you experience Jesus and grow in relationship with Him.  

Making Disciples = Relationships + Intentionality 

Everyone is a minister and most anything can become a ministry. People connect most naturally with others who are like them. Common interests, ideas, studies, practices, challenges... these make the best framework for relational connectivity. Good ministry starts with who you are and where you are, allowing you to capitalize on your God-given strengths.