A Strategy to Change The World MAIN IDEA Matthew 28:19–20 (NLT) 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Best strategy is to implement Jesus’ strategy for changing the world: Find & focus on fewer people. Share your everyday rhythms. Spend more time with the few. MAIN METHOD Jesus made disciples by intentionally spending more with fewer disciples. MAIN QUESTION “With my busy schedule overflowing with responsibilities, how is this even possible to spend extra time with fewer disciples?” Jesus told His disciples that following Him requires a . Matthew 11:29–30 (NLT) 29 Take my yoke upon you. ... I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Jesus told His disciples: Following me starts when you your cross & the cost. Matthew 10:38–39 (NLT) 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Luke 14:28 (NLT) 28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? What’s the cost? More loyal to me than to everything you own. Luke 14:33 (NLT) 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. More loyal to me than to all other masters (like money). Luke 16:13 (NLT) 13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” More loyal to me than to your earthly wealth & comfort. Matthew 8:19–20 (NLT) 19 Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” More loyal to me than to your busy family schedule. Matthew 8:21–22 (NLT) 21 Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.” Learn from me & love me by your . Matthew 11:29–30 (NLT) 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, ...” John 14:15,21,24 (NLT) 15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. ... 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me…” Jesus demonstrated to His disciples: An absolute whole-life obedience to the will of God. John 4:34 (NLT) 34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. John 5:30 (NLT) 30 I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will. John 15:9–10 (NLT) 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. Luke 22:42 (NLT) 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” John 13:14–15 (NLT) 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. “One must ask, why are so many professed Christians today stunted in their growth and ineffectual in their witness?“ ~ Robert Coleman QUESTION: Has our complacency overcome our consecration? CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION: What’s your reaction to the “yoke” metaphor Jesus used when describing how “light” & “easy” it is (way down in their soul) for a disciple to follow Him? If you invest a significant amount of your life in a relatively small number of people, why have you been willing to? If not, what would it take for you to be willing? What other loyalties might stand in the way of you living an “everyday-whole-life-carry-your-cross-pay-the-cost” loyalty to Jesus? Based on Jesus’s teaching on following Him, how might you follow up with a person you know who has recently trusted Jesus for their salvation? Why do those people need more help than just in coming to know Jesus?