Over the past few weeks, we’ve been exploring what it means to build a discipling culture — not as a program, but as a way of life. Last week, Mark talked about Jesus’ approach to engaging with three different groups of people.
The crowds, the seekers, and his disciples.
Jesus often spoke to crowds confirming to us that message is for everyone. ‘The Parable of the Sower’ (Mark 4:1-20) is a good example. The farmer spreads his seed everywhere, and as Jesus interprets the parable to his disciples, Jesus wants his message to be thrown out to the crowd like a farmer throws out his seed. He says in verse 9, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
As we try to understand how to share God’s word with the crowds, we don’t necessarily need to ask, “Who is a ‘Person of Peace’?” and we don’t necessarily need to filter who is “ready.” We share freely, spreading the seed, and trust God with the readiness of their hearts. Share the Good News!
Within the crowd, some people lean in. The stranger on the bus, or your cousin, or your co-worker. They ask questions. They show curiosity. They want to go a little deeper.
These are seekers. People where the seed of the gospel has landed on some sort of richer soil. Whether it is the rocky ground, or thorny ground, or the good soil – we do not know yet.
In our recent sermons, we’ve also described the ’seeker’ as People of Peace — someone in whom God is already at work. We can be further test this if they like, listen and serve us and if they are open to spiritual conversations.
From this group, there are those ready for something more. The seed that has landed on good soil starts to take root.
This is where we, with the help of the Holy Spirit, can disciple someone to faith in God.
Jesus modelled this clearly. He spoke to the crowds, engaged seekers, but invested deeply in His disciples. Not because He loved them more — but because they were ready. The soil of their heart had been prepared for his message to take root. He loved everyone equally. But He invested differently. Jesus, the Son of God, could not intentionally disciple the entire crowd. So, he chose a few and did for them what he wished he could do for everyone.
And his strategy is the same for us; do for the few what you wish you could do for the many… and watch that multiply!
The parable talks about the seed that is planted in good soil multiplying a harvest 30, 60, 100 times what was planted. For example, one sunflower head can yield 1000 – 2000 seeds! Jesus’ vision was for his kingdom to spread and be multiplied to the ends of the earth. But he had to start with discipling 12 people so faithfully, self-sacrificially, honestly, and intentionally for 3 years.
This Building a Discipling Culture journey is encouraging us to make disciples who make disciples. Yes, share the gospel freely to whoever, yes, have spiritual conversations with those who are seeking. But, the rubber hits the road when we identify people who are hungry for the Kingdom of God. Christ has commanded us to help these people know him and his kingdom and then He will call them to spread the message of the Gospel further.
So, who is your one? Disciple them to a living, breathing, life altering love for, and faith in Jesus, and watch them grow.
Ash
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