How should the pastor practice discipleship? What should congregations expect from their pastors? Jesus is the chief Shepherd, and, in the Great Commission, He told His apostles to make disciples by baptizing them and by teaching them to observe everything Jesus had commanded them.

In addition to exercising the special public responsibilities of preaching and administering the sacraments, pastors should follow the example of Jesus in making disciples. He chose 12 and He devoted special attention to them. Many others were counted as disciples, though He spent less time with them. By command and example, He delegated authority in His kingdom.

Similarly, pastors and ruling elders cannot do the work alone. They have a special calling to develop new leaders, (e.g., 2 Tim. 2:2), invest in other leaders, and invest in the congregation (e.g., 1 Thess. 2:7–8), as they are able. The pastor cannot give this kind of time to everyone at the same time. By strategically spending time with faithful, available, and teachable individuals for certain seasons of time, he will see an even greater harvest of well-disciplined followers of Jesus grow up to maturity.

How did Jesus do it? He taught His disciples publicly and privately as He proclaimed His kingdom. He taught them to repent and believe. He instructed them to rightly interpret and apply Scripture. He taught them how to ask questions, listen, and counsel. He taught them to suffer and confidently face the future knowing that He is Lord. Jesus ate, traveled, prayed, sang, and served with His disciples. He sent them out and evaluated their labors upon their return. He wept, rejoiced, and hoped with them.

In so doing, Jesus exhibited the fulfillment of Deut. 6:4–9. He further enabled its fulfillment in His people today. That seminal passage, given to Israel as they prepared to take the Promised Land, called all of Israel to love God and to teach or disciple their children in the house and on the road, in the morning and at night. The rest of the chapter taught them to serve God and keep His commands wherever they went in the land.

Like Israel of old, everyone living in the kingdom of God today is called to make disciples in the context and framework of the church. Not everyone is called to baptize, preach, or rule over the church. But everyone is called to make disciples. Jesus, as head of His church, calls His undershepherds to do His work His way. The mediatorial reign of Jesus Christ demands that pastors not only make disciples but also make disciple-makers of everyone.

Pastors, like Moses and Jesus, must make disciple-makers for at least two reasons. First, the work of making disciples is far more than anything one man can do in the flesh. Jesus didn’t try to do it. Second, the calling of kingdom citizens is so diverse that people within those callings are going to be best equipped to help others. Public preaching ministers to all, but by nature it cannot be too specific. For instance, Paul told Titus to teach the older women to teach the younger women. Christian business people, scholars, or civil magistrates are often best equipped to help younger people in the field understand how to apply Scripture to the sometimes thorny ethical questions.

So, pastors have a special calling to equip people in the congregation to know, interpret, and apply Scripture in various situations of life. They must teach others to counsel, instruct, and stir up their fellow saints, making the best use of other tools like catechisms and books.

The Apostle Paul labored to see other laborers raised up, whether he was working with Timothy, Lydia, Aquila and Priscilla, or the elders at Ephesus who were being called to equip the congregation. He did this so that every person in Christ might work properly and that the body would be able to build itself up in love (Eph. 4:15–16).

Today, pastors are called to the same work. As those charged with the proclamation of God’s Word and the oversight of His people, they must make disciples and disciple-makers, to the praise and glory of God.

James Faris | Second (Indianapolis, Ind.) RPC