Mark 6:7-13
7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.[a] 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
When Jesus called and sent out the twelve, He gave them clear instructions on their roles, culture, and expectations.
First, we see that He called them to Him. A disciple is first a follower of Jesus. You can’t lead if you don’t follow first.
Second, they were commissioned to go. This is a significant part of disciple-making. Make sure that you are being sent out by your church to do the work. As a pastor, it gives me great joy and confidence as we commission our people to lead their discipleship groups and also at the same time coaching some first before releasing them to do ministry.
Third, they went out with the authority of the Holy Spirit to do spiritual warfare, healing, and evangelism. Here is an experience I had casting out demons, click here to read. I would recommend the book Jerry Rankin’s book Spiritual Warfare.
Fourth is that as we make disciples, we have to be focused. Jesus charged them not to take anything on the journey. It takes a lot of commitment to make disciples. The sacrifice of time, the giving of your effort to prepare and minister is part of the discipleship journey.
Fifth, rejection is part of discipleship. Some people will welcome you; some people won’t. What matters is that you show up equipped and ready to engage the people God has called you to minister to. It is the Spirit’s job to soften their hearts.
I pray that we will have our hearts and minds prepared as we go and make disciples!