8 Ways Overview

Leading People To Live For Jesus Christ

What does it mean to follow Jesus? How can we lead others to follow Him?

Jesus gives us two great commands: love God and love our neighbor. He also gives us specific ways to do this. The 8 Ways to Follow Jesus give us some key ways, or rhythms, that Jesus taught to love God and love our neighbor.

These 8 Ways are not merely information we learn, but something we do. As we learn them we practice, we pass on, and we make it a regular habit. Each of these modules are designed to be easily passed on to someone else. This is how we make disciples and lead others to live for Christ.

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Make Disciples

Matthew 28:19-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matthew 4:18-20

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

Brief Overview

A disciple is simply a follower. As a follower of Christ, we are called to make other followers. We do this as we go, by teaching others to obey Christ.

Key Points

  • Leading someone to practice the 8 ways is a great way to make disciples.
  • Rather than just transferring information, our goal is to help them to obey and show others how to obey.
  • The SALT method helps us put these 8 ways into practice and build a habit of showing others how to live them out.

Common Questions

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Each time you meet discuss one of the 8 Ways, practice it together, then each pass it on to someone else before your next meeting. At the next meeting, start by discussing how it went when you passed it on and then go through the same steps for the next one.

None of us feel ready. We all have so much more to learn. But this is how Jesus designed it and He builds His kingdom through us. He tells us to make disciples. When we lead someone, we are not saying that we are stronger, smarter, or more holy than they are. We simply have something to pass along that will help another grow in Christ. We are the lead-learner. As we learn, we pass on and encourage.

The beauty of Christ’s design is that, through leading someone else, we will grow more than in any other environment. Also remember, we are not alone. God gives us the Holy Spirit to help us lead others. Pray for the ability to lead others. Remember, Jesus himself said, “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

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Repent and Believe

Mark 1:15

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

Luke 19:5-9

And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received Him joyfully….” And Zaccheus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house.”

Brief Overview

The first thing we must do to follow Jesus is to turn from our former way of life (repent) and trust in Jesus (believe). This is how you become a Christian. As Christians we are also to help others to repent and believe.

Key Points

  • What does it mean to repent and believe?
  • One way to explain the good news to someone who is not trusting in Christ is by telling God’s story using the four chapters:
    • Creation
    • Fall
    • Redemption
    • New Heavens/New Earth
  • You can also weave your story into God’s story, explaining how you were saved.

Common Questions

To repent is to turn from our love for the world to a love of God. This will be borne out in our actions and affections, in our hatred for sin, and our increasing love for the things of God. Jesus said in Matthew, “you will know them by their fruits. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.”

Repenting does not mean that you stop sinning, but that you feel the weight of sin and hate it. It is helpful to ask other Christians what they are seeing in you.

We all have doubts. Faith is a trust despite our doubts. Thomas came to Jesus with doubt, and Jesus invited him to touch so that he could believe (John 20:25-29). The Father of the demon-possessed boy cried out to Jesus, “I believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

Yes. At our initial salvation, we decide to turn from our sin and trust in Christ. But then, we continuously must repent of our new sins. To walk in an authentic relationship with God is to admit that we are sinners, that we do sin, and this is going to happen every day. Thus, we are called to daily repentance. In our repentance we acknowledge our sin and that we are unworthy. We cling to the cross of Jesus Christ, where we are reminded that He bore all of our sins, once and for all, so we can repent and trust in Him afresh. We have full assurance that His righteousness is sufficient for us, not our own.

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Be Baptized

Matthew 28:19

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:34-40

And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

Brief Overview

Jesus commands us to baptize others and set the example by being baptized Himself.

Key Points

  • Baptism is a symbolic act for someone who has turned from their sin, and are trusting and following Jesus Christ. It is not an act of salvation.
  • Baptism is a picture of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
  • The person is immersed in the water symbolizing they have died to their sin. Then they are brought back up showing they are now alive in Christ.

Common Questions

Some churches see baptism as the New Testament continuation of the Old Testament practice of circumcision. They see baptism as the sign of the new covenant and thus baptize their children because they are children of the covenant. However, the New Testament examples and descriptions of baptism show that baptism is for those who have actively placed their trust in Jesus.

The New Testament examples of baptism show that as a Christian leads someone to know Christ, they baptize them. In addition, the New Testament gives no explicit restrictions as to who can baptize others. In fact, Peter describes the priesthood of all believers in 1 Peter 2:4-10. Therefore, any believer is allowed to baptize a new believer.

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Abide

John 15:4-5

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Luke 24:27

Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Brief Overview

Jesus tells us to remain in Him, attached to Him, taking our nourishment from Him. It is by spending time in His word that we remain connected and grow.

Key Points

  • The Holy Spirit will guide you and allow you to gain insight even if you do not understand everything you read.
  • It doesn’t have to be difficult. The 5 questions of the Discovery Bible study method provide a simple guideline.
  • The more familiar we become, the more we grow to love His word.

Common Questions

Don’t be discouraged if you struggle to understand the Bible, you are not alone! First of all, be encouraged, that the same Holy Spirit of God who wrote the Bible lives in each person who trusts in Christ. So, you can understand what you need to. Even if you don’t understand everything, you can understand enough to shape your life and love of God. Focus on applying what you do understand and then seek understanding for what you don’t.

You can follow the Discovery Bible Study method described in the Abide module. Simply ask the 5 questions when you read a section of scripture each day. It is helpful to have a Bible reading plan. There are countless plans available.

Resources

Pray

Matthew 6:9-13

Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Mark 1:35

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there [Jesus] prayed.

Brief Overview

Jesus tells us to pray. He gives us a model for how to have a personal conversation with God and He frequently sought out time alone with the Father.

Key Points

  • What does your prayer life look like? Carve out a time and place to be consistent.
  • You can use PRAY (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield) as a model for how to pray.
  • Let the Holy Spirit lead you.

Common Questions

God always responds to our prayers. While He might say no, and this is terribly hard when we believe we are praying for good and beautiful things, you can rest assured that God always answers. But, when He doesn’t answer in the way we desire, we can remember Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 7. Here He promises that if fathers on earth know how to give good gifts to their children, “how much more will your Father who is in Heaven give good things to those who ask him!” When we ask, God our Father will give good things, but it doesn’t say that He will give us exactly what we ask for. Tim Keller writes, “God always gives you what you would have asked for if you knew everything that He knows.” While this doesn’t make it easier when God says no, it does allow us to eventually rest in God’s goodness, even when we can’t see or understand what He is doing in our lives.

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Serve Others

Mark 10:43-45

But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

John 13:12-15

When He had washed their feet and put on His outer garments and resumed His place, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

Brief Overview

Jesus came to serve, not be served. He showed us how to serve others by washing the feet of His disciples. Jesus tells us to use our time and talents to serve others.

Key Points

  • We serve others because He served us first. When we serve others, it brings glory to God.
  • What talents has God given you? How can you use them to serve others?
  • What are ways you can use your time to serve others both intentionally, and as you go?
  • There are over 50 “one another” commands. How can you practice these “one another’s” today?

Common Questions

Our mission staff would love to help you “Grab A Corner” at 121. Click here for more information.

We find the spiritual gifts listed in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Peter 4, and Ephesians 4. Every Christian has been given at least one of these gifts to build up the body of Christ. We are to use the gifts God gives us to glorify Him, serve others, and build up His Church.

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Give

Matthew 6:19-21

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 21:1-4

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And He said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Brief Overview

God commands us to be people of generosity and charity. Giving to the Lord is more than an act of generosity, it is a spiritual exercise that reveals the true desires of your heart.

Key Points

  • All we have is God’s. He is the owner and we are managers.
  • Love of Christ motivates us to give cheerfully and generously from the heart.
  • We should not give out of guilt or manipulation, but out of gratitude.

Common Questions

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Resources

Take the Lord’s Supper

Luke 22:17-20

And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise, the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

Brief Overview

Jesus commands us to regularly take the Lord’s Supper as a symbol, reminding us of the new promise that comes from His death.

Key Points

  • We take The Lord’s Supper together as a tangible reminder of what He has done.
  • This is a time of remembrance and celebration.
  • We are not to take The Lord’s Supper in an “unworthy manner.”

Common Questions

In 1 Corinthians 11:27-32, Paul says “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.” This does not mean the Lord’s supper is only for sinless people. We all fall into sin and need to constantly repent of it.

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