Vol.11 No.2 June 1991
Qualities of A Disciple Maker
By Dr. Waylon B. Moore
in The Student Magazine*
Drowned? I looked at the lake where we'd been having fun boating and saw men diving. Girls were crying. My world had stopped.
The man who had helped to shape my adult life had been called home.
Christ's temperament of grace, His vision for multiplication, and His supreme commitment accentuate those who
mark others. God used three men embodying one or more of these rare qualities to imprint my life.
The first was Bob Garrison, who took an unwanted job. He became the new leader of our rowdy boy's Church Training group.
Using his gift of service, Bob slowly won our 12-year-old hearts. On some Saturdays he packed us in his car to camp. Overlooking
Eagle Mountain Lake, we ate hot dogs and chili. By the night fire the convictions of Daniel, David, and Paul came alive as he
whispered to us the Bible. My heart opened to everything he said and wanted. Through his modeling, I joyfully began teaching a
Sunday School class when I was sixteen.
Years later in law school I met a sharp, discipled, ministerial student named Bruce Miller. He modeled an adventurous life
of being led by the Lord moment by moment. Bruce gave me hours, listening to my dumb ideas, making tiny, good suggestions, and
teaching me how to get into Scripture for answers on “God's will and dating.” God led him to suggest a modern Bible
translation that roller-coastered me to a profitable and mega-exciting Scripture ride.
Nearing graduation and hungry for God's best, I asked Bruce to pray with me about my future work; neither of us knew that
commitment of time would stretch to over four hours. Those unerasable moments brought me to my knees over sin, and the Lord
made Himself known. I was surprised. God called me to a new life's purpose.
After a decade of student ministry and pastoring, I married a medical doctor from Kentucky and began writing a manuscript about
New Testament principles for helping converts grow and reproduce. My wife encouraged me through the period of time the
manuscript was rejected by six publishers. Bruce's calls and challenges also influenced my determination to persevere. Sending
the manuscript to the seventh publisher changed my life. They printed a book that eventually sold 100,000 copies. When our first
son was born we named him Bruce. The Bruce of college days is still a valued friend.
The third man God squeezed into my life died in freezing lake water saving a girl who couldn't swim. This member of the Billy
Graham team was named Dawson Trotman. Daws was the most winsome, focused, and challenging pacesetter toward Christ I've
known. His vision, discipline, and iron consistency in Quiet Time and witnessing were magnetic. He gave me time and himself.
Daws' concentration centered on right attitudes and the regular personal application of Scripture.
The lessons I learned came hard. These men of clay and steel, along with valued others, stretched my life Christward. They
fleshed out some of the principles of 2 Timothy 2:1-4. Walk with me through this pivotal passage dealing with three primary
qualities of a disciple maker: grace, vision, and a single priority.
LET GOD'S GRACE WORK IN YOU.
Verse 1: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (NIV): “MY SON.”
Discipling is profoundly relational. Paul's spiritual son, Timothy, grew into maturity ministering with Paul in good and bad
times. We must always remember that materials are only supplements — inadequate substitutes for sharing one's life in
Christ.1 Good discipliping has the elements of parenting: unconditional love, modeling your message, and plenty of
time expended, in a Bible-oriented relationship.
“BE STRONG IN . . . GRACE.” There is no New Testament command more important than Paul's simple exhortation
to Timothy. Through grace, we can be anything, do anything, go anywhere in the will of God. The grace of Christ Jesus has been
given to every believer, yet, grace abounds only through obedience. We can have grace and it be “in vain,” zero, in
us (2 Corinthians 6:1, NIV).
God reveals to “treasure hunters” of the Word three souces of daily grace. First, “come to the throne of
grace with confidence,” and find grace, when we really pray (Hebrews 4:15, 16, NIV).
Second, grace is multiplied in us when we seek to know Christ, through the Scriptures (2 Peter 1:2, 3
). Third, God pours in grace when we practice the rare act of humbling ourselves (James 4:6;
1 Peter 5:5, 6). Filled with His grace, God reveals Christ translucent through the clay pots of
our lives, and others want Him. We then reap the privilege of discipling hungry hearts.
STRETCH YOUR VISION BEYOND ADDITION.
Verse 2: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also
be qualified to teach others” (NIV). Paul's vision sees beyond Timothy to a lost world. Paul, Timothy . . . relaible
men . . . others also. “Where there is no vision, the people run wild” (Proverbs 29:18, Berkeley). The command
“entrust” means to “put inside of.” Paul must put inside of Timothy God's Word. Paul modeled first what he
would transmit. What was inside Timothy could then be lived out and shared with reliable men who will reach still others,
multiplying. Paul was not checking Tim's exam paper for content. The old discipler's concentration was on Timothy's life, his
transmit-ability to others. Faith gives a discipler vision to see potential in someone. But vision is not enough. We commit
time and intercession to that person's growth. We stick with them in prayer and personal transparency till they reproduce.
“Teach them to your children and to their children after them” (Deuteronomy 4:9, NIV).
PLEASING CHRIST IS PRIORITY.
Verses 3-4: “Take your share of hardships like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier ever allows himself to be
involved in the business affairs of life, so that he may please the officer who enlisted him” Williams Translation).
What pleases Christ, our Commander? Scriptures show Christ's excited response to those who actively believed His words.2
Faith is fueled by consistent time in the Scriptures getting to know our Lord. Faith grows as we obey what the Spirit
teaches.
Ordinary people who made simple decisions that please Christ have an extraordinary impact on their world. General William
Booth, the founder of an amazing worldwide ministry, the Salvation Army, was asked, “What is the secret of your
ministry?” The old general thought quietly for a few moments, then said, “Jesus has had all of me there was to
have.” The Christian life is simple, but not easy. Key in all the three channels to soak up grace, see beyond addition
investing in others, and make your heart's goal to please Christ Jesus daily. You'll multiply.
1 Gary Kuhne, Discipleship Congress, 1990
2 Oswald Sanders shares this wonderful “run” of Scriptures progressing from “no faith,” “little
faith,” to “so great faith”: Luke 18:8; Mark 4:40; Matthew 14:22-31; Matthew 15:22-28; Matthew 8:10.
* Dr. Moore's article appeared February 1991 in THE STUDENT, an unusually balanced and practical-oriented
magazine. A subscription would be an excellent investment in the life of someone you love. 1 year $11.25. Customer Service Center,
127 Ninth Ave., No. Nashville, TN 37234.
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