Matthew 28:19-20

(New King James Version)

19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.

Discipleship

As followers of Christ, our primary objective is to make disciples by assisting new Christians in their spiritual growth. Paul, the apostle, gave Timothy some wise advice: “If you share these teachings with your friends and family, you’ll be a true servant of Christ, filled with the power of faith and the good teachings you’ve learned” (1 Timothy 4:6 NLT).

Learning to walk a righteous path requires reiteration and mentoring as we learn to resist natural inclinations for evil and instead embrace counterintuitive actions, such as loving enemies and prioritizing others’ needs.

Believers who are experienced in the faith can fulfill the Great Commission by addressing a new believer’s questions and concerns. The apostle Peter advises, “Always be ready to explain your hope as a believer” (1 Peter 3:15 NLT).

We can prepare for discipleship and evangelism by studying God’s Word, praying, deepening relationships with God and other believers, and sharing our experiences. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (NLT). The more we hone our spiritual edges, the better we’ll be at sharpening new believers into disciples.