Just Make Disciples (tm)

I'm tired of gimmicks, mottos, slogans, mission statements. Why can't we just make disciples? In fact, I think that will be my new motto: "Just Make Disciples".

I shared this idea with a few friends, and they were all very excited about the idea of spending time with one another - discipling one another - helping one another live our lives in conformity with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and encouraging others to do the same.

One of my friends has a t-shirt printing business. He told me that he could print some t-shirts with "Just Make Disciples" on it. I think this will be a wonderful way to encourage people to spend their time making disciples instead of doing so many other things that seem good, but distract us from our mission. I was planning to get together with my friend this afternoon, but he's working on the design for the logo, and buying t-shirts, and setting up his screen prints, and talking to Christian retailers. He thinks "Just Make Disciples" will become a huge brand.

Another friend is in marketing. He thought this idea was wonderful also. He said he knew some people that he needed to spend time with in order to just make disciples. His mind works so fast that he already has ideas for a print campaign, a radio spot, and maybe even a TV commercial. He knows a couple of actors and authors who may be interested. I was hoping to have lunch or dinner with him, but he's very busy putting together these marketing plans for "Just Make Disciples".

One of my friends is one of the elders of a local church. He thinks this idea will revolutize the church. He says that it is so simple that any believer can take part, and it is so effective that only a few people who just make disciples will change their neighborhoods and city. He had to cancel our plans to get together because he's working on a small-group study and a sermon series designed around our new motto "Just Make Disciples".

I have a friend who is a lawyer. He thinks he needs to spend more time helping the people in his practice follow Jesus. He's looking forward to spending time to just make disciples. Of course, he said, we have to be very careful with our brand. Someone could steal it, or mimic it, or denigrate it. He's looking into a formal copywrite. For now, he say, we should try to trademark "Just Make Disciples (tm)". We were planning to get coffee together tonight, but he has to do some research and fill out the right forms in order to protect "Just Make Disciples (tm)".

So, my afternoon and evening is free. I was planning to get together with several friends to just make disciples, but they're all busy with "Just Make Disciples (tm)". You know, now that I think about, what we really need is a web presence. And, since I'm a web developer, I think I can come up with a great web site for "Just Make Disciples". There could even be a discussion area where people can hang out and spend time with one another online.

So, like I said, I'm tired of all those gimmicks, mottos, slogans, and mission statements. I want to just make disciples. I think "Just Make Disciples (tm)" is exactly what we need today.

(The content is also available at www.AlanKnox.net)