Colin Marshall Quotes

The Great Commission, in other words, is not just for the Eleven. It’s the basic agenda for all disciples. To be a disciple is to be a disciple-maker.

We are always an example to those whom we are teaching and training, whether we like it or not.

Mas alguém que nos observa de fora poderia dizer: ‘Veja, ali está alguém que renunciou sua vida para seguir Jesus Cristo e sua missão’?” (pp. 51)

É fácil nos focalizarmos em habilidades como um fim em si mesmas e colocarmos muita confiança nelas.” (pp. 86)

O âmago do treinamento não é transmitir uma capacidade, e sim transmitir sã doutrina.” (pp. 80)

Thus the goal of Christian ministry is quite simple, and in a sense measurable: are we making and nurturing genuine disciples of Christ? The church always tends towards institutionalism and secularization. The focus shifts to preserving traditional programs and structures, and the goal of discipleship is lost. The mandate of disciple-making provides the touchstone for whether our church is engaging in Christ’s mission. Are we making genuine disciples of Jesus Christ? Our goal is not to make church members or members of our institution, but genuine disciples of Jesus.

the only growth that has any significance in God’s plans is the growth of believers. This is what the growing vine really is: it is individual, born-again believers, grafted into Christ by his word and Spirit, and drawn into mutually edifying fellowship with one another.

We are training people to be contributors and servants, not spectators and consumers.

Em vez de usarmos nossos voluntários, deveríamos considerar como podemos incentivá-los... porque serviços resultam do crescimento cristão, e não o contrário.” (pp. 26)

Are you committed to church growth or to gospel growth? Do you want more numbers in the pew now, or more labourers for the harvest over the next 50 years?

pergunte a si mesmo se seu ministério é reativo ou proativo” (pp. 29)

Churches don’t make disciples; disciples make disciples (Matt 28:19-20).

The ‘teaching’ that the disciples are to do reproduces what Jesus himself has done with them. He has been their ‘teacher’ (cf. Matt 12:38; 19:16; 22:16, 24, 36; 26:18), and as Jesus has taught them they have grown in knowledge and understanding. The disciples are now, in turn, to make new disciples by teaching them to obey everything commanded by their Master. This ‘making-disciples-by-teaching’ corresponds to preaching the gospel in the parallel mission mandate in Luke, where Jesus says “repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47).

Somos um exemplo para aqueles a quem ensinamos e treinamos, quer gostemos, quer não.” (pp. 83)

But it’s interesting how little the New Testament talks about church growth, and how often it talks about ‘gospel growth’ or the increase of the ‘word’. The focus is on the progress of the Spirit-backed word of God as it makes its way in the world, according to God’s plan. Returning to our vine metaphor, the vine is the Spirit-empowered word, spreading and growing throughout the world, drawing people out of the kingdom of darkness into the light-filled kingdom of God’s beloved Son, and then bearing fruit in their lives as they grow in the knowledge and love of God. The vine is Jesus, and as we are grafted into him, we bear fruit (John 15:1-11).