A Laborer, A Disciple-Maker: Are They the Same?
Jesus told His disciples to ask the Father to send laborers into the Harvest (Matthew 9:36-38). A couple years later, Jesus gave the Great Commission to make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Is there a difference between these two; laborers and disciple-makers. Let’s explore that.
I’ll start with a basic premise: laborers are a small group of Christians who do a large amount of work within the global Church;[1] disciple-makers are a sub-group of the laborer group – which means disciple-makers consist of an even smaller group.
I think a key to this understanding is the word “work” (ergon in Greek) from which we get the word “worker” or “laborer.” (ergatēs in Greek). The word ergatēs can be found in the New Testament 16 times, including in Matthew 9:38. It’s a general term, similar to how we use the term “blue-collar worker.” What kind of work does a blue-collar worker do? A day laborer, a carpenter, a cement mason, an electrician, or even a first responder.
You could say that a plumber is a blue-collar worker, but you can’t say that all blue-collar workers are plumbers. Following that line of thinking, a disciple-maker is a laborer, but not all laborers are disciple-makers.
In Ephesians 4:11-12, Paul writes that God gave some apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to the Church for the equipping of the saints for ministry. I think all five of those roles are laborers, working in the Church, globally or locally, to help others grow spiritually and do ministry.
Paul would later write to Timothy and tell him to “do the work (ergon) of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5).
Back in 1978, LeRoy Eims wrote this: “It is clear from Scripture that the cause of Christ includes workers [laborers] of many kinds. What we are aiming at… has to do with workers of a particular kind.”[2] He meant disciple-makers, not committee members.
Obeying the Great Commission implies that each person is responsible to make disciples. That means each person should be a disciple-maker. Some of these disciple-makers will also become pastors or teachers or do some other ministry within the Church. However, many will enter into laboring in the Harvest without personally making disciples themselves.
The Great Commission commands us to make disciples. Matthew 9:38 commands us to pray for God to send laborers into the Harvest. God will call some of us to labor as pastors, or teachers, or even a small group leader. Let’s not get so wrapped up in the labor that we forget the command to make disciples!
What are your thoughts about disciple-makers and laborers? I’d love to hear what you’re thinking in the comment area below.
[1] The Pareto principle (also known as the 80/20 rule) states that roughly 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes. Many church leaders are aware that around 20% of church members are doing more than 80% of the ministry.
[2] Eims, LeRoy. The Lost Art of Disciple Making. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, (1978), 84.