The call of Jesus to Christians is clear, “Go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19), but do we really know how to make disciples? Or are we just really good and describing a disciple? When asked to describe what a disciple is you might say, “Someone who loves Jesus” or “Someone who follows the rules.” or “Someone who goes to church.” If I were to ask you how to make disciples you might say “Read a Christian book” or “Join the four-step program at the church,” but most likely you would look at me with blank stare.

You’ve probably heard the term “guru.” Guru literally means teacher or master. When used as an adjective it means “heavy with knowledge or insight.” There are a lot of gurus in our culture. If you have a fitness question you ask the fitness guru, Jillian Michaels. For financial advice you turn to Dave Ramsey. For the best in self-help you read Stephen Covey. Gurus are the folks that have all the right answers, all the best ideas and all the right advice…..and are happy to sell those ideas and advice to you!

I’m afraid that many people have understood that being a disciple is the same as being a guru. If you are going to be a disciple, some people think they have to have all the correct answers, the right advice for any situation and all the truth of Jesus and the Gospel nicely organized in their mind so they can dispense it at a moment’s notice to anyone who might need it.

The problem is, if you understand being a disciple as being a guru, it is hard to actually disciple someone because you don’t feel like you could possibly know all the answers all the time. You end up doing is disqualifying yourself from investing in someone because you don’t think you are a guru.

When Jesus was investing in the lives of his disciples he didn’t set out to turn them into gurus who would go and make more gurus. He didn’t offer classes on systematic theology complete with quizzes and tests on content. He didn’t give them a textbook to read. He didn’t offer conferences and seminars on the meaning of discipleship. What he did do is eat with them, travel with them, share stories & experiences. He called for their help when he needed it, and they called on his help when they needed it.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAJesus didn’t make disciples by teaching them to be gurus, he made disciples by showing them how to be sherpas.

Sherpas are a people group in Nepal that live and farm high in the Himalaya mountains. Some Sherpa people make a living by helping people climb the tallest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest.

During a climbing expedition the role of the sherpas includes carry the bulk of the equipment, preparing the routes ahead of the climbers, guiding the climbers up the mountain and ensuring the safety of the other climbers. Sherpas don’t do all this for personal glory, they sit quietly in the background so the other climbers can get the glory of the summit. They serve their clients (who quickly become like family) with selflessness and compassion.

If you are going to make disciples you are going to have to walk with people, and help carry their burdens! Following Jesus and making disciples is not about having all the right answers as much as it is about entering life with someone and walking with them – just like a sherpa. We need a shift in the Church from the guru (the Pastor, small group leader, staff member, etc.) pouring knowledge into the brains of would-be disciples to walking with one another through challenge and success. We need more sherpas, not gurus.

While being a sherpa requires more from us, it is much more freeing than having to be a guru. Feeling like you have to have all the right answers is a considerable burden by itself!

As we seek to sherpa one another let us not forget that Jesus is our sherpa. He took on the burden of our sin so that we could live in freedom. He goes ahead of us and prepares the way and then walks with us. He guides us by providing direction for our lives. Jesus, the ultimate Guru – the guy who actually had all the knowledge and all the answers – became a sherpa for you. That is a great reason to love Him!

 

Emmaus Road is one of many churches in Fort Collins, CO. What makes us unique is that we try to live out a sherpa discipleship. We would love for you to join us any Sunday at 10:00am. To learn more, listen to Pastor Andy’s message Guru vs. Sherpa, from the I Am a Follower series.