How do we make disciples?

I recently read through the gospel of Matthew to once again see how Jesus went about making disciples for the three years before his death and resurrection. One of the main lessons I learned was the importance of obedience; he taught through practical application rather than simply by explaining. E.g. even before the Spirit has been poured out on them, He already sent first the 12 (Matt.10, Luk.9) and then the 72 (Luk.10) out to proclaim the Good News. It is by doing that we learn to understand why and how.

However, recently I am starting to understand that I might have missed the most important method used by Jesus. He lived what He taught (e.g. John 5:19 and John 15:5). Paul used the same method when He said (1 Cor.11:1): "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ". We need to live a life of following Jesus before we can call others to do the same. The streams of living waters flowing from within us is what will make others thirsty for the One we know and in whom we live. Experiencing God daily in our life is what will enable us to introduce others to Him. Confessing and repenting from our sin and being cleansed (1 John.1:7-9), is what will enable us to call others to repentance without being hypocritical.

How can you tell somebody about the Source of living water if you have forgotten what it tastes like to drink from it? We need the heartbeat of Jesus. To hear His heartbeat, but also for it to become our heartbeat as we share in His love for both God and a lost world.