"Pastor, if we're supposed to make disciples, what exactly is one?"
Two questions for you:
1. Are you discipling someone right now?
2. If so, do you know exactly what you are doing when you are making a disciple?
Let's first define what a disciple is.
Jesus said, "Come. Follow me." to his first chosen disciples.
...yet not everyone following Jesus is a disciple of Jesus...
3 Groups in Luke 6:12-19:
1. 12 disciples / apostles.
2. A large crowd of disciples.
3. People who really just wanted something from Jesus.
Disciples strive to imitate, to obey, to live out the teachings of their teacher. The goal for a disciple is to become like the one they follow.
Acknowledging our shortcomings, our sins, our inability to be perfect like Jesus is right where God wants His disciples to be- humble and repentant.
God continues to mold us ever-increasingly to be like Jesus. (Philippians 2:13)
A disciple follows Jesus to become like Him so that we can participate with Him on His mission to the world.