JULY 28 & 29, 2007
Over the last two weeks, I've been writing these Messages About Purpose and Strategy, on the key aspects of the Great Commission. Jesus commanded his followers to "make disciples" (Matt. 28:18-20) and said this would involve "goin...," "baptizing ...," and "teaching ...."
I focused on two of these already, now we'll consider the significance of what Jesus said about the church's responsibility to teach people to obey what he taught. Making disciples involves leading people to Christ. Once new believers are baptized, they are not to be abandoned. They are to be led to follow Christ closely!
Our job continues. Remember, the commission is to "make disciples," not just to lead people to make decisions. Evangelism graduates into discipleship. Some have called this command to teach Christians to observe all that Jesus commanded "the great omission to the great commission!" We tend to forget this obedience thing, but teaching people to obey all that Jesus commanded is a process that leads people to Christlikeness.
Here at Dayspring, we do not have a "discipleship ministry" competing or contrasting with other ministries, instead, our whole church is a ministry of discipleship! Our children's ministries events play a part in the discipleship process, so do our youth group meetings, our classes, sermons, worship, everything! Discipleship is not one program among many; everything should be about leading people to really follow Jesus so that they live distinctively different lives, bringing glory to God. Jesus closed his commission by promising his presence, "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." His promised presence empowers us to lead people to follow Christ. For this we exist.
I focused on two of these already, now we'll consider the significance of what Jesus said about the church's responsibility to teach people to obey what he taught. Making disciples involves leading people to Christ. Once new believers are baptized, they are not to be abandoned. They are to be led to follow Christ closely!
Our job continues. Remember, the commission is to "make disciples," not just to lead people to make decisions. Evangelism graduates into discipleship. Some have called this command to teach Christians to observe all that Jesus commanded "the great omission to the great commission!" We tend to forget this obedience thing, but teaching people to obey all that Jesus commanded is a process that leads people to Christlikeness.
Here at Dayspring, we do not have a "discipleship ministry" competing or contrasting with other ministries, instead, our whole church is a ministry of discipleship! Our children's ministries events play a part in the discipleship process, so do our youth group meetings, our classes, sermons, worship, everything! Discipleship is not one program among many; everything should be about leading people to really follow Jesus so that they live distinctively different lives, bringing glory to God. Jesus closed his commission by promising his presence, "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." His promised presence empowers us to lead people to follow Christ. For this we exist.
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