Mission of steemchurch: disciples of jesus
"Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And I assure you that I will be with you always, until the end of the world. "
Matthew 28.19-20
The Bible teaches us that each one has the task and responsibility to first be a disciple and secondly to disciple others. It is important to understand that each one of us has been commissioned by the Lord to do this work. The work of discipleship is not only for a few, it is for everyone.
The Bible teaches us how Jesus gave us a great commission. The last words to his disciples before he departed to heaven with the Father were, go and make disciples! We understand that these words were not a suggestion of Jesus, but a commission. Jesus was giving an order!
I think we have abused the first sentence of this passage. We are quick to go or be sent, without really sticking to the rest of the passage, the part about "teaching them to obey what Jesus has commanded them."
The result? Often, when we "go", we definitely make disciples, but not disciples of Jesus, according to what He taught. Many times we make disciples of ourselves. Disciples of our pastors. Disciples of our parents. Disciples of our politics and politicians. We are good at making disciples. When the gun that marks the exit, is shot indicating "GO", we fly towards the goal, but we forget the most important part, we should be making disciples of Jesus and only Him.
Stop for a moment before "going" and examine the message you are communicating. Who is it about? Of you? Someone else? Of Jesus? Let's make sure to point people in the direction of Hope (which, by the way, is Jesus and not the next president).
Point them to Jesus, to what He did and to the things He taught. Making disciples of Jesus will work even better than making disciples of oneself.
Discipleship is not optional
We must recognize that many times we see discipleship as a special task, exclusive for some. We say things like: "this is not my call", "I'm not good at talking", "I do not know enough". However, in the same words of Jesus we can see that, anyone who by grace has believed, has this responsibility: "Go, then, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. "(Mt 28:19).
Discipleship is about relationships
When discipleship is done within the Church, the relationship between teacher and disciple is natural, but when we leave, the search becomes intentional. This will require a real investment of our time, our resources and above all, trust.
Let's see our perfect example. Jesus spent much of his ministry speaking to the masses as in the Sermon on the Mount. At the same time, He had intimately personal relationships. He spent 3 and a half years living literally with his disciples, visited the house of Zacchaeus (Luke 19: 1-10) and presented himself as the living water in front of the Samaritan woman (John 4: 13-14). Clearly, Jesus understood the importance of relationships.
Discipleship is not preaching to ourselves
The apostle Paul expresses very well the approach with which we should disciple others by saying that "we do not preach to ourselves, but to Christ Jesus as Lord, and to us as your servants for Jesus' sake" (2 Corinthians 4: 5).
The Church urgently needs to recapture its original mission of making disciples of creating intimate and relational environments that produce multiplication and transformation.
Making disciples is:
Proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Baptize those who believe.
Teach them to live all that Jesus commanded. That they know the Word, that they create it, that they live it and that they teach it to others.
Some advices
Organize your agenda. Not only do intentions matter, it is important to formalize these meetings to give an adequate follow-up to those we are discipling.
Do not neglect your service in the Church. Work for God is in the body, that is the way that the Word establishes. At the same time, showing our commitment is a great witness for those new disciples who do not believe in the Church.
Makes accounts. Our authorities must be aware of the work we do with other people outside the Church, so that they can correct us, teach us and intercede for us in this task.
Prayer, prayer, prayer. It is essential to intercede for these people, just as we pray for our own hearts, for our intentions, for God to show his will for all those he has destined for eternal life.
Do not be discouraged. It is very easy for our spirits to decay when we believe that we are not doing "good" work, but God has called us to be witnesses of his eternal plan. God himself will convince the hearts of sin, there is no argument that changes anyone: only the sovereign grace of our Lord.
The objective of discipleship has always been the same, beautifully expressed in the words of Jesus when he said "And this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (Jn 17). :3). And the result has always been the same "And the Lord added every day to the number of them that were being saved" (Acts 2: 47b).
But, I must not forget today that my agenda must never miss the most important mission that has been entrusted to me ... Go and preach the gospel to every creature. Today, as a disciple of Christ, I must learn to distinguish between mission and calling. The mission of God is for every believer to share the good news of Jesus wherever we are, but his calling is the appointment of God to a specific place and at a specific time.
The mission is general and fundamental and the call is specific and personal. My main responsibility in life is to be in the mission of Jesus.
Today, I want to be faithful to the mission that Jesus has entrusted to me.
"Mr. A mission you have entrusted me. I can not evade that mission. I can not exclude that mission from my agenda. It is the mission to share with others your kindnesses and your mercies. Today I want to walk with the confidence of knowing that you support me in carrying out the mission you have entrusted to me.
Help me to be a faithful witness and not waste the opportunities I will have of being able to fulfill the most important mission for which I have been saved and for which you have called me.
The mission to go and preach the gospel to every creature. Today, I want to make that day ... a day of mission. Amen.
nice post,thanks for shearing.
thank you @jhonysins
I was so glad when you mentioned PRAYER. It cannot be overemphasized.
More souls are won on the knees than in the streets because it is the Holy Spirit that does the conversion, we are just vessels that showcase CHRIST to the world.
Time to carry out our responsibility, our mandate, our commission.
Everything is a complement, prayer is our sword and we must do it so that God prepares the hearts that will receive the word!
excellent sister publication, the word of God is the most powerful thing that exists
thank you @karines
As always apostle Darlenys, your message about discipleship is exceptional, gracais for this teaching.
Thank you for reminding us