Making Disciples

Being on mission with God is something that has captivated our Church, and for that I am glad. This is something that as a family we are still working through. How does that look in our everyday existence? How purposeful are we being in ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ to those around us? Is the Gospel at the center of all we say and do?

As we are evaluating and making changes, repenting where it is necessary, spending time in purposeful prayer as we look at relationships we have, my own husband has reminded me and himself that the mission isn't merely to have relationships and gain converts, but to make disciples! Whoa! What a concept. A phrase he has been using to make it stick in our minds is "missional discipleship." This phrase is by no means original to him, but it has set some things right in my mind. This means that we cannot merely abandon fellowship and the One Anothers that God's word demands. It means we cannot abandon being equipped and equipping through preaching and teaching. It is, in fact still necessary to teach one to "obey all that is commanded." This takes time, sweat, tears, prayer, deep study and being discipled and taught ourselves! It means as our dear family and friends who do not love Jesus are with us, they see us with our Church family, they see how we interact, they hear the things we are being taught, they see how the way we parent, do our marriages, and make decisions are based on the Gospel - based on what we have been taught in the scripture - based on our doctrine. And, they learn with us, and as one comes to Christ, we teach and equip them. This does not happen without purposeful planning. It means one on one and it also means through classes and preaching where we are learning these things together and growing in unity.

I have some family who are new converts. It will be a sad day if as a Church we abandon helping them to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and throw them out into the world untaught and ill- equipped for any good work.

I know that is not the desire of our shepherds.

I hope and pray that as I live out life as a Sent One, I will remember that the great commision from the One who has been given all Authority and in Whose name we go, is: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I command you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."