Good morning dear friends.
The second aspect of a 3D church is that the church must not only discern, it must also disciple, that is, it must make new disciples. Someone one said that Christianity was only one generation away from extinction, and that is true if we stop caring enough about others to tell them about God and God's love for us all through Jesus Christ.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Read Matthew 28:19-20. This is the passage known as The Great Commission. In it, believers have received their marching orders. For today prayerfully reflect on what it means to disciple someone. Have you discipled your children or grandchildren? Do you know that living as a disciple is the best way to make new ones, especially those around you? Are you living your life in ways that reflect Christ’s love and leading?
Here is the passage listed above in the New Revised Standard Version:
"19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Amen"
And here is The Message:
"19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 20 Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
The best sermon anyone can preach is the one they live with their lives. The best way to witness is to share with your life. The best way to disciple someone is with your life and how others see Christ in you. Jesus' Great Commission is based on that very thing. Live your life in such a way that others will want to live like you. I'm reading Bill Hybel's "Rediscovering Church" and in it he shares his story from high school. He was perceived as a "normal" kid. Not too popular, not an athlete, simply someone who blended in. One of the most popular athletes in school one day came to Bill and told him he needed to get his life straight and could he come to church with him? Bill lived his life positively enough in Christ that what he had this young man needed. The sad part about the story is that Bill was ashamed of his church, for it was not the kind of church that would attract those not born into it. His friend did come to church and like Bill believed would happen, hated the strict formal setting and wondered how a normal kid could sit through anything so not for normal people. Bill went on to become a youth director, later pastor with a passion for the lost and built one of America's biggest churches with over 20,000 members coming each Sunday to Willow Creek Community Church.
What's your passion? Is it centered on the lost? Bill's success as a youth director was to tell the kids very honestly that unless they lived for Christ they were destined for an eternity of hell. This motivated the kids to go and bring their friends, finally having 1,200 kids at weekly youth group meetings. It only takes one. It only takes you to live your life in a way that says, "Christ has saved me from hell, and taken me to a new joy in this life, would you care to come along and live like this?"
It can start at home with your family. Here is where it's very hard to disguise who you really are and what you're really about. If you're not about Christ, put Christ in your heart and you will have, as the liturgy says, "put on Christ."
PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus and bring the fire of your passion for us to our hearts. Let us make disciples. Let us start today in sharing Jesus with all we meet. We pray in Your name. Amen.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.
