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Go and Make Disciples
Posted on October 21st, 2009 in Church Life, Faith, From the Word by Fred McKinnon
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 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
(Matthew 28: 19-20, ESV – YouVersion.Com)
These are some of the final words Jesus had with His disciples. It’s the last two verses of the book of Matthew. What were His last words? What was his final wish?
He told us to “go”. Make disciples of ALL nations.
As I meditate on those words this morning I’m deeply convicted. I am a full-time, professional “Christian”. I work for the “church”. Yet, when I evaluate how I spend my time and energy, very little of it is “going” to make disciples.
I dunno – maybe that’s not true. I spend hours upon hours every week in prayer, reading, study, and conversations … coming up with ways to make our worship services at SSCC a place where the Believer can be edified, while creating a space where the Seeker can come to know Jesus. We strive to create a space where the lost can be found, and where the found can be discipled into a greater understanding of God’s plan for their lives.
But that’s all part of the job, right? How about those of us who don’t work for the church. The real heroes – the Christians out there in the workplace, doing the jobs, rubbing elbows with those “in the world” all day.
One thing is for sure … this culture we live in has us all “going”. But how can we add the “and make disciples” to our “going”?
Would love your thoughts!
Fred
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6 Responses to “Go and Make Disciples”
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Jesus said “If I be high and lifted up, I will draw men unto Myself”. I believe that when we “walk the walk” in the midst of the world to the point that we don’t LOOK like the world, then folks will ask questions. It’s not all that hard.
People are either searching with a heart to change or looking for an easy way out. Those who truly want a better life will come. Those who don’t may ask questions, but it will not be fruitful – at first. But seed has been sown!
On another note, His actual last command was in Acts, when He commanded them to receive the power of the Holy Spirit so that they could be “enabled” to go into all the world.
Just a side note there.
Great post, bro!
“One thing is for sure … this culture we live in has us all “going”. But how can we add the “and make disciples” to our “going”?”
For me, it’s all about my frame of mind, and forcing myself to be aware of it at all times. When I wake up in the morning I have to immediately check my thoughts. Is this going to be just another day? Or am I going to put aside my ever-present, subconscious search for comfort and be bold about my faith in the King? It’s very easy to wake up and go about my day, as though it’s my day. But it isn’t my day. God gave me this day; He gave me this life to live one more day for HIS purpose. So how do I add the “make disciples” part to the “Go”? By elevating my awareness of my own motives, and by deciding every morning to be BOLD for Christ.
Great post, Fred! Thanks for making me think about this today.
Wayne
Wayne,
Awesome – so how ’bout a real practical example of how you’ve done this in a day – of a way you’ve been bold .. tell the world!
I am bi-vocational. LeAnn and I are the Worship Leaders at Daybreak Baptist, but we also have other jobs. I am the Head Operator at an Low Temp Separation Gas Plant for Occidental Petroleum. I don’t know if you know anything about the oil industry, but it’s chock full of manly men, “roughnecks”, who are stomping around in their “I am tougher than you” personas. It makes me laugh, really. But recently I have been blasting full-on worship music in my control room. Not the contemporary alternative/rock stuff, but like Gateway worship, Hillsong… real deep, heart-felt worship music. You should see the looks on these guys faces when they come into my control room! LOL! But I can’t tell you how many guys have immediately dropped the “poser” and asked me about Jesus! It’s been amazing!
It’s a relatively small thing to do. But it is bold. You can’t turn that music on in that environment and not get responses to it; positive or negative. So that’s one example.
Excellent!
well by being lights.the beautiful thing about light is that it overcomes darkness.so when the unbelieving world see us they are drawn to the consuming power of God!