Cliff notes. Cheat sheets. What does this have to do with Jesus? When I was in school, I liked it when I had all the necessary information boiled down to an essential list that, if mastered, would help me ace a test.
After Jesus’ resurrection, He gave us this kind of direct teaching that, if memorized, could help us ace His test for “being the church.” But there is a big difference between Jesus and some teachers. Those teachers just give us information to pass a class.
Jesus gives life-giving orders to be lived out, obeyed, and experienced in a compelling mission that we must accomplish together.
Jesus’ Mission For You and Me
In part one, we stated that being the church is about loving God and loving people. Within those commands, Christians have been given a vital task directly from Jesus.
We are on a mission from God! What are we called to do? The answer is found in Matthew 28:18-20. After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples gathered on a mountain in Galilee.
He told them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Jesus is in charge. He has the authority to command his disciples.
Make Disciples
A Christian‘s marching orders are, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
As we are living life, we are to compel and cause people to become disciples of Jesus. It's not an exclusive or secret club. It doesn't matter what race or gender or what language they speak or where they live. We are to urge all people groups to follow Jesus.
Baptizing them…
We are to “Baptize them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Through baptism we help new disciples go public. They tell the world they have a new allegiance. “I now follow the true King Jesus.” But that's not all.
Teaching them to obey…
Jesus commands us to, “Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Jesus doesn’t mean to give them information so that they can pass a test. He doesn’t mean showing new disciples how to sit in the stands. He’s not showing them how to watch, criticize, and condemn the people who are on the field playing the game.
He does mean to train them to obey everything he modeled and taught them. If we are “being the church,” we will be fully engaged in obedience training.
We might ask ourselves, “Who am I to make disciples? I’m not qualified.” Remember the group he's talking to. They weren't Superstars. They were flawed people like you and me. These men had just turned their backs on Jesus. They ran and hid when he was arrested. Peter denied knowing him. There were some in the group who still doubted.
Jesus’ Promise…
He says to them, “Behold, I Am With You Always, to the end of the age.”
It’s like Jesus said, “Look at me. I am the resurrected Lord. I'm going to be present with you from now on. The good, great, Triune God will be actively present, empowering you as a conduit for his grace and mercy. You won’t be alone on this mission!”
To “be the church” in a changing world, we must make disciples being led by the Spirit of Christ.
Up Next: “What is a disciple?”
“Being” the church is better than just going to church! Begin now to be the church by training to love God, love people, and make disciples the way Jesus does.
Would you like to share this with your friends? Here’s our slideshow so you can talk about it with them!
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