Matthew 28:19-20
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.”
Many of us know these verses as “The Great Commission.” It certainly is! As followers of Jesus, we are commanded and invited into a “coworker” relationship with God. To be fair, we have a lot of biblical identities. The Bible calls all believers children of God, friends of God, coheirs with Christ, and the list goes on. None of these identities should be neglected but our identity as servants of and coworkers with Jesus can’t be ignored.
Of course, as coworkers, God does all the heavy lifting! Yet, in His great power He invites us to play a role in His plan. A part in His story. At its core, the Great Commission is telling us that He wants us to take initiative to share the Good News of Jesus with others just like someone has shared it with us. Only God can save souls and change hearts but we can share that message!
Here’s the problem: we feel insecure, inadequate, and unqualified. Those feelings are very real but they shouldn’t stop us from participating in the greatest rescue mission planet earth has ever seen. It’s time we get serious about our role in God’s great plan.
As we think about the phrase “make disciples” we often don’t know where to start. It’s hard to define. It’s hard to measure. It’s hard to know where to start. For us, to make disciples means we help people follow Jesus. We help others to take their next step in the direction of Jesus. Sometimes that next step can be as simple as opening our hearts to God. It could mean a willingness to even talk about God. Or it could mean opening the Bible for the first time. Some steps are small and some are big but all steps are valuable. Any and all of us can help the people around us move in the direction of Jesus if we are intentional.
So where should we start? First, let's ask ourselves a couple of questions. Who am I willing to help move towards Jesus? How will I intentionally do that? Are the people I minister to ministering to other people? The goal is to make disciples that make disciples. To multiply disciples we have to first make a disciple and then encourage them to make other disciples.
Next steps: As you contemplate these questions, spend time praying. Ask God to bring people to mind. Ask Him to do a spiritual work in their hearts. Ask God for opportunity, intentionality and courage. As leaders, know that it is our job and our joy to equip you. Please reach out to your Location Pastor so they can encourage, equip, and pray for you. Slowly but surely the Kingdom of God will multiply!