As We Go, Tell Someone!

So everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ. We warn them and teach them with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. (Colossians 1:28)

What does it mean to make disciples? Matthew 28:20 describes it for us. Since I’m a simple man, I’ll put it simply, it means to teach others to study what Scripture say’s and especially what Jesus has said. To disciple people is to live out our faith in this world, to share it with others, to teach it by word, and to model it by example.

I have been blessed in this by having been discipled by a community and a Pastor that have taught me and shown me by the example of their lives serving as Jesus served here @ The Well and out in the world. The same plan of going into the entire world and making disciples is to share our faith with each other and the world, to seek to lead people to Christ, and then to the best of our ability, help them become spiritually mature. Every day God places opportunities before us to share His Word, His awesome love and graciousness with someone. But, we hold back in fear of offending or suddenly go brain dead, which is the best thing that could happen at these times. When we are dead to self is exactly the time the Holy Spirit given takes over. Praise Jesus my brain doesn’t have much to begin with, so simple is it there is not much left there to die. Amen?

But, somewhere the church has gotten sidetracked, we have separated evangelism from discipleship, yet no such difference is given in Scripture. They are part of each other, the idea is not just to share the gospel, lead someone to Christ, and then say, well God bless you, and I’ll catch you later. We wouldn’t do that any more than a doctor delivering a baby would give the newborn a package of diapers, set him out on the sidewalk, and then say, you are now on your own son. It has been good to know ya for this brief time, and I wish the best to you. A baby needs to be nurtured, loved, and cared for. And so does a new believer in Christ.

To make disciples is to help new believers grow spiritually and become dedicated, committed, faithful, mature disciples of Jesus, and in turn, they will repeat the process with someone else. To make disciples is to reproduce the same Christ likeness we have in ourselves. It is to bring others to Christ, help them get on their feet spiritually, and then do that again and again.

Father, for Your grace and merciful love shown to us in Christ Jesus, we are ever thankful. We pray You will guide us and strengthen us in our witness to the world all for Your honor and glory, and that Your kingdom come here now as it is in heaven. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

In Christ
Sandy Perry
06/26/09