The Great Commission
'The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”'
Matthew 28:16-20
Our goal as Christians is to fulfill the Great Commission, growing in relationship with the Father while also helping others grow in their relationship with him. Unfortunately, many of the contemporary churches have not done a great job at doing this. With the attractional model of churches becoming the new norm, we are losing the goal of true discipleship. So many individuals go to church every Sunday and “check the box” of “I did my Christian duties” and then live the rest of their week not living for Jesus. So where does discipleship happen, even in the largest churches? I believe the small groups are where true discipleship happens. Sunday mornings reach many and small groups grow people individually.
As a pastor of a home church I have seen how important it is that people are being truly discipled, not just “christianed.” If we look at Jesus and have him as an example, we see that the way he did ministry was very intimate for the most part. He had a small group of individual that he grew a personal relationship with, broke bread with, taught, trained, and then sent out to serve. When he preached to the masses it was a lesson for many and reached many, it gave them a taste of what following him was like. In my personal experience, I see that the first step of growing someone into a disciple is by first meeting them where they are at. Then growing a relationship where there is true trust. From there it is teaching them what it means to be a disciple and then empowering them to grow in that relationship with the Lord, and eventually sending them out to disciple others. When we stop and look at the basics of what Jesus did, it was that.
'This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey his commands. For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden, because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him. '
1 John 5:1-4
May we all continue to be more like Him, He is the Best Role Model of who we should strive to be.
Blessings!
