Are You Involved In Making Disciples? Series

Our theme for 2016 is Dynamic Disciples.

In the New Testament the word Disciple is used to describe the people who are committed to following Jesus Christ.

Being a disciple of Jesus requires more from us than just turning up for a church service, God is meant to have the central place in our daily lives.

Being a disciple of Jesus is more than just reading your bible once in a while or praying when you need something, it requires a real relationship with the God who loves you.

Following Christ is meant to be the central purpose of our lives.

To be a true disciple of Jesus requires real commitment

A Christian who takes discipleship seriously is a Christian who takes Jesus and the Gospel seriously.

Discipleship is the way we show that we take Jesus – His Incarnation, His works, His words,

His person, His exemplary life,

His commands and His commissions – seriously.

Discipleship involves our deep commitment to our Lord and Saviour, allowing His life to infuse our own, so that we become more like Him.

Discipleship is an ongoing process that will last the whole of our lifetime and should touch every part of our lives.

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When we are saved, when we are born again,

the Bible tells us that God adopts us.

We become children of God, part of the family of God through faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Galatians 3:26-28 says:

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The bible states that we are equal to each other in God’s family - He loves each of us the same.

Look at the words of Ephesians 2:19-21

So now you are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus Himself. We are carefully joined together in Him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.

Not strangers or foreigners - part of God’s family..

Together we are His house, His church, His body and God has called us together for a purpose.

That purpose is to love and serve Him and to love and serve others.

We are to proclaim that Jesus is Lord, to learn more about Him and to lead others to Him.

All of us probably have felt the urgency to bring others into the family of God, before Jesus returns,

but in the modern church there are too many people who have become content with just keeping a seat warm on a Sunday morning,

instead of being active in seeking and saving the lost, instead of being salt and light in a sinful world,

we look for what the church can do for us rather than what we are meant to do for others.

The great command of Matthew 28 has become the great suggestion, witnessing, evangelising, sharing the message of Jesus with others, well that’s what the Pastors are for isn’t it?

Actually, no...

Jesus calls all of His disciples, all of his followers,

all who say they have been saved,

all who say they love Him to be actively involved in sharing the message of salvation with others.

Let me remind you of the great commission, the final command Jesus gave to us before He ascended to Heaven, in Matthew 28:18-20:

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Are you involved in making disciples?

Really?

Do you speak about how God the Father loves you?

Do you share the Love of Jesus with others?

Do you allow the Holy Spirit to use the gifts and talents that God has given you?

Are you teaching others what it is to be a follower of Christ?

Are you proclaiming by the way you live, the way you speak, the way you act, that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour?

Are you involved in making disciples?

Maybe your thinking,

Hold on, I go to church... most of the time.

When the offering bag goes by... I give something.

I pray for others... if I remember to.