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.
That’s good, but when was the last time you told somebody about Jesus?
When was the last time you told someone they needed to accept Jesus as their Saviour?
When was the last time you invited someone to a church service?
When was the last time you realised, that you have a God given responsibility to tell others about who is supposed to be the most important part of your life?
The one you are meant to love with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind.
Maybe you identify with what I’ve said so far, or maybe your think I’m being a little harsh.
After all what difference can we really make in this world, what difference can you make,
what difference can I make, I’m only one person....
Friend, when you really believe in something,
you should be willing to put your all your effort into it.
You should be totally committed to Jesus as His disciple and your life should reflect your commitment to God.
God can use everyone of us to bring glory to share the truth of the Gospel.
God can use you, yes even you to make a difference in this world.
Do you think Billy Graham ever wondered what difference he could make?
Or Charles Spurgeon, or John Wesley,
or William Booth or Smith Wigglesworth,
or D.L. Moody or George Jeffreys....
But Dean, those are all famous Christians -
not when they started they weren’t.
They were men who believed and knew as long as they followed God,
as long as they trusted Him and not themselves,
God could use them to change the world,
not just their world, but the whole world for the better!
What can only one person do?
God can use you... if you let Him.
How long are you going to wait, to start experiencing the abundant life that God has for you?
What kind of picture does your life paint for the people you should be trying to win to Christ?
Are your friends and family looking at your life and saying, what’s so great about following Jesus?
Were the first disciples perfect? No.
But they had desire, commitment, determination and the power of the Holy Spirit!
The disciples had none of our modern technology, no cars, no TV, no radio, no mobile phones, no internet, no facebook, no twitter, but they readily accepted the challenge and command Jesus gave them.
They realised then, the same thing that we need to realise today:
people need to be saved from their sins,
people need to hear about Jesus,
people need to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour
And God has called US to reach the people.
Romans 10:11-15 reminds us:
As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him?
And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him?
And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Are you going to do something for the Kingdom of God?
Are you going to do more for the Lord than occupy a seat in church on a Sunday morning?
Are you going to stop being a passenger and start being a participant in proclaiming Jesus Christ is Lord?
Are you willing to be a dynamic disciple?
Its time to ask not what God and your church can do for you, but what you can do for God, in your church!
Instead of just taking from God, it’s time to start serving by giving others the opportunity to know God, to love God, to be in relationship with Him.
It’s time to get involved and get committed to the commandment God has given to us.
It’s time to follow His Great Commission to us.
Jesus didn’t die so we could feel good on a Sunday morning,
He died to set the captive free, He died to bring salvation, He died to bring healing and wholeness and restoration to a fallen and sin sick world.
As I close, let me ask you Are you willing to move to a different level of commitment in your Christian life?
Are you ready to move beyond a casual, convenient Christianity into something more devoted, more committed?
Are you willing to be a dynamic disciple?
Jesus died for you, what will you do for Him?
Will you help build His church?
Will you share the Gospel?
Will you make a difference for the Kingdom of God! in this generation?
Will you allow God to impact the world through you?
Will you make a commitment this morning to make an impact in your family, with your friends, in your community?
Don’t put it off.
Don’t wait any longer.
Don’t wait for the Ministers to do it.
Don’t wait for someone else to do it!
Make the commitment to do everything that God will enable you to do to make a difference.
This life is short don’t waste it.
One day when you stand before God,
He’s not going to be impressed or pleased if He asks what you did to tell others about Him and you say Lord, sometimes I went to church on a Sunday morning, I thought that was enough...
Look for the opportunity to get involved, focus on sharing Jesus with others.
Do everything you can for the Lord, take advantage of every opportunity that comes to proclaim the truth of the Gospel.
A decision be a disciple is a decision to serve the Lord. It demands integrity, dedication and discipline.
The choice to follow God is a choice of sincere commitment. It means being whole hearted not half-hearted,it means being faithful not faithless.
God has something very important for you to do.
God wants to do incredible things in His church, all He is waiting for is someone to stand up, embrace the challenge and say, “Here am I Lord, Use me.”
Friends it’s time to go Fishing. Will you accept the challenge? Will you make the commitment?
