Let us pray.
Loving Heavenly Father,
We have come to worship you today. Lord, teach us the hidden wonders of your Holy Word. Help us to concentrate and focus without distractions. Put in us an open receiving heart. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.
The topic assigned by the Diocese of Madras to be delivered today is “MAKE DISCIPLES”. As a basis for understanding this topic, we listened to the scripture portions being read out from the books of I Kings, & The Gospel of John.
Meaning of disciple
In Cambridge Dictionary – a person who believes in the ideas of a leader, esp. a religious or political one, and tries to live according to those ideas:
Last command of Jesus
Mathew : 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
MarK :16: 15,16
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. 16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.
Statement with authority
1. Why should we make disciples? – Commanded with authority
2. Who should make disciples? – All of us who are believers of Christ
3. When should we make disciples? Till the end of age
4. Where should I make disciples? In all the nations of the world
5. What to do to make disciples?
6. How to make disciples?
What to do to make disciples?
Example of Elijah – Elisha
I Kings:19:11-21
1. Elijah fleeing from Ahab & Jezebel. Since Elijah killed the prophets of Baal by sword.
2. Elijah In hiding. Lord meets him in a sound of sheer silence. Instructs him to set out and find Elisha and anoint him to be the next prophet and make new kings etc. Now what does Elijah do?
I Kings:19: Verse :19. So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat
Equipped with God’s word and promise, Elijah then set out.
Basically had to make major adjustments.
1. RELATIONSHIPS (with family, friends, business associates)
2. ACTIONS (how we pray, give, serve)
3. THINKING (prejudices towards others or situations)
4. CIRCUMSTANCES (job, home, finances)
5. COMMITMENTS (to family, church, job, plans, tradition)
How much we are willing to change to impress any person.
Simple change of order of service, Or a methodology, or anything similar and we break out.
Comfort Zone – unable to adapt and change or adjust.
There are just some people who are inherently conservative. They don’t like change. They don’t want to embrace new things. I confess I am one of those people. I am basically quite a conservative person.
Lot of men of God in the bible NOAH, ABRAHAM, PAUL, the disciples, - Had to make major adjustments.
John:1: 37B -38 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
Had to make major adjustments to become disciples of Jesus and in turn be able to make more disciples for Christ later. (FAMILY, JOB CHOICE etc).
So what to do – Make Major Adjustments
How to make disciples?
John:1:35
Follow the example of Jesus.
38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, Come and see. They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day.
41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed[j]). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” – Peter.
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
Matthew 5:16 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
1. Commercialization of Gospel Preaching and Spreading the Good News.
2. False Prophets
Christians – Disciples of Jesus Christ – Do we portray so?
What are the commands that God asked us to follow?
Only two. The first is easy. But what about the second?
Matthew 22: 38-40
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
What kind of a Christian am I?
Olden Days vs Recent Days.
1. He/she a Christian. Values, etc. Now. Why is there sourness?
2. Do we love our methodologies or our pastors or leaders more than Christ?
3. Love of God inside the Church? – How will a new believer be born? What kind of example or model are we being.
Jesus lived as an example. For Discipline (Miracle of the 5000, made sit in groups and collect even the remainder food), for organizational skills(Preparation for Passover), being humble(washing the feet of the disciples), so on on and on.
If I don’t reflect the image of Christ in me, How can I be the light of the world. If I am not the light, how can I lead the lost people of the dark to become Disciples?
1. Examples of ministries from church, Village Ministry.
2. Our methods of celebrations. Money on what? Giving or For ourselves
3. So the most important way to make disciples is not to preach them, but to show them.
How to make disciples? – By showing Them. Being an example – Being an image of God.
Just two questions.
1. Am I willing to make major adjustments in my life to make disciples?
2. Will I be an example in the world to make disciples?
Let us pray.
Lord, Our Loving Father, we thank you for this opportunity to be here Lord. We heard your whispering voice in the silence. Though we have been Christians we don’t know if the amount of adjustments we have made are enough Lord, Help us to commit into you more and more and make major adjustments with respect to your calling. In the midst of the crisis situations were are in currently. Let us no be ashamed or afraid to be an image of you Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not let go of the inner light in us and shine on the world. We are grateful to you, for we have renewed our commitment to you as Christians today. Let us not be forgetful people and guide us with your Holy Ghost to stay strong in whatever resolutions we made today. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
