Core Conviction 3 | Disciple Making

    

    To read previous core convictions, check out the links below:

CORE CONVICTION 1 | Jesus Treasuring
CORE CONVICTION 2 | His-Story Honoring

  
If we are a local church in Worcester who treasures Jesus and honors His story, then we will be a church of disciples of Jesus who follows Him in making more disciples by sharing our lives with those who don't know Him and have had no previous interest in Him. 

    

     Disciple making is the last command Jesus gave us. This means that disciple making is not the church's responsibility as an organization or the leaders' responsibility alone – this is the call and command to every believer who follows Jesus. Faithful disciples have been given a desire by the grace of God to be active in becoming more like Jesus in how they grow in their love for God and others, using their hearts, souls, minds, and strength.

But what is a disciple? It's true, the word has often been abused. It simply means to be a "learner." So a disciple of Jesus is someone who continues to learn about Jesus from His Word, by His Spirit, and in doing so, becomes more like Him. 

     But then what is discipleship? I think Todd Engstrom's definition is a great one: "Meeting people where they are and taking them where Jesus wants them to go."

     Core Conviction 3 | Disciple Making

     A Church Whose Disciples of Jesus Are Making More Disciples  of Jesus  

     So how do we be the church who meets people where they are and helps take them where Jesus wants them to go? Not by expecting people to come to us in our religious "safety zones," but by going to them where they live. Why? Because that's what Jesus did. He didn't wait for us to climb a ladder to reach Him in heaven; He came to us in the "down and dirty" on earth. And He didn't schedule a religious event for his followers once every 6 months and call it evangelism; instead He lived His life with people and discipled His followers how to share the kingdom of God with everyone they met along the way.

     Jesus spoke and showed good news. So we share what Jesus said and we do what He did in revealing that He is the King of a kingdom where those who readily receive God's grace are welcome. And when we get lazy, make a mistake, hurt someone, or live for ourselves, He gives us the gift of faith and repentance to return to Him. Because of what He did for us in His life, on the cross, and after conquering death, we know He is waiting with open arms to forgive us and encourage us to keep walking with Him as He seeks and saves the lost.

     Mike Breen rightly states that, "If you make disciples, you will always get the church. But if you try to build the church, you will rarely get disciples." Jesus said He would build His church. So being the church that Jesus intends for us to be is to be a group of people who love, serve, bless, and sacrifice for those who do not know Him.  When Jesus saw a mass of people who were scared, demanding, and selfish, He didn't desert them. He had compassion on them. Just like He does with us. He comes alongside us in our suffering and shows us that the Son of Man came to give His life for us. As His church – His gathering of disciples – this is what we're supposed to do, too. And when we do, we see Jesus building His church from the inside out and the outside in because Jesus said when He is lifted up, He will draw all kinds of people to Himself. We need to be invested in His humble, gospel-centered and grace-filled discipling so many more can come to know about Jesus, trust in Jesus, and become more like Jesus. 

     And this is not easy. In fact, it's not human. Humans can build or fill a building. Humans can create a service of worship. Humans can help the poor. Humans can teach good lessons. Humans can put on an event. Humans can have a great, clean social club for families – at least from what can be seen on the outside. But only Jesus can build His church – an assorted group of loners and misfits who become family for His glory – that acts and gives like He did by the working of the Spirit of God in the hearts of everyone involved. And only Jesus can teach us and empower us to  die to ourselves for the love of God and the love of others.

 The truth about discipleship is that it’s never hip and it’s never in style…it’s the call to come and die; a “long obedience in the same direction.” While the “missional” conversation is imbued with the energy and vitality that comes with kingdom work, it seems to be missing some of the hallmark reality that those of us who have lived it over time have come to expect: Mission is messy. It’s humbling. There’s often no glory in it. It’s for the long haul. And it’s completely unsustainable without discipleship.

Our prayer for Emmaus City Church is that we will become like Jesus together, walking with Him on the road of obedience in His mercy and grace – dying to consumerism, individualism, materialism, and all the things we so easily fall back into –  and encouraging each other to continue to strive on for the One who lived for us, died for us, and resurrected Himself and us with Him so we could say no to our sinful and deathly selfish motivations. 

"...go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

"...'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" (Romans 10:13-15).

 "We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ" (Colossians 1:28). 

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let her serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let her encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let her govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly and sisterly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:6-12).

Check back this weekend for CORE CONVICTION 4 | PEOPLE LOVING 

– Sully

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