Discipleship — Dying to Live

My church is doing a focus right now on discipleship and it is rockin’  my world.  We are studying about The Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore 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 28:16-20

Does that part that says “go and make disciples of all nations...” make your lips purse up, give you a little anxiety or put fear in your throat?  It does me, and I think it does most believers.

The really cool thing about studying scripture is that you can learn what it means in its proper context. Do you know what “go” really means in this context? Its true translation is to go in all you do.  It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go on a mission trip or witness on a street corner to “go and make disciples”.  It also means sharing Christ’s love in  your daily going and coming. Share with those around you, in your sphere of influence.

I am a firm believer that God does nothing by accident.  Every single thing he does is for a reason, and we may never know what that reason is. He put the people in your life for a reason, your family, your friends, and the people you see at the grocery store. You know how you keep crossing paths with the same person over and over? That is no accident — it is part of His Divine Plan. Next time it happens, stop. Ask God why and what he wants you to do about it.

I was listening to Brit Nicole’s The Lost Get Found this morning, and the lyrics that say “somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe…that is how the lost get found“.  That might be all it takes, is giving someone a reason to believe.  Just telling them why you love and follow Jesus Christ.  God doesn’t call us to do the work of changing them, He just asks us to be obedient when He wants to use us to plant a seed.  God does the rest.

I love how our worship leader Carl put it on Sunday, “God uses weakness because that is all He has to work with!” God doesn’t need us, He chooses us, to change us.

Jesus promised his disciples three things…

• that they would be completely fearless
• absurdly happy
• and in constant trouble!

*Source:  Fellowship Booklet

My favorite part in The Great Commission is when He says “I am with you always”. He never asks us to do it alone.

::  If you want to hear the full messages, you can download them here.

So, what are your thoughts?  What do you think discipleship is?