We are learning in More Abundant LIFE how to be disciples and to make disciples for our Lord Jesus Christ. That is what Jesus wants of us. Jesus said, “make disciples” in Matthew 28:19-20. The Great Commission is not only what we do, it is who we are. We are to become Great Commission Christians. That in essence is what More Abundant LIFE is all about.
I recently read several statements that I think have some merit. “Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist” (Oswald Smith). OUCH! The other one is this, “The greatest sin in the church is not the sin of commission, or the sin of omission, it is the sin of No-Mission.” It is so true for many churches today; we seem to have forgotten our mission. The bottom line for any church, our church, is that we are to “make disciples.” It is how Jesus measures a church’s success. Not in budgets, or size of the buildings or parking lots, or the programs, but in disciple-making.
Evangelism is the beginning component of the Great Commission and the process of making disciples, but not the end. The Great Commission does not say, “make converts” but “make disciples!” The starting point is leading someone to faith in Jesus, but then spiritual growth begins as the person “follows Jesus” and becomes a mature disciple. It’s the multiplication factor. We disciple new believers and they disciple someone else, then those new disciples disciple others and it keeps going. Two become four, four becomes eight, eight becomes sixteen, etc.
In these remaining weeks of More Abundant LIFE we will be learning more about discipleship, witnessing, and serving. I remind you that we have been praying for our Evangelism lists each Sunday for the last several weeks. In the time that we have available, let us refocus on fulfilling the Great Commission by allowing the Lord to use us as we witness to our neighbors, work associates, family members, and those divine appointments that God gives each day as we encounter people. We have the good new! It’s about Jesus Christ dying for all that everyone might have eternal life.
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
A “More Abundant LIFE” is waiting for everyone! It is in our hands. That is the mission!
I recently read several statements that I think have some merit. “Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist” (Oswald Smith). OUCH! The other one is this, “The greatest sin in the church is not the sin of commission, or the sin of omission, it is the sin of No-Mission.” It is so true for many churches today; we seem to have forgotten our mission. The bottom line for any church, our church, is that we are to “make disciples.” It is how Jesus measures a church’s success. Not in budgets, or size of the buildings or parking lots, or the programs, but in disciple-making.
Evangelism is the beginning component of the Great Commission and the process of making disciples, but not the end. The Great Commission does not say, “make converts” but “make disciples!” The starting point is leading someone to faith in Jesus, but then spiritual growth begins as the person “follows Jesus” and becomes a mature disciple. It’s the multiplication factor. We disciple new believers and they disciple someone else, then those new disciples disciple others and it keeps going. Two become four, four becomes eight, eight becomes sixteen, etc.
In these remaining weeks of More Abundant LIFE we will be learning more about discipleship, witnessing, and serving. I remind you that we have been praying for our Evangelism lists each Sunday for the last several weeks. In the time that we have available, let us refocus on fulfilling the Great Commission by allowing the Lord to use us as we witness to our neighbors, work associates, family members, and those divine appointments that God gives each day as we encounter people. We have the good new! It’s about Jesus Christ dying for all that everyone might have eternal life.
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
A “More Abundant LIFE” is waiting for everyone! It is in our hands. That is the mission!
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