“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 28:19-20)

The Mission of the church is so simple because there is only one task: make disciples. However, the work of making disciples is very difficult. It starts with what Jesus said to His Disciples. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) To become a disciple we must deny ourselves, that is, to turn away from our sinful self. “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:13-14) We are then to take up our cross daily. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) We are now to follow Jesus. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)

Jesus gives to His followers, who are becoming disciples, a commission to make more disciples. This commission has three steps and a promise.

Step one, everywhere you go, you are to be about making disciples.  Paul spent time making disciples everywhere he went as an example for us to be about the task of disciple making. “After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.” (Acts 18:23) We must also remember that disciple making begins by introducing people to Jesus. We are witnesses telling what Jesus has done for us. Jesus said, “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8b) Everywhere you go.

Step two, as disciples we are to immerse ourselves in our relationship with God. A disciple begins his relationship with God by following Jesus and being baptized physical in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This is the symbol of our new life in God, but also sets the stage for us to walk daily, immersing ourselves in our relationship with God. Examples being, praying to the Father, living to follow Jesus and representing Him, and learning from the Holy Spirit, who will lead us into all truth. This is how we are being made into disciples.

Step three, Jesus said, “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20a) This is why God has given us the Bible, in order for us to grow as disciples as we follow Jesus. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Notice that the servant, the disciple, is to be “thoroughly equipped.” Which takes a lifetime of growing as a disciple, maturing in our faith.

In the commission we are given a promise from Jesus, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b) Jesus also said to His Disciples, which is also for us, His disciples, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:18-20) Jesus will be with us through our growth as disciples and with us as we make disciples.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block