The church does not have a mission… the
has a church.
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 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 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:16-20 ESV
Knowing the voice of Jesus means having
with him.
“Discipleship Defined - It is the deliberate, strategic, relational impartation of the kingdom of God into a persons life.” —- Dr E. Scott Martin
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:14 ESV
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. —John 15:1-11 ESV
“Bearing fruit” - (7 times) means growth, it means producing good works, its greater holiness, increased selflessness, more steadfast love, BUT - IT ALSO MEANS
DISCIPLES OF JESUS
Abiding addresses our posture and
.
We need to listen to the commands of Christ in Scripture and ask for the strength to carry them out.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. —John 15:12-17 ESV
15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. —Luke 8:15 NLT
The
has a Church.
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,.. —Matthew 28:18-19 ESV
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:20 ESV
is meaningless unless you act upon it and observe/obey what you have learned.
9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10 And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” —Revelation 7:9-10 ESV
We give away what we know. what we have already. Do you know how to give away what you know?
“More time with fewer people equals greater kingdom impact.” —- David Sunde
22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. 24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)
—Acts 11:22-26 ESV
Christianity without discipleship is always christianity without Christ —- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. —Philippians 3:12-21 ESV
QUESTIONS
Does the thought of God “pruning” you ever scare you? Should it?
What sort of fruit do you bear when you’re connected to Jesus, the vine?
How can we abide in Christ? What are some practical ways?
Is there a difference between sharing the gospel at my job and sharing the gospel overseas among an unreached people group? If so, what is it?
How is Jesus with us, as disciples, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20)?
Are you currently making disciples? How? If not, why not?