A DISCIPLE-MAKING CHURCH
Last Sunday, we celebrated the greatest event in history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We remembered, we praised God, and we were encouraged. Yes, the resurrection of Christ gives us a reason to worship, and it fills us with living hope and a joy that carries us through even the hardest seasons. But the resurrection of Christ goes beyond a holiday to celebrate. If we only celebrate on Sunday, we leave the resurrection at the tomb. But there’s more. The church is called to carry the message and mission of the resurrection forward into our workplaces, our neighborhoods, and our schools. We are people of the resurrection who were once sent out by the angel at the empty tomb with this command: Go and tell (Matthew 28:7).
After Jesus rose again, he spent 40 days appearing to His disciples and other followers. And Jesus repeated the mission the angel gave to the women. Jesus commanded the disciples to go and make disciples. This is the resurrection in motion, the mission of the church!
Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Go and Make Disciples
This is called the Great Commission: This isn’t A way, this is THE way Christ commanded us to see the nations saved.
“Disciple making is not a call for others to come to us to hear the gospel but a command for us to go to others to share the gospel.” -David Platt
Jesus was sent to save the world from sin, and before he ascended, He was all about seeing souls saved again. The church is to have the same conviction as Christ. Coming together to worship and learn is Biblical and what we should do, but for a purpose…for the work, for the mission of salvation to the world.
“The Great Commission isn’t waiting on better wording; it’s waiting on deeper surrender. Jesus has spoken, the Spirit has been given. The nations are still waiting. Clarity isn’t our problem, complacency (and comfort) is.” -Pastor Mark Renfroe
This isn’t an old or outdated vision; this is a divine vision, lost and neglected. The great commission is alive, but the church is still waking up to it. We need a revival of obedience to the great commission.
The process of making disciples
Be a Disciple of Christ
It all started with Jesus calling a few men to follow him. This revealed immediately the direction his evangelistic strategy would take. His concern was not with programs to reach the multitudes, but with men whom the multitudes would follow. Remarkable as it may seem, Jesus started to gather these men before he ever organized an evangelistic campaign or even preached a sermon in public. Men were to be his method of winning the world to God. The initial objective of Jesus’ plan was to enlist men who could bear witness to his life and carry on his work after he returned to the Father. -Coleman, Robert E. The Master Plan of Evangelism (pp. 21-22).
To apply to us today, this command was given to disciples who have been following, learning, and growing in Christ. To make disciples of Christ, you first have to be a disciple of Christ.
Disciples are followers of Christ who know Him inwardly and imitate Him outwardly.
Those who believe in Jesus as the risen Lord are a resurrected people; the old life is gone, the new life has come. It won’t take long for family, friends, and co-workers to notice, wonder, or even ask why you live with joy and hope. Suddenly, a believer is now a witness, unless you beat them to it and embrace your calling to be a witness of the gospel first. We certainly begin as believers, but whether it be solicited by observers or by our obedience to be witnesses, we will testify of the gospel. As people hear and see the gospel of Jesus Christ, some will believe. Suddenly, we are disciples of Christ, who make disciples!
2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
1 Peter 3:15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Evangelize
To make disciples means to evangelize or share the gospel with the lost. Evangelism or making disciples is best accomplished through personal relationships because hearts are more open, and a mentor is already there to answer and guide in a decision to follow Jesus.
Build a relationship with the lost around you, and as you do, live the resurrection life.
Be like Jesus in your circles of life. Be truthful, show love and compassion. Share the gospel, the good news of Jesus, with those who are watching, listening, and leaning in to you. Invite them to consider their need for Jesus, invite them to believe Jesus died and rose again for their sins, and confess that Jesus is Lord.
A church must be ready… “whereby every convert is given a Christian friend to follow until he or she can lead another. The counselor should stay with the new believer as much as possible, studying the Bible and praying with him or her, all the while answering questions, clarifying the truth, and seeking together to help others. If a church does not have such committed counselors willing to do this service, then it should be training some.” -Robert Coleman, The Master Plan of Evangelism (p. 48)
Baptize
Water baptism is part of the journey of making new disciples. New believers were often baptized as soon as possible.
Water baptism is a declaration of faith in God, becoming a disciple of Christ, and inclusion into the family and fellowship of God.
If baptism is the inclusion into the body and family of God, then we need to help new disciples feel at home and get acquainted with their new way of life, especially growing in their knowledge and love for God.
We have 30 disciples getting baptized today!
Teach
Ephesians 4:11-16
Every Sunday, we teach through the Word, worship God in Spirit and in Truth, use and develop our gifts as we serve others, and seek the power of the Holy Spirit to help us for the week ahead. But our church is more than Sunday. We provide and encourage Biblical community where there is teaching, mutual encouragement in groups and specific age ministries, and serving opportunities throughout the week.
The responsibility to edify each other may begin with church leaders, but then it flows to maturing believers. This flows into teaching and guiding one another. The Bible reveals a church culture of teaching, counseling, and guiding one another. This is growing together as you spend time in Biblical community, whether that be in smaller groups or one-on-one discipleship.
Acts 2:42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
2 Timothy 2:2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
Colossians 3:16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.
Hebrews 10:24-25 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
1 Peter 4:10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
While an emphasis on care and spiritual growth for the church is important, the Church must intentionally guard against losing an outward posture towards the lost and unbelieving community.
Parents, while we provide ministries for kids and youth, this only helps supplement your discipleship in the home. Families are also to be filling their hearts with the Word of God so they can be full of Christ. Parents, we are to lead the way by example. Our culture at home should be conversations and conduct that reflect the character of Christ. This is to be the standard and aim of our homes; no substitute and no alternatives should be tolerated. If we are disciples of Christ and our kids are or are to be disciples of Christ too, then we live, love, and lead as Christ would want us to in the home.
Calvary’s Mission and Vision
Calvary is all in on the Great Commission. The great commission is God’s vision, and it is our vision here at Calvary. I’m happy to report that we are seeing a revival of obedience, and the fruit is beginning to show. We have a multitude of disciples behind the scenes, obeying the great commission and making disciples one-on-one or in groups.
Our Mission: We do all we can so all may know God’s love and follow Jesus.
Our Vision: Our vision is to be a disciple-making church that transforms the unbeliever into a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Our Strategy: We REACH, CONNECT, GROW, EMPOWER, and GO. As a disciple-making church, we reach the unbeliever with the love and Gospel of Jesus Christ, connect them to the body of Christ, help them to grow in their faith, empower them for witnessing, and send them to go make disciples.
Our vision for discipleship Sundays and throughout the week is two-pronged: We grow and build the body of Christ, so we go and build the kingdom of God.
4 Chair Discipling
The Seeker (who is asking, observing, and listening)
The Believer (who is learning and growing)
The Worker (serving, giving, fishing for souls, and leading people to the Lord)
The Disciple Maker (takes responsibility of the worker further by teaching and training the new believer to be a disciple maker)
Which chair are you in?
The resurrection of Christ is a movement, not a monument.
We don’t need a new vision; we need obedience to the Great Commission
Each One - Reach One - Teach One
A Prayer for Salvation
Jesus, I know that I am a sinner in need of Your grace.
Today I confess You as my Lord and put my trust in You alone.
I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose again.
Thank you for forgiving me and making me new.
Lead me as I follow You from this day forward.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discussion
Why is it important to see the resurrection as more than just a holiday?
Why do you think Jesus emphasized going rather than waiting for people to come?
What are some barriers that keep people from obeying the Great Commission?
In what areas of your life are you currently growing as a follower of Christ?
Why are personal relationships such an effective way to share the gospel?
How can a church better support and welcome new believers?
Which chair are you in, and what could you do to move to the next chair?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
How can we pray together for you today?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and, when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways, and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!
