Go and Make Disciples

As Jesus prepared to ascend into heaven, He gave His apostles their life purpose. We all look for what we are meant to do, that is nothing new. The apostles were facing life without their Master and I am sure they were looking into each others eyes and asking "what now?". He was leaving and they were staying... what now? He had trained them for three years, given them Himself, but what was it all about? What did He prepare them to do?

In Matthew 28: 16-20, He tells them what the preparation was all about. 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.”

He tells them that God, the Father had given Him all authority. He is in charge. Period. Whatever He says settles it. What ever He commands is His marching orders. Period. Next, He tells them what to do with their "Master's degrees" they had earned studying at His feet. They were to spend the rest of their lives going and telling. Everywhere they go, they are to tell the people about Him. They are to work to make those people His disciples. They are to persuade others to follow Him. That is what it was all about. Three years of preparation to be disciple makers. 

Ok, so... what is the direction from Jesus on how to make disciples? He gives them pretty simple directions that are simple to understand, yet complex in their understanding. Two things... 1. baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and 2. teach them to obey everything He had commanded them. Sounds simple enough. When we go to the book of Acts, we find that after His ascension in Acts 1, the apostles begin to do just what He had commanded them to do. In Acts 2, Peter teaches a crowd gathered in Jerusalem. He teaches them about who Jesus is (vv 17-36) and then he commands them to be immersed for the remission of their sins (vv 38- 40). Next, we read that those that believed and were baptized began to study at the apostles feet (vv 42- 47).

Jesus gave the command for His followers to get busy telling others about Him. He gave them the instruction that His disciples were to be baptized and that they were to be taught His commands. That was His last instruction to His disciples and we read through the rest of the New Testament about how the early Christians carried out His command. Everywhere they went, people became disciples, they were immersed and taught. That we His instruction and that is what they did. Period.

And that was the story for centuries... people were taught about Jesus, they were immersed for the forgiveness of their sins and they were taught everything He commanded them. They were Christians and they belonged to His church. I believe that we are still in the disciple making business. As Christians, that is our job... teach them, baptize them and teach them everything He commanded. Anything short of that is not making disciples the way Jesus commanded. Anything short of that is someone elses command.

 If you are reading this and you are not a Christian, you need to be taught. There are several ways for that to occur. First, contact me and I will be happy to study with you. Second, go to www.worldbibleschool.org and sign up as a student and get started learning. Third, if you live in Wilkes County, North Carolina, go to www.wilkes.worldbibleschool.org and someone form this area will work with you. These are a few ways to get into His word and begin the process of becoming His disciple. Get in there a dig, learn His plan for your life!! The main thing is... get started!

Love God, Love People!