MAKING DISCIPLES

  by: Pastor Jose V. Velasco

    Kindly read our text taken from Matthew 28:19-20. Supposedly, this was one of Jesus’ last words to His disciples before He left them. It is commonly called The Great Commission. This is not an option. It is a mandate. If we are truly followers of Jesus Christ we must obey it. The seriousness and diligence in which Christians carry out this mandate will determine to a large extent the increase of Christian believers and growth of the church. Churches and denominations that are actively making disciples are fast growing, while those which neglect it are shrinking.

   At the outset, what is a disciple? Commonly understood a disciple is a follower of Christ.  Christ invites, “Come and follow me” (Mt. 4:19; Lk. 5:28). You are His disciple if you follow Him in love, obedience and trust. Literally a disciple is a student of Christ. Jesus said, “Learn of me” (Mt. 11:29). One who is eagerly learning about Christ and His teachings is a disciple. You are truly a disciple if you have accepted Christ as you Lord and Savior and learning to live like Him and according to His teachings.

   The Great Commission mandates “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.” Christians must reach out to all regardless of color, culture, social status and nationality (Acts 10:34-35). We hear people, and even ministers, in the church saying that we do not need to share the Christian gospel to other people in respect to the religion they already have. It is an insult to their religion to do so. Jesus never taught and did that. Jesus reached out to a Canaanite woman (Mt. 15:21ff), and a Samaritan woman (Jn. 4). Philip went to preach to the Samaritans who were not pure Jews (Acts 8:5). God designated Paul to be a missionary to the Gentiles (Acts. 9:15). Peter went to preach to a Gentile centurion (Acts 10:23ff).

   To go does not necessarily mean we have to go to other places to become missionaries. Some may. But in your daily dealings with people you can share them the gospel in your ordinary conversations. You may begin with your relatives who are not yet truly committed to Jesus Christ. Then move on to your friends and neighbors. You may give your financial support to organizations and ministries that are spreading the gospel to make disciples. If your church is intent on making disciples support it as you are able.

   The common word for spreading the gospel to make disciples is evangelism. A minister said that the word evangelism has become a dirty word in his denomination, and thus has no program to evangelize. And yet his denomination has been steadily declining numerically for years now. This is a sad failure to fulfill the Great Commission. It is a dishonor to the Christ who mandated it. Are you as an individual, and as a church obeying this last command of Jesus to us?

Prayer: Lord, our passionate obedience to your Great Commission to us is a test of our love and faithfulness to you. Guide, help and empower us to make more disciples for you. For your glory and honor we pray, Amen.