“What is your purpose?”

 BIBLE READING : Matthew 27-28

  

Matthew 28:18-20 (commonly referred to as the Great Commission), identifies three distinct dimensions of Christ's mission. It answers the question --

What is your purpose? A disciple-making purpose

Jesus did not say go and make converts, Christians, church members or mere believers. A closer look at the Scriptures reveals why. In the entire New Testament, convert is found three times. Christian is found three times (interestingly Jesus never used the word). Member is found eleven times and believer is found twenty-one times. In contrast to these words, disciple is found 296 times in the New Testament. To Jesus, success is not about size, success is succession. Jesus did not say, "Draw a crowd and hold more services" (we all wish it was that easy). Jesus knew that drawing a crowd and making disciples is not the same thing. Jesus wants us to make disciples who can make disciples.

What is your purpose? An every-where purpose

In Matthew 28, Jesus said, "Make disciples of all nations." Our mission is so big, so everywhere, a few paid professionals are not enough to get the job done. Not only do we have a shared mission, we have a shared identity. We are all informal missionaries who are determined to go wherever Jesus sends us. Our daughter is an international worker in Africa. If anyone asked her, "How did you end up living in Africa?" Her short answer would be, "God sent me."

But if someone asked us how we ended up living in our city would we give the same answer? Followers of Jesus are informal missionaries who realize that Jesus has providentially arranged their lives so that they have direct access to the people he's trying to reach. If we live in a specific neighborhood or work in a certain company, we're not there by accident. Jesus has providentially put us there to have direct access to those neighbors and employees. My friends, we live our entire lives in the middle of our Lord's harvest field. Jesus has prepared us for the people we routinely contact every day. We have an everywhere mission.

What is your purpose? A Jesus-led purpose

In a Jesus-led mission spiritual results are not based on human effort or worldly principles. They are based on being conscious of Christ's presence, attentive to his word, and responsive to his initiatives. Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. . .and I am with you always." Jesus was in effect saying, "This is my church and my mission. I’m always in charge and always present." Our job is to be conscious of his presence, attentive to his word, and responsive to his initiatives.

The book of Acts illustrates this dynamic principle

In Acts 8, Phillip found an Ethiopian Treasurer in the desert because he was conscious of Christ's presence, attentive to his voice and responsive to his initiative.

In Acts 9, because Ananias was conscious, attentive and responsive, he found Saul of Tarsus praying. Jesus had converted the arch-enemy of the early church to be an Apostle for the Gentile nations.

In Acts 10, Peter heard a voice from heaven say, "Simon, three men are looking for you." He responded to Christ's leading and brought the good news of the gospel to Cornelius and his household.

 

All it takes in a Jesus-led mission is for the members of Christ's body to be conscious of his presence, attentive to His word and responsive to his initiatives. You see, the ministry of Jesus is what He does through us, not what we do for Him. Let's go back to the basic fundamentals of making disciples and trusting Christ's leading. He knows what he's doing!                                                                                                                                                        Selecte

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday - October 4, 2016

Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING:    Genesis 32:22-32 Do you want to be blessed? That sounds like a rhetorical question, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want to be blessed? I guess it really depends on your definition of “blessed.” Many people desire blessings that will make them wealthy or, perhaps, material goods. However, being blessed is not limited to those physical things. In fact, sometimes we can be blessed in the most unusual ways. For instance, in Genesis 32:26, we find Jacob wrestling with what we often call an angel. Within the story, Jacob is overtaking the angel and holding him down; refusing to let go until the angel gives him a blessing. The angel obliges Jacob, but not in the way he might have imagined. The angel changed his name from “Jacob” to “Israel,” but he also did something else. He put Jacob’s hip joint out of socket, causing him much pain and difficulty walking. In part, his blessing had to do with him walking with a limp. How is tha...
Read more

“Examples”

BIBLE READING: Mark 13- Luke 1 DISCUSSION                                                                                   This past week we have read of some great examples in the bible.   We read in Mark 13 about us being ready and being prepared for when Jesus returns.   We need to all stay awake!   In Mark 14 we read of one action having such an impact.   How this woman gave her very best to Jesus because of her love for Him.   In Mark 15 we read of Pontius Pilate and his desire to keep his power.   He loved his power and did not want to give it up even if that meant sending an inno...
Read more

Monday

BIBLE READING : Job 3. 1-26 “I wish I had never been born,” Job said to his friends. “I wish that my birthday was just wiped off of the calendar as though it never happened.” Who could blame him? The loss that he had endured in mere moments had been catastrophic. Job had experienced a wonderful life until that day, when all he had known changed. I know that many people have endured tragic losses, but Job’s defeat seems unfathomable. Isn’t it ironic that, although Job’s comments brought him so much pain, they can bring us so much joy? My mother always taught me that, no matter how bad I may think things are, someone else always is suffering more than I am. Not only does that help us to feel that we are not alone in our depression, but it gives us that hope for what is to come. Job’s story helps us to learn to appreciate the blessings that we have today! Job was not in control of his circumstances, but he was in control of his reaction to those circumstances. When Job was hurtin...
Read more