“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” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV).
The above Scripture from Matthew is referred to as the Great Commission. Christ gave the command, the commission, to his disciples that they “make disciples.” But according to a book by Dallas Willard that I’ve recently been reading again (some books deserve re-reading), we’ve neglected part of Christ’s command. Willard feels that the church has an “omission” in its faithfulness to fulfill the Great Commission.
What is this omission? Discipleship. Willard says that we are good at making Christians, but not disciples. This is the church’s “great omission.”
This Sunday, our church is working to correct this. We will begin a new message series entitled: “Seven Habits of Growing Christians.” The series will introduce and teach some of the habits (disciplines/practices) of spiritual formation that help the spirit and the body grow in attaining the full measure of Christlikeness.
As Christ said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
With this in mind, we teach certain spiritual disciplines that help crucify the desires of the flesh, so that the new life in Christ is lived out more fully.
I’m excited about teaching disciplines like: How to have a daily quiet time with God, How to study the Bible, How to develop the practice of prayer and fasting, and many others. These disciplines do not earn us favor with God, but they do help us grow in obedience if we draw on His Spirit and Grace.
As the apostle Paul said, we need to “work out” what God is “working in” us. In other words, it’s time to grow up.
Amen! I have thought the same thing for quit some time now. The modern church is to focused on saving people, that they forget to teach people what comes next. I’m encouraged that your doing this sermon series on discipleship. Can’t wait to here it.
Jan ne(later)
Steve
Thanks Steve. What was that closing comment… Japanese?
Yes, it’s Japanese. One of the few ways I’m learned to say good bye.
Sayonara= Good bye.
Mata ne= See you again.
Jan ne= Later.
Cool… and I thought “mata ne” was when you spent less at the theatre.