Matthew 28:18-20
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.”
Devotion
This week we will focus on the MISSION of the church. In the above passage of Scripture known as The Great Commission, Jesus informs the church of its ultimate purpose or calling, and that is to “make disciples.” This mandate is rooted in Jesus’ authority over both heaven and earth. In the original language of this text, “make disciples” is in the imperative form, which makes it a command. Our focus as the church is to create a relational environment where discipleship can happen.
In his book, Discipleship Essentials, Greg Ogden defines discipleship as “an intentional process in which we walk alongside of other disciples in order to encourage, equip, and challenge one another to grow toward maturity in Christ.” In his book entitled The Eight, Pastor Bob defines a disciple as “a person who is being transformed by the Spirit into the image of Christ.” In the New Testament, followers of Jesus were not called members, attenders, or converts. They were always called disciples.
Jesus’ marching orders to the church were to “make disciples.” The church is here today because of generations of disciples who were faithful in making disciples. Multiplication is one of our core values here at Oak Pointe Church. We believe that discipleship is an intentional process that flows out of The Great Commission. The rest of the week we will look at what this process of discipleship looks like practically as we look at Jesus’ method of making disciples.
The Big Question
What did Jesus mean when He said, “All authority in haven and on earth has been given to me”? What practical implications does this have for every believer? Are you a true disciple of Jesus? How are you engaging in the process of discipleship? Who are you pouring into?
Spend some time in prayer meditating on what God revealed to you today.