The Commission to make disciples Matthew 28

Once again I feel led to share some thoughts on the commissioning of believers to "go into all the world and make disciples" as we are commanded in Matthew 28. As one famous pastor once said, "Jesus' last command should be our first priority" and whilst many wonderful things are being done around the world to share the good news through various programs, there is still a great need on a personal level to make disciples.

Jesus exemplified this calling in his own life and the disciples that he made and who we now know as the apostles. Many of us today are happy to bring people to meetings or even share our faith on the streets and in other ways, yet there is still a great need for those who would give and share their lives with those around them in the way that Christ exemplified. This is echoed in many books written by 3DM and Mike Breen who are now based in the U.S.

All over the world today, thousand and millions of dollars are being spent in getting people into programs or on church seats. All good if all we want is to fill our buildings and grow larger church membership roles. Yet this is not what Christ called us to do, and whilst all of these things are good, obedience to our Lord is far more important and pertinent than sacrifice. He has called us to make disciples.

What then is a disciple, well a disciple in Jesus' time was someone you invited into your life that you could share all things you have with. Everything from the clothes on your back to the wisdom and knowledge you had. The result being that the disciples would finally be in a place of maturity that they in turn would leave the person who they were being discipled by to go off to disciple others just as they had been discipled. This makes the patterns we see in the early church understood as we see why they sold all they had to ensure everyone had enough.

Today's society is very ego-centric, meaning they often just look out for themselves. As a result, our ability to share our lives with others has diminished or taken a back seat. As the church of the 21st century we must once again be willing to give all to follow Christ's example to make disciples. We must deny ourselves once again so that his last command is our first priority.