1. A personal relationship
2. A small group
3. Serves others
4. Demonstrates a life of stewardship
A disciple of Jesus shares the and reproduces .
Have you ever been asked to do something you didn’t know how to do?
Why would you feel inadequate to perform open heart surgery on another human being?
Primarily, because you haven’t been trained.
The church often expects you to do something similar when it comes to fulfilling the Great Commission.
The disciples of Jesus had years of training with Jesus before He gave them the Great Commission.
In order to fulfill the Great Commission, we need the power of the Holy Spirit, we need the desire to be obedient to Jesus, but we also need training.
What is the purpose of an apple tree?
The ultimate purpose of an apple tree is to produce more apple trees.
We are to make disciples of Jesus who know how to make other disciples of Jesus.
Read Matthew 28:18-20
There are two parts of the Great Commission that I want you to grasp.
First, there is the scattering of which is making disciples.
The way we make disciples of Jesus is by scattering the seeds of the truth of the gospel.
As we go about our day-to-day lives, we are to think of ourselves as spreaders of Gospel seeds.
Read Mark 4:3-8
The second part of the Great Commission is nurturing new which is teaching others to observe Jesus’ teaching.
Read Matthew 28:20
Jesus doesn’t tell us to teach people what He commanded. No, Jesus tells us to teach people how to obey or observe all that He commanded.
It isn’t enough for us to try to nurture a new disciple by encouraging them to come to worship. We must go further to teach them how to live daily for Jesus.
Here are several self-reflection questions based on Matthew 28:18-20, often referred to as the Great Commission:
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Do I truly believe that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth?
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How does acknowledging Jesus’ authority influence the decisions I make in daily life?
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Am I living in a way that reflects obedience to everything Jesus has commanded?
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In what ways am I actively participating in the mission to make disciples?
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Have I shared the Gospel with anyone recently? If not, what is holding me back?
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Am I more focused on personal comfort or on fulfilling Jesus’ command to reach all nations?
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How am I supporting the global church in reaching the unreached (through prayer, giving, going)?
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Am I mentoring or discipling someone in their faith journey?
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Who is helping disciple me? Am I open to learning and correction?
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Do I encourage others to follow Christ’s teachings, or am I passive about others’ spiritual growth?
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Do I live with the confidence that Jesus is with me always?
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How does the promise of His presence affect my fears or anxieties?
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In moments of doubt or isolation, do I turn to this promise or rely on my own strength?