Life on Mission by Dustin Willis & Aaron Coe

Author:Dustin Willis & Aaron Coe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 2014-03-16T04:00:00+00:00

JESUS’ PROMISE AND INSTRUCTION

While on earth, Jesus offered some clear explanation about His role and ours in His kingdom. One was through a promise, and the other was through an instruction.

Earlier we talked about Jesus’ promise in Matthew 16:18: “I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.” This is an incredible promise: Jesus will build the church. Often as Christians we take on the responsibility that Jesus said He would deliver on. Are we called to edify the church? Absolutely. But too often we try to build what we have defined the church to be: a narrowed view that includes the building we gather in on Sundays and the programs that exist within the brick and mortar of that building. Our time quickly becomes wrapped up in the next, greatest, and latest program, which makes us feel we are building the church. But that is God’s role. We can bring people into a building, but we can’t bring them into the family. Only the Holy Spirit does that.

Instead we need to focus on the instruction Jesus gave His disciples—and, ultimately, us. After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples: “Go … and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20).

We aren’t suggesting that programs are wrong or that we shouldn’t have church buildings, but when our structures and programs short-circuit the simple, sometimes messy, command to make disciples, then we need to revisit the Bible and, perhaps, rethink what our churches are doing. Because as we understand both Jesus’ promise and His instruction, we must conclude that Jesus builds His church and we make disciples.

What practical implication does Matthew 28:16–20 have in your life right now?

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