Monday, October 23, 2023
Name the three scariest things you can think of. For me, it’s snakes, heights, and the fear of failure. What about you?
This past weekend, we learned how Jesus asks us to step out of our comfort zones to spread the Good News about following him. Jesus gave us—the church—a mission called the Great Commission.
The bottom line is: The method of God’s message is the church.
Have you heard of The Great Commission? If you haven’t, you’re not alone. One Study found that 51% of church goers surveyed didn’t. The Great Commission is a command given by Jesus to his followers, telling them what he expects of them when he is no longer here on Earth.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
These verses are often explained in this way:
- Verse 18 is A Great Claim and that whatever Jesus says goes!
- Verse 19 is A Great Commission and the reason why the church exists—to share the Good News of Christ with others.
- Verse 20 is A Great Assurance, Jesus’ personal promise that he will forever abide with us once we’ve chosen him as our Lord and Savior. How wonderfully reassuring!
God chose us to be his representatives for this mission with the goal of making disciples of Jesus and his teachings, not just converts to our faith.
Andy discussed three ways that we can live out the Great Commission, and we will unpack each one in the LivingItOut this week.
Serve – We deliver God’s message by serving those around us.
Invite – We can share God’s message by inviting our unchurched neighbors, family, and friends to join us at church.
Share – We can introduce others to Jesus by sharing how he has changed our life.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to be an ambassador for Christ, introducing people to Jesus and the life-changing adventure with him.
Questions:
How has God transformed you?
What can you do to be involved in sharing God’s perfect love?
Will you choose to live out the Great Commission?
Next Steps:
Use the CedarCreek app to share your story. From the home screen, under “Next Steps,” click My Story, then click Tell Your Story. Follow the prompts and describe your spiritual journey. This may seem scary, but it will be liberating!
Join a “Nah, I’m Good” Group to learn more about sharing Jesus with others. They are easy to find in the Featured Groups section of the app.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your omnipotence. Please guide the church to raise up the next generation of leaders. Grant them courage and passion to go into the world and make disciples. Thank you for giving me the Good News and placing the love it offers on my heart so I may share it. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
This post was written by Jenn Macke, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.