“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
This past Sunday I had the holy pleasure of baptizing 4 youths in good friends of mine’s swimming pool. I invited a neighbor and his family to come to the baptism and one of his children asked to be baptized and He himself went into the pool to remember and be renewed of his original baptism. As each youth came down into the pool and after they came up under the water those attending clapped and cheered. When all were baptized they lined up along the edge of the pool and the father of some of the youth anointed all the youths head with oil and another person spoke over them how they are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever. We all then laid hands on them and prayed over them. It was a beautiful day of celebration of new life in Christ for these youths and a reminder of all those present of the new life we received in our baptism.
This day was a true example of the great commission by Jesus to all of us who are baptized in Christ to “go” baptize and make disciples. As none of these youth baptized ever attended an ODC Church Gathering and the conversations and explanation of the Gospel of Christ did not take place in a classroom but in the workplace. The father of some of the youth is a co-worker of mine at Lowes. And this day of baptism flowed out of our conversations on the Lowes sales floor and in the break room. through time spent sharing stories of our lives and family, I then was able to share my faith with him and allow him to share his faith with me. I learned hos his children and their friends were not baptized. So I contacted them, and invited them not to church, not to meet my pastor or youth leader, but invited them to my house for pizza. Where my wife and I shared our faith and simple testimonies of how our lives have been changed by Jesus and we answered their questions. Our personal time and love for these youth led to them being baptized.
My neighbor and his family who came to the baptism also came from my wife and I getting out and knowing our neighbors and sharing out life and faith with them. And I told you haw my neighbor wanted to be immersed again to remember and by renewed in his baptism. I had these youths who were just baptized themselves, speak the words and dunk my neighbor. To help them realize that though they had just been baptized minutes ago, they are now completely capable though the Holy Spirit in them to immediately start making disciples.
They are all invited back to our house tomorrow evening for chicken finger dinner and to share together about Jesus.
You all were called in and by your baptism into Christ were not simply called to go to church. But to obey Jesus’ commission to “go” make disciples. If each member of a small church of 100 people would each simply go and lead one person to Christ in a year, that church would double to 200 people. If they all would again simply just lead 1 person to Christ the next year, the church would grow to 400 members. If those 400 each simply lead 1 person to Christ in a year, at the end of 3 years that small church of 100 would have 800 members, be needing to build a new building or launch a new campus. It they do this for 5 years, they will have 3,200 members in there church and most likely now be the largest church in their community. And if they continue it will be the church Jesus envisioned that walls could not contain. Those in the church “going” and being the movement of God in their community is how The Church grows. Failure to “go” is why churches stagnate and die.
Have you personally through your connections and areas of influence and sharing of your life and faith led just 1 person to Christ this past year? Past 3 years? Past 5 years? Has it been more?
My family, I pray today you reflect on your commissioning by Jesus in your baptism to “go” and make disciples and honestly look at your level of obedience to this commission. Then don’t dwell or regret, but GO make disciples, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections with us in the comment box below!
Here are some photos from Sunday!
Discipleship Training.
One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.
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