“Quick! Spell G-O-D!”
I hear and read a lot these days about “Being a Great Commission Church.” I’m pretty sure I know what that means. A church aspires to follow the Great Commission that Jesus gave us in Matthew 28.16-20. It’s a very good idea!
I also notice that every church—even Bayshore—has crafted a “mission statement” that sums up their specific purpose for being in business. It states the goals and lays out their hopes of accomplishment. Another terrific idea!
However, you could look and look and look and not find a better mission statement than the Great Commission. Everything is spelled out very specifically: Go everywhere. Make disciples. Baptize them. Teach them to do what Jesus taught his disciples to do. Rely on the Presence (and Power and Authority) of Christ for the whole journey.
I tell you, folks, when you get right down and examine the Great Commission, it’s very embarrassing to realize that we don’t do or even talk very much about what He said in it.
We don’t make disciples very well.
We baptize very FEW people!
We teach a lot of things, but I am not sure all of it is what Jesus said to do, especially in the Sermon on the Mount.
We really like the idea that Jesus will “never leave us nor forsake us”–FORGETTING (Are you hearing this?) that Jesus promised his abiding presence to those who were doing the discipling, baptizing, and nitty-gritty teaching about obedience.
Oh yeah, he promised to be with those WHO WERE GOING! (Duh!)
Going. Go. First two letters in God’s Name.
Interesting . . . .
Dan
(If you’ll come Sunday, I’ll try to clear all this up for you!)