The Great Commission as stated on scripture: (Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations...Matthew 28:18 NKJ)
The operative word here is disciple, Now Strong's Dictionary defines the word disciple or manthano as: ( A disciple of Christ is one who (1) believes his doctrine, (2) rests on his sacrifice, (3) imbibes his spirit, and (4) imitates his example (Mat 10:24; Luke 14:26,27,33; John 6:69).
Vines expository dictionary defines disciple as: "a learner" (from manthano, "to learn," from a root math--, indicating thought accompanied by endeavor), in contrast to didaskalos, "a teacher;" hence it denotes "one who follows one's teaching," as the "disciples" of John, Mat 9:14; of the Pharisees, Mat 22:16; of Moses, John 9:28; it is used of the "disciples" of Jesus.
So exegeting these words of Jesus can one safely say that Jesus is commanding us to go and make learners, not teachers, of all nations?
My thesis here is, to what extent is the church in America accomplishing this command? I will list several bullet points that will serve as questions for discussion and that challenge the way in which we currently do church. After each point ask yourself to what extent does each element impact (positively, negatively, or have no impact at all), in making disciples of non believers, What letter grade would you give the evangelical church in America in it's training and equipping of Christ followers to go into all the world wearing the Ephesians 6 armor and having been trained in apologetics to withstand the fiery darts of the enemy and be able to " ...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in..." (1 Peter 3:15 NKJ)?
1. Sunday services
a. Music that has become more like a loud concert. You cannot hear the person standing right next to you. Smoke and flashing lights.
b. Tithes and offerings. A talent is not a Roman coin it is a specific measure of something. What about the giving of your God given
physical talents in contributing to the ministry in the growth of the gospel? Money only no utilizing of spiritual gifts by each
member.
c. The message. One person giving a lecture to the body, quoting scripture and giving their own personal understanding of scripture.
Isn't that the role of the Holy Spirit? No questions are allowed during or even after the lecture. Again, the illustrations and the application of the presented material are all the lecturer's personal experiences.
2. Supporting ministries
a. Sunday school????
b. Youth ministry
c. The role of small groups. A church with small groups (sometimes vs. always) vs. The small group church
3. Does your church have a plan for each person to know their spiritual gifts and God given talents and provides a way for each person to
use their gifts in the co-ministry of your church in the edifying of the saints to accomplish the Great Commission?
4. Has your church done a spiritual needs analysis and a health assessment? How many new converts, how many mature believers, how many members know your churches mission statement and their role in accomplishing it? What mile markers do you have in place to determine how successful you are in achieving your one, three and five year goals?
I am going to just stop with these as there a many other factors to consider and these hopefully will suffice in initiating a response and further discussion.
Just a reminder that this is a thesis to determine how successful we are in going out into fallen world, who mostly hates us. and having each person who calls themselves a Christ follower, mandated by Jesus Christ himself, to make mature Christians from the non believers. Not to go out into all the world and just convert them. And, developing a SMART plan to change what needs to be changed so that we can bring glory to our to our awesome God by truly fulfilling the Great Commission.
The operative word here is disciple, Now Strong's Dictionary defines the word disciple or manthano as: ( A disciple of Christ is one who (1) believes his doctrine, (2) rests on his sacrifice, (3) imbibes his spirit, and (4) imitates his example (Mat 10:24; Luke 14:26,27,33; John 6:69).
Vines expository dictionary defines disciple as: "a learner" (from manthano, "to learn," from a root math--, indicating thought accompanied by endeavor), in contrast to didaskalos, "a teacher;" hence it denotes "one who follows one's teaching," as the "disciples" of John, Mat 9:14; of the Pharisees, Mat 22:16; of Moses, John 9:28; it is used of the "disciples" of Jesus.
So exegeting these words of Jesus can one safely say that Jesus is commanding us to go and make learners, not teachers, of all nations?
My thesis here is, to what extent is the church in America accomplishing this command? I will list several bullet points that will serve as questions for discussion and that challenge the way in which we currently do church. After each point ask yourself to what extent does each element impact (positively, negatively, or have no impact at all), in making disciples of non believers, What letter grade would you give the evangelical church in America in it's training and equipping of Christ followers to go into all the world wearing the Ephesians 6 armor and having been trained in apologetics to withstand the fiery darts of the enemy and be able to " ...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in..." (1 Peter 3:15 NKJ)?
1. Sunday services
a. Music that has become more like a loud concert. You cannot hear the person standing right next to you. Smoke and flashing lights.
b. Tithes and offerings. A talent is not a Roman coin it is a specific measure of something. What about the giving of your God given
physical talents in contributing to the ministry in the growth of the gospel? Money only no utilizing of spiritual gifts by each
member.
c. The message. One person giving a lecture to the body, quoting scripture and giving their own personal understanding of scripture.
Isn't that the role of the Holy Spirit? No questions are allowed during or even after the lecture. Again, the illustrations and the application of the presented material are all the lecturer's personal experiences.
2. Supporting ministries
a. Sunday school????
b. Youth ministry
c. The role of small groups. A church with small groups (sometimes vs. always) vs. The small group church
3. Does your church have a plan for each person to know their spiritual gifts and God given talents and provides a way for each person to
use their gifts in the co-ministry of your church in the edifying of the saints to accomplish the Great Commission?
4. Has your church done a spiritual needs analysis and a health assessment? How many new converts, how many mature believers, how many members know your churches mission statement and their role in accomplishing it? What mile markers do you have in place to determine how successful you are in achieving your one, three and five year goals?
I am going to just stop with these as there a many other factors to consider and these hopefully will suffice in initiating a response and further discussion.
Just a reminder that this is a thesis to determine how successful we are in going out into fallen world, who mostly hates us. and having each person who calls themselves a Christ follower, mandated by Jesus Christ himself, to make mature Christians from the non believers. Not to go out into all the world and just convert them. And, developing a SMART plan to change what needs to be changed so that we can bring glory to our to our awesome God by truly fulfilling the Great Commission.
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