This week in our sermon series on the local church, we talked about the mission of the church. Jesus' parting words to us are the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 where He commanded His church to "… make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

But what exactly did Jesus mean by make disciples? What is a disciple, and what does it mean to make disciples? We see throughout Scripture a disciple is someone who has come to know and worship Jesus and is becoming more like him. According to Carl Ellis Jr. "A disciple is a follower of Jesus in the process of learning to obey all He commands." How, then, do we, as the church, make disciples? We make disciples through evangelism. We intentionally move toward those who do not know Jesus and share with them the good news of Jesus.

God's mission to the church is and should be an overflow of delight in and worship of who God is. Just as you delight in your favorite coffee, outfit, or hobby, your response is to share about these things. How much more should our delight in God overflow to those around us?

Jesus doesn't leave us alone to fulfill this mission but assures us in his last words that He will always be with us. Jesus's presence gives us the fuel we need to live a life of mission, sharing the gospel and helping others do the same.

Resources:

• 4 Ways to Make Disciples - Mark Dever

• The Walk: Steps for New and Renewed Follower of Jesus - Stephen Smallman

• 10 Things You Should Know About the Presence of God - Ryan Lister

Reflection Questions:

• What difference does it make when our mission as followers of Jesus

  is the overflow of worship?

• How does the fact that Jesus is with us in the mission encourage us to trust God and

  take risks for God?