You’ve probably heard me say that Freedom is a small church with a big vision. By that I mean we have an ambitious plan to impact our community and world for Christ one person at a time.
Freedom’s vision is ‘to influence everyone we can to meet Jesus and help them develop a relationship with Christ that positively transforms their lives’. Every one of us is part of something much bigger. As a church family, we have a place to learn how to mature as Christ followers along with others. We also have a process to prepare us to influence and impact the people we engage with every day. When all of us invest ourselves this way you can see how great the potential is to impact a lot of people for Jesus.
The impetus for our vision comes from the Great Commission that Jesus has given to all of his followers. Jesus has a simple plan in place that, when implemented fully, can saturate the entire planet with the gospel in a relatively short period of time. There are churches just like ours all over the world with similar potential for impacting.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
Read this scripture and think it through over the next few days in preparation for Sunday. Ask and answer the following questions:
What gives Jesus the right to give us this command?
What did Jesus say is the goal of this mission?
What are the actions required by us to accomplish Christ’s plan?
How will we know that we are being successful in the work of the Great Commission?
I will answer these and other questions during my message. As well, Pastor Tracy will show us a slide and explain how our ministry efforts fit into the disciple-making process here and now. I will also be asking for you to consider becoming part of ‘The 25’, a group of adults and youth from our church family willing to help others to learn to follow Jesus full time. The reality is that all of us who consider ourselves disciples are called by Christ to make disciples for him. Doing so will accelerate our spiritual growth and it expands the reach and effectiveness of our vision of perpetuating life transformation through Christ to others.
I trust that during this 5-part series on lifestyle discipleship you have gained a better understanding of what it means to be Christ’s disciple. I pray that you will experience every day the joy that comes from following and serving Jesus in his eternal plan.
See you Sunday….
Pastor Del