Discipleship Project, Week 5, Day 1
Mission
In the opening chapter of the gospel of Mark we’re told how Jesus called his first followers. Mark 1:16-18 says: As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. One of the ways God gives us deeper fellowship with Him and a great sense fulfillment in life is by calling us to join him in the important work that He Himself is doing in the world. What is the work that God is doing? God is on a mission to rescue lost people, bring them into a relationship with himself and turn them into disciples of Jesus Christ. That’s our mission also. When we commit to it we find in our surrender to the call of God the greatest significance and fulfillment possible in this earthly life. Later Jesus linked his mission and our mission together. In John 20:21 Jesus said, As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. We are sent on a mission. This mission includes what Paul called the ministry of reconciliation, by which we share the gospel and work through our words and lives to lead others to faith in Christ. But it is not limited to this. It also includes good works, community service, and acts of Christ-like love and mercy as we represent Christ in our culture and community.
Note: Your memory verse for this week is John 20:21 Jesus said, As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.
DAY 1
THE GREAT EVERYDAY COMMISSION
The Great Commission is the familiar name given to the command that Jesus gave his followers in Matthew 28:18-20: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
What are we told to do in Matthew 28:19-20 ?
What are we told about Christ in Matthew 28:19-20 ?
In your own words, what is a disciple?
“A true disciple of Jesus Christ must be involved in evangelism. If he isn’t, then he’s not a disciple but a convert who is still immature in vital areas of Christian discipleship. It is impossible to be a disciple without communicating the gospel.” – Francis M. Cosgrove Jr., Essentials of Discipleship. p.120.
Notice the command is not just to make believers but to make disciples; true followers of Christ. It’s called the great commission because it is the great, overarching purpose or mission in life for each of as individuals, and for the church as well. We make disciples of Jesus first of ourselves, and then of others. It could also be called the everyday commission because it calls us to an everyday lifestyle of winning the lost to faith in Christ, helping them grow as his disciples, and then equipping them to disciples others in the same way.
Keep building the good habit of daily time in the Word of God. Read the Bible (Today’s reading: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21.) Write down any notes, observations, or insights in your notebook to share in class. Pray through the Lord’s prayer outline. Review and reflect on your memory verses.
Larry is the senior pastor at 
“We make disciples of Jesus first of ourselves and then of others”. WOW…I love the thought of the “everyday commission” we have to win the lost. I am so appreciative of this course. I am learning so much and realize I have much work to do.
Last Saturday I attended the first of four all day Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) training sessions where I heard again the statistics of when most people are saved. The pressing need to reach out to unchurched, unsaved children was intensely clear. While there are some unsaved folks attending church, most are not and most are not very interested in stepping through our doors. While Jesus spent time in the temple, he truly demonstrated reaching the lost by showing up at places like the well in Samaria. Casey Johnson challenged the FBS attendees to literally go find two people outside our comfortable Christian circle and show them the love of Christ for the next 8-10 weeks. Larry directs our attention and prayers to the lost. Could it be we have heard our marching orders? Oh, yes… I think Jesus might have given that order. Ready, march, GO.
Nice Patricia. Yes, you do know your marching orders now. How are your two people coming along? Being mission-minded challenges us to always be looking at the world through a different set of eyes. Always looking for opportunities to love and serve the lost and share Jesus with them in word and deed.