What if I told you that you had been chosen as an essential worker to help fulfill a masterplan that would bring peace, hope, love, and purpose to the world?
Let’s assume you roll your eyes and shake your head in disbelief. But what if I repeat the invitation, promising that I wasn’t messing around?
You’d at least be curious, wouldn’t you?
This masterplan isn’t a board game, or an interactive escape room, or an in-depth discussion over a nice meal. It’s an open invitation with real-time learning, and you are invited.
Before you decide, here are the facts:
- you won’t be alone
- you’ll be given everything you need
- you’ll experience incredible highs and lows (I never said it would be easy.)
You will probably want answers to three questions:
- What is it?
- What if I can’t do it?
- Why me?
Reasonable questions…so here’s an overview…
What is it?
The King of Kings, Jesus Christ, invites you on his team to MAKE DISCIPLES.
Matthew 28:18–20
18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Those verses can appear daunting, except there’s only one command: make disciples.
Not sure what a disciple is? A disciple is not just someone who attends church or reads their Bible. It’s much more — a disciple seeks life transformation. I love Jim Putman’s definition:
A disciple follows Jesus, is being changed by Jesus, and does the work of Jesus.
So, what is Jesus calling you to do? He wants you to follow him, and as you do, invest in the lives of others. The best way to invest in others is to teach them what you are learning so they can grow and learn alongside you.
Not sure you can do it? That’s why we ask the next question.
What if I can’t do it?
If you’ve ever asked this question, you’re not alone.
Even BEFORE Jesus commanded his disciples to “make disciples,” some of them had already checked out and given up.
Matthew 28:16–17
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
Some doubted. What do you think Jesus did with the doubters?
Logic says he pushed them to the side and focused on the worshippers. That’s the American way. Thankfully, Jesus wasn’t an American.
Instead, he commanded the entire group to make disciples. Jesus wanted their obedience, and he committed to help each person accomplish the goal.
That’s good news. If you feel like you can’t do it, get in line with the rest of us. And if you prefer to go to the line that says “I can’t do it,” feel free. But it winds around to the feet of Jesus.
Forget your doubt and jump in. Jesus is the one with all authority in heaven and on earth, and if he’s got room for doubters, we’re in good shape.
But wait! You’ve got one more question.
Why me?
Jesus’ masterplan includes you because disciple-making is a team sport. Everyone has value, and everyone plays a part.
If that’s hard for you to believe, you may be attending an unhealthy church. There is no perfect church, but you want to be at a church striving towards health. What does that look like?
Don’t settle for going to church and being a Christian. Commit to join Jesus and make disciples.
A healthy, disciple-making church
- relies on the body of Christ because no one person (or small group of gifted ministers) can accomplish God’s mission on their own
- sends a “God can use me” message
- equips people to believe “I can do that”
- views ministry as a marathon and trains its church members to run the race
- focuses on building relationships
Say YES to Jesus and a life of making disciples and experience the adventure of a lifetime.
Don’t be content being a cultural Christian, going to church, and going through the motions. Instead, join Jesus and make disciples.
There was a day when the words Christian and disciple were synonymous. But that is no longer true in many of our churches. Don’t let that happen to you. Join Jesus and embrace your identity as a disciple. This is your calling — be a disciple and make disciples.
It’s never too late to start.
I’ve been a pastor for more than 25 years, and I spent a lot of it doing ministry by addition. I was reaching out to people, striving to fill church services, trying to grow a group or a ministry. My intentions were good, and God has done great things over the years. But in the last few years, I have been laser-focused on what matters most: making disciples.
Here are pictures of two groups of men I’ve invested in and who have invested in me. I started the groups, but the Holy Spirit led them. I learned just as much from these men as they learned from me.
Three men are cops—one is undercover so had to blur his face—I always felt safe in that group—one is an accountant, another the director of logistics, and one a health insurance agent. We are everyday people crazy enough to trust Jesus and join him on an adventure that is greater than any we could imagine.
Don’t settle for going to church and being a Christian. Commit to join Jesus and make disciples.
COMING JULY 9 — the digital course — Take the Jesus Challenge
This article is Part 1 of a 5-part series overviewing the upcoming release of my digital course, Take the Jesus Challenge, teaching you how to live as a disciple of Jesus. Read Part 2 here. Read Part 3 here. Read Part 4 here. Read Part 5 here.
QUESTION (leave a comment below)
How do you feel about Jesus’ invitation to join him and make disciples?
Pastor Gregg, I’m curious. I want to get more of Jesus in my life. And, I truly want to grow. And I want to connect with others, and feel like I belong. I tend to isolate. But, I’m curious about your new course. I want to hear what you have to say.
Thanks, Gene. More info will be coming over the next two weeks. But this article is a start. Each of the next several articles will give a “taste” of course info. The course is much deeper. You are doing the best thing possible at this moment by being in a disciple-making group, so keep it up!
Hi Gregg,
I would like to know who the logistics guy is as I have spent 30 years in transportation global logistics.
Best Blessings,
Harry Milian
You bet, Harry. I’ll email you.