Sending and Going

Over the last several months, I have had the blessing to disciple and train a young man that is preparing to be on the mission field in many countries, helping to combat human trafficking and work in family ministry.

It has been such a refreshing blessing to see his heart for the Lord and for others to know Christ.  It has reminded me over and over again about my own family’s journey, and as North American Mission Board Missionaries, what our call really is.

It isn’t to lead a church or manage meetings, but to live a life on mission proclaiming Christ crucified in all of the walks of our life. Many times we can get caught up in the machine of ministry and programs.

Leading and managing people and ministries in our own sphere and platforms that we often can forget or neglect to be the church and obedient to the Great Commission. In fact, we sometimes treat this final directive of Christ Himself to the Apostles, (and ultimately to the Church) as more of a suggestion. Brothers and sisters, it not ought to be so.

Some of Christ’s last recorded words in Matthew before His ascension, speak to how we should live our lives on mission. 

Matthew 28:18-20 

18. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20. teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

Did you catch that? Let’s break it down. Jesus, The Incarnate Word of God Himself, the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world, He who was crucified and died and rose again, makes an authoritative declaration of His power and charges His people to do His work. He doesn’t tell them to come and sit, but to GO and make disciples of all nations.

I think our mentality sometimes, (especially in ministry or Churchianity) is to get people to come and stay, by any means necessary, rather than this directive of Go!

And how are they to Go if we are not willing to send them? Here is a novel concept, what if we were more interested in how many we send rather than how many we seat? What if we are far more passionate about equipping the saints and sending them out into a lost and dying world to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to every man, woman child, than what our next program will be?

In this great direct order from King Jesus we are not only told to go, but to make disciples that make disciples that make disciples and teach them the Ways of the Lord.

It is interesting to me (a church planter), that the directive is not start a church, build a building, ministry, etc., but to make Disciples.  Christian/ Churches, how are we doing on that? Are we honoring our King Jesus with all He has told us to do?

At the end of the Great Commission, there lies a promise. A promise that the Lord doesn’t and will not leave us, a promise that though it may seem like we are doing the work, or the work isn’t going how we think it should, we are promised that it is Christ that is at His work for His glory and that He is with us always, in the good and bad, as we serve Him. Now Christian, Go serve your King!

Yours in Christ,

Justin Brown

Pastor/ Planter

The Well Church of Sidney