9 September | Youth
«Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.» Matthew 28:19
There are five texts in the Bible that speak of the Great Commission. In Mark 16:15, we see the scope of this order. It says that we have to take the gospel to everyone. In Luke 24:47 and 48, we have the content of the Great Commission. Our message must be one of repentance and forgiveness of sins. In John 20:21, we find the One who sends us: Jesus. In Acts 1:8, we see how the mission can be accomplished: by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lastly, we have Matthew 28:16 to 20, which reveals the extent of the Great Commission: the whole world. These were Jesus' last words before His ascension. They contain Christ's final instructions to His church: “Make disciples of all the nations” (v. 19). Making disciples defines our mission.
Being a disciple of Jesus means that He has more of you today than He had yesterday and more of you tomorrow than He has today. Therefore, discipleship is a process of growth that takes us from childhood to spiritual maturity, with the condition of reproducing this process in the lives of others.
The church is the place where God produces people who think, speak and act very much like Jesus. And discipleship is the instrument for this. Jesus himself said: “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher” (Matt 10:25).
Our main mission is to go and make more disciples. That was Jesus' order. Disciples beget disciples. The question is: Are we making converts or disciples? Do the people who go to the church work seriously to lead others to Christ?
Have you heard the story of the puppy who had a broken leg and was found by a veterinarian? He brought the dog to his clinic, took care of him, and when it recovered, as he opened the door, the dog ran away. The next day, the vet heard the sound of something scratching at his door. It was the dog, who came back with another injured animal. This story illustrates a truth: healed people recommend their doctor; saved people lead others to the Savior.