Share with

Lesson 15

What The Bible Teaches About
The Discipleship Of The Followers Of Jesus Christ

The Mission Of The Church

1. What is the mission of God's children?

Matthew 28:19

Matthew 28:19 (KJV)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

2. What missionary goal has God given us?

Matthew 24:14

Matthew 24:14 (KJV)
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

3. How does God consider us when carrying out the mission?

2 Corinthians 5:20

2 Corinthians 5:20 (KJV)
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

The Methods We Are To Follow

4. What two qualities must the disciple have?

Matthew 10:16

Matthew 10:16 (KJV)
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

5. What are the two phases that the mission must have?

Acts 20:20; 5:42

Acts 20:20 (KJV)
20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
Acts 5:42 (KJV)
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

6. How does God want us to carry out this work?

Luke 10:1

Luke 10:1 (KJV)
1 After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

The Source Of Success In The Mission

7. What promise did Jesus give us?

Matthew 28:20

Matthew 28:20 (KJV)
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

8. What is the secret of power?

Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 (KJV)
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9. Who guarantees the result?

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (KJV)
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

WHAT MUST I DO?

1. Accept the invitation that God extends to me.

Matthew 4:19

Matthew 4:19 (KJV)
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

2. Have a joyful attitude to carry out this work.

Isaiah 52:7

Isaiah 52:7 (KJV)
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

3. Abide in Jesus every day, in order to have the desire to testify.

John 15:27

John 15:27 (KJV)
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

MY RESOLUTION

I desire to become a part of the mission by being a disciple of Jesus Christ, preach the gospel and win people for his kingdom.

Addtional Study 15

The Call to Service

Every follower of Jesus Christ is called specifically for a mission (1 Peter 2:9). The mission is worldwide and it will continue until Christ returns (Matthew 24:14). It is the same mission that the Father entrusted to Christ (John 17:18, 20:21); and it must be carried out in a public and private way (Acts 20:20; 5:42).

Whoever participates in this ministry, participates of the supreme heavenly joy (Luke 15:7,10). It produces satisfaction and joy for the disciple (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 and Psalm 126:5-6). It was the same joy as Jesus Christ's (Hebrews 12:2).

God capacitates us with gifts for the ministry (Ephesians 4:8,11-13,17). In this work each one has a designated place (Mark 13:34). We are sent with the power of Christ, in his name and we will have his company (Matthew 28:18-20). For the apostle Paul, this was a "necessity" (1 Corinthians 9:16). Whoever fulfills this ministry has a reward (Daniel 12:3).

The New Testament and History

They show that the passion to save others, the fruit of the presence of the Holy Spirit, was evident in both the primitive church and the post-apostolic one.

The desire to be a disciple of Jesus Christ has characterized all true believers throughout history.

Preaching the gospel for them was not just one more option within the value scale of the Christian life, rather it was the main purpose of their life. It was the essence, the basis, the foundation or backbone of believing and trusting in God.

Passion for Discipleship

This is what led George Whitfield, the famous British evangelist to say: "Oh, Lord, give me souls or take mine", and missionary Henry Martin to say in India: "Here I will burn for God".

Dwight Moody expressed similar sentiments: "My Savior, use me for whatever purpose and in whatever way you need me", and John Mackenzie prayed on his knees on the banks of the Lottie River: "Oh, Lord, send me to the darkest place on earth". John Hunt, a missionary in the Fiji Islands, prayed while he was dying: "Lord, save Fiji: save these people; Oh Lord, have mercy on Fiji."

David Brainard, a well-known missionary, while he was working among the Delaware Indians, said: "I don't care where I live or what hardships I go through, as long as I win sols for Christ. While I sleep, I dream about this. As soon as I wake up, the first thing I think about is this great work."

The Greatest Work

The prolific Christian author, Ellen G. White, in the May 4, 1893 issue of The Youth's Instructor, expressed this:

"The work above all work,—the business above all others which should draw and engage the energies of the soul,—is the work of saving souls for whom Christ has died. Make this the main, the important work of your life. Make it your special life-work. ."

The Best Profession of All

It was the passion for the discipleship that burned in Spurgeon's heart that led him to prepare a series of topics with the purpose of presenting them to the students at the Theological Seminary that he called "The greatest of all professions: winning souls." Entitled What is Soul Winning?, he said: "my purpose, dear brethren, if God allows me to offer a brief evangelistic discourse."

And he adds: "Soul winning is the main occupation of the Christian minister; and it certainly should be for every true believer. Each one of us should say like Simon Peter: "I will go fishing", and like Paul our sights should be set on "that some may be saved."