Mission Minded: Understanding Our Call to Discipleship

Scripture Invitation

As we prepare our hearts for God's Word, I summon your prayerful consideration to the book of Matthew chapter 28, verses 18 through 20, as we delve into the theme of "Mission Minded: Understanding Our Call to Discipleship."

Bible Passage

Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Introduction

Come with me to a pivotal moment in biblical history.

Jesus had been crucified, buried, and gloriously resurrected.

The disciples had witnessed the empty tomb and encountered their risen Lord multiple times over forty days.

Now, they stand on a mountain in Galilee – a significant location where Jesus had taught many of His most profound lessons.

The air is charged with anticipation.

These men had walked with Jesus for three years, witnessed countless miracles, and heard teachings that transformed their understanding of God's kingdom.

Yet despite all they had experienced, they were still uncertain about what would come next.

Some worshiped, while others doubted.

It was in this mixture of faith and uncertainty that Jesus delivered His final commission – words that would become the marching orders for every believer throughout history.

Jesus begins by establishing His authority: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."

This isn't just a casual statement; it's a declaration that the resurrected Christ now possesses absolute sovereignty over everything in creation.

This authority forms the foundation for what follows.

Today, we stand in much the same position as those disciples.

We live in uncertain times, where many worship while others doubt.

Some of us are wondering what God wants us to do with our lives.

Others are questioning whether one person can truly make a difference in our fractured world.

Still others may be feeling inadequate, wondering if they have what it takes to serve God effectively.

Can I tell you something Church?

The same Jesus who spoke to those disciples on that mountainside speaks to us today with the same authority and the same commission.

His words echo across the centuries, calling us to become "Mission Minded" disciples who make more disciples.

But What does it truly mean to be "Mission Minded" in a world that pulls us in countless directions?

How can we fulfill Christ's Great Commission in our families, communities, and beyond?

The Divine Mandate to Make Disciples

First, we must understand the Divine Mandate to Make Disciples.

When Jesus said "Go therefore and make disciples," He wasn't offering a suggestion.

He was issuing a command backed by divine authority.

The Greek word used here is an imperative verb; it's a direct order that requires action.

I want you to know today that “the Christian life was never meant to be a solo sport. God's goal is for you to become a disciple and then become a discipler."

That's the pattern – we receive, then we reproduce.

We learn, then we teach.

We grow, then we help others grow.

Notice something important here, church.

The main verb in the Great Commission isn't "go" – it is "make disciples."

In the original Greek language, "go" is a participle that describes how the main action happens.

So a better translation of the text might be, "As you are going, make disciples."

This means discipleship isn't something we do only on mission trips or special occasions – it's woven into the fabric of our everyday lives.

I need you to know today that "Your assignment is too important to keep it to yourself. What God has deposited in you wasn't meant just for you – it was meant to be reproduced in the lives of others."

This is the heart of discipleship – spiritual reproduction that ensures the faith continues for generations.

The early church understood this mandate clearly.

They didn't have buildings, budgets, or programs, but they turned the world upside down because they were committed to making disciples wherever they went.

They shared their faith in the marketplace, in their homes, and even in prison.

That's why Christianity spread like wildfire despite intense persecution.

Our mandate hasn't changed!

We are still called to make disciples who make disciples who make disciples.

This isn't the pastor's job alone – it's the responsibility of every believer.

The servant of the Lord tells us, "Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary."

From the moment of our spiritual birth, we are commissioned to reproduce our faith in others.

Divinely Equipped for the Mission

Secondly, we need to recognize that we are Divinely Equipped for the Mission.

God never calls without equipping.

In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Paul explains that the Holy Spirit distributes various gifts to believers "for the common good."

Part of that chapter tells us: "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work."

I want somebody to catch this: God has given you exactly what you need to fulfill your part in the Great Commission!

I want you to know that “The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life without purpose."

Your spiritual gifts reveal your purpose in God's mission.

Some of you are gifted teachers who can explain God's Word clearly.

Others have the gift of hospitality, creating spaces where relationships can form.

Some have the gift of mercy, showing God's compassion to the hurting.

Still others have the gift of evangelism, boldly sharing the good news.

The problem is, too many of us are sitting on our gifts.

We've been blessed but we haven't become a blessing.

We've received but we haven't reproduced.

Brother’s & Sisters, "God didn't save you so you could sit – He saved you so you could serve!"

When we use our gifts to make disciples, we experience the joy of fulfilling our divine purpose.

In the early church, they understood this principle of spiritual giftedness.

Acts 6 shows us how they identified people with administrative gifts to organize food distribution, freeing up those with teaching gifts to focus on the ministry of the Word.

Everyone had a place, everyone had a purpose, everyone had a part to play in the mission.

Church, what gifts has God given you?

How are you using them to make disciples?

Remember, your gifts weren't given for your glory but for God's glory and the advancement of His kingdom.

As you discover and deploy your spiritual gifts, you'll find fulfillment in being exactly who God created you to be.

Discipleship Begins at Home

Thirdly, we must recognize that Discipleship Begins at Home.

Before we can change the world, we need to change our households.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 tells us, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

This passage reveals God's design for intergenerational discipleship.

Parents, you are the primary disciplers of your children!

Before they ever attend Sabbath School or youth group, they're watching you.

They're observing how you handle stress, how you treat your spouse, how you prioritize your time, and how genuine your faith really is.

I want you to know "The first Great Commission was given in Genesis when God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. That wasn't just about having babies – it was about reproducing God's image in the next generation."

The home is God's first discipleship laboratory, where faith is modeled, taught, and caught.

But I know what some of you are thinking: "Pastor, my home is already broken. I've made too many mistakes."

Hear me good now, ”To reach up for the new, you must let go of the old. What lies behind you is not nearly as important as what lies in front of you."

It's never too late to start.

Your past doesn't have to determine your future or your family's future!

The concept of "oikos" or household evangelism was central to the early church's growth strategy.

When the Philippian jailer believed in Acts 16, "he and his entire household" were baptized.

When Lydia believed, her household followed.

When Cornelius encountered Peter, he gathered "his relatives and close friends" to hear the message.

God's design is for faith to spread through family networks.

Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles – you have a discipleship responsibility that no one else can fulfill.

The servant of the Lord tells us, "The home is to be a school where the children are to be trained for heaven."

Are you creating that kind of home environment?

Are you having spiritual conversations?

Are you reading Scripture together?

Are you praying with and for your children?

Discipleship begins at home!

The Journey to Spiritual Maturity

Finally, we must understand The Journey to Spiritual Maturity.

Discipleship isn't a destination; it's a lifelong journey of growing to become more like Jesus.

Hebrews 5:12-14 describes this growth process: "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."

The writer of Hebrews is addressing a critical problem that still plagues the church today – spiritual immaturity.

Too many believers have been saved for years but still need spiritual baby food.

They can't handle the meat of God's Word or the responsibilities of discipleship.

We need to understand that “God expects growth! No farmer plants a seed expecting it to stay a seed. No parent celebrates when their child fails to develop. And God doesn't intend for you to remain a spiritual infant!"

The question isn't just "Are you saved?" but "Are you growing?"

Spiritual growth doesn't happen automatically.

It requires intention and discipline.

"Discipleship and discipline come from the same root word. You cannot be a disciple without being disciplined in your spiritual habits."

These habits include regular prayer, bible study, worship, fellowship, and service.

The goal of spiritual maturity isn't just knowledge – it's transformation.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:13 that we should "become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

As we mature, we develop spiritual discernment, moral clarity, and Christ-like character.

We move from being disciples to making disciples.

And hear this: spiritual maturity enables reproduction.

In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul tells Timothy, "The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others."

That's four generations of faith in one verse!

Paul | to Timothy | to reliable people | to others.

That's the power of spiritual reproduction that comes from maturity.

As we grow in Christ, our capacity to fulfill the Great Commission increases.

We move from being consumers to contributors, from audience members to active participants in God's mission.

Our testimony becomes more compelling, our teaching more authoritative, and our impact more lasting.

The journey to spiritual maturity is essential to becoming truly mission-minded.

CLOSING

As I close, I'm reminded that Jesus didn't just give us a commission – He gave us a promise: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

This isn't a mission we undertake alone.

The One with all authority in heaven and earth walks with us every step of the way.

So I might face challenges in fulfilling this mission, but:

Despite the insecurity I feel, there is confidence in discipleship

Despite the busyness of my schedule, there is purpose in discipleship

Despite my past failures, there is new beginnings in discipleship

Despite the resistance I encounter, there is persistence in discipleship

Despite the comfort of staying silent, there is boldness in discipleship

Despite the cost of commitment, there is reward in discipleship

Despite the world's distractions, there is focus in discipleship

Despite the enemy's opposition, there is victory in discipleship

Despite the smallness of my influence, there is multiplication in discipleship

Despite the slowness of progress, there is patient endurance in discipleship

Despite the diversity of our gifts, there is unity in discipleship

Despite the limitations of my knowledge, there is growth in discipleship

Despite the fear of rejection, there is courage in discipleship

Despite the complexity of the task, there is simplicity in discipleship

Despite the vastness of the harvest, there is sufficiency in discipleship

Despite the darkness of our times, there is light in discipleship

Despite the uncertainty of tomorrow, there is assurance in discipleship

Despite the inadequacy I feel, there is God's power in discipleship

Because when Jesus said "Go and make disciples," He didn't send us empty-handed!

He didn't send us ill-equipped!

He didn't send us without purpose!

He didn't send us without power!

He sent us with His authority!

He sent us with His Spirit!

He sent us with His Word!

He sent us with His promise!

And His promise is STILL good today!

"I am with you ALWAYS, even to the end of the age!"

Will you accept the call?

Will you embrace the mission?

Will you become a disciple who makes disciples?

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Let's become Mission Minded disciples who transform our homes, our church, our community, and our world for the glory of God!