I should probably start this blog off with apologizing. It’s been a crazy few weeks, but we’re on this side of Easter now, so it’s time to get back in gear, and pick up where we left off on our “and statements.” Again, these statements are why we do the things that we do at Cross-Work Church.
This weeks and statement is, “we will be missionaries AND ministers.” Now hold on, I know what you’re thinking! You’re thinking, “well, I’m not a paid minister, I don’t do ministry.” However, that’s not the case. We are all called to the work of ministry, and pastors are called to equip the church for the work of ministry, that’s Ephesians 4:11-12. I know some of you weren’t thinking that, but maybe that is the first time you’ve been told that, so CONGRATULATIONS, in case you didn’t know, you are now commissioned to the work of ministry!
It would be cruel for me to just end there without telling you exactly what that means, so let me tell you what that means. In short, it means we should preach the gospel to all people and teach them to obey all that Christ has commanded. We are to make disciples.
Why make disciples? I’m glad you asked! I’m going to break it down the same way I heard it broke down at the CROSS Conference.
The first reason we should make disciples is because Hell is real. Yes, you read that right, Hell is real, and the reason I start there is because it’s what we all deserve. In our sinful state we are enemies of God, and we deserve Hell. John 3:19 says, “whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” Romans 6:23 says, “for the wages of sin is death.” All people sin, therefore, all people deserve God’s wrath, but God is gracious, and he saves us from our own destruction, and from a thankful heart we should teach sinners to turn to God (Psalm 51:13).
Reason number two, time is short. We are here for such a short amount of time. James 4:14 tells us that “our life is just a mist that appears for a little while and vanishes.” We should live our whole life with this in mind, because we are all eternal beings with a short life on this planet, and as I said before Hell is real. We only have a short time on this planet to call people to repentance, so we should be focused on just that because Hell is an eternal place. “His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me (1 Corinthians 15:10).” Work hard to make God’s name known in this short time you have!
And, obviously, because Jesus said to Go. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).” Jesus specifically gave every believer the task of making disciples of all nations. Maybe for some people, that means to go to another culture where no one knows anything about Jesus, or maybe it’s staying right where you are and telling people about Jesus there. Either way I know our command is to make disciples.
As followers of Christ, we have the greatest message that has ever and will ever exist. We were enemies before God, and that same God came to Earth as a man, Jesus, and Jesus lived a perfect life. He took God’s wrath on the cross in the place of sinners and died. He came back from the dead and has sent all of his followers to call sinners to turn from their sins and follow Him in faith. Because of God’s love for us we should desire to make his name known in all the world.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
–1 Peter 3:9
Go serve your King
Trevor
