Daily devotion – The Great Commission in detail!
Matthew 28: 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Mark 16: 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
These verses give in detail and explain the Great Commission the Church of Jesus Christ is commanded to do. A few years back the business world was enamoured with the term ‘vision’ or ‘statement of intent’ or ‘mission statement’, that described what the business was and why it existed. Sadly Churches jumped into the worldly wisdom arena and began to come up with marketing catchphrases that ‘explained’ the vision of the individual Church.
When Jesus has already told us what our task, vision and mission is clearly is in Scripture!
You will notice the Church is not only is commanded to preach and proclaim the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, but also the Church is commanded to make disciples of all the nations…
What’s the definition of a disciple? How does one make disciples?
Being a disciple meant more than being a convert or a Church member! An “Apprentice” would be an equivalent term. A disciple in Christ’s time on earth attached himself to a teacher. Identified with Him. He learned, not simply by listening, but also by doing. Jesus called 12 disciples and taught them so that they might be able to teach others – Mark 3:13.
So a disciple is one who has believed on Jesus Christ and expressed their faith by being baptised. A disciple remains in the fellowship of believers that they might be taught the truths of faith – Acts 2:41-47.
Then the disciple is able to go out and win others and teach them. This was the pattern of the New Testament Church. This year 2025 here at Calvary Chapel Secret Harbour we are laying the foundations for a greater span of discipleship development and teaching, seeking for hungry hearts longing to walk with others, desiring to work and learn alongside others in serving the fellowship of believers here at Calvary and be a blessing to the Lord.
What’s required to be considered to be part of the discipleship development? A heart given totally over to the Lord, a demonstrated faithfulness to serving and driven by the Lord to do so.
The Apostle Paul put it like this – 1 Cor 9:16 NLT Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!
For the young prophet Jeremiah is was something more again – Jeremiah 20:9 But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.
Is the Lord calling you to discipleship?