MAKING DISCIPLES

The SHORELINE_________________________________________Thoughts FROM THE BRIDGE

When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His Disciples “The Harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the Harvest, therefore, to send out workers into the Harvest field.”

Matthew 9: 36-38 NIV

I’ve read these verses many times. I’ve preached from them many times. I’ve heard many sermons about these verses and usually the thinking about them has to do with sending out missionaries to share the Good News to the heathen pagans in some foreign land. Occasionally there might have been a thought or call for

Pastors to go to the pagans in our land…..yes, you know its true. This week, the meditation in the bulletin is a quote from Mike Breen’s book Building a Discipling Culture, “It’s all about MAKING DISCIPLES.” Mike in this classic Christian book contends that because we’ve taken this approach, we’ve come to rely upon professionals and programs to do the work for us and frankly those programs can be intimidating. We often respond with “I don’t have the gift of evangelism” or “I just don’t have the time to commit to that program.” Jesus was not a professional. He didn’t suggest any programs to reach the lost or make disciples. He built relationships with a few people and encouraged them to build relationships with a few more people. This was all done under the direction and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. God calls us to make disciples. All of us. He never commands a thing without equipping and empowering us to that end.

The very life of a church depends on whether or not it’s MAKING DISCIPLES.

C H U R C H C O V E N A N T P T . 4

The Shoreline_______________________________________________________July, 2026

This month we are continuing our series on the Church Covenant. You might remember that our Church constitution and by-laws mention a covenant that was at one time adopted by the church and we are asked to ascribe to as church members. Many of you were surprised that we have a covenant and so the leadership of OBC thought that it would be a good idea to review The Covenant.

Church Covenant part 4:

We join in communion with all who in faith call upon the name of God in Christ: sharing with them in celebration of God’s providence, uniting with them in witness to God’s love, and joining with them in dedication to God’s reign. This part of the covenant recognizes that we as members of OBC are not the only believers in Christ! We are

part of a much larger family. We are a congregation of believers that are part of the much larger BODY OF CHRIST that exists worldwide. Yes, as Baptists we have fellowship with other Baptists but our fellowship is not limited to just Baptists. There are many folks on the planet who profess Jesus as Lord. This is most evident here at OBC as every Sunday, especially during the summer, folks from all over New England, the

United States and the globe worship with us. There are different accents everywhere, gathering together to worship God, in Christ’s name! We are all the richer because of it!

C H U R C H C O V E N A N T P T . 3

The Shoreline______________________________________Thoughts while crossing the Bridge

The Church Covenant- part 3:

Our Church Covenant states:

“We commit ourselves to the disciplines of our Faith:

1. Studying the Scriptures diligently

2. Praying regularly

3. Fellowshipping with one another faithfully

4. Discerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our midst

5. Abstaining from that which is contrary to Christ’s teaching and

6. Acknowledging that our time, abilities, and resources are trusts from God to be used according to God’s will and claim on our lives.

” I added the numbers so that it is easier to read that to which we have

committed. As I read these words, it occurs to me that some of us have never heard of this “Covenant” and certainly have not committed to it. We might need to revisit it and our requirements for membership as well? Whatever the case committing to this part of the covenant alone could be life changing. SOAP- Early on in our ministry at OBC I suggested that we all SOAP together. Not meaning that we bathe together, but rather that we S- read the Scriptures together; O- Observe what God is saying to us; A- Apply

God’s word to our lives and P- Pray for understanding and strength to be obedient to God’s written will for our lives. Roman’s 12:1-3 summarizes this really well. By reading His word and submitting to it we learn to, as Larry Gritton suggested, “not do you but to DO JESUS”.

Even when spoken with a southern accent those are great words of wisdom.

-Pastor Brian