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.