Video: The Great Commission

Day 3: Answering the Call

If you’ve heard of the Great Commission before, you’ve probably thought of it as a task or a command from Jesus. But it is actually an invitation to go adventuring with the Trinity—to see and do incredible things! We start the journey as a disciplemaker when we realize that God has called us not only to the adventure of our own life, but also to share the adventure with others along the way. Just as Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples with only what they already had in Luke 10:4, disciplemaking is taking what we have, and journeying with someone to see them be changed by Jesus too.

So let’s invite others to the great exploration of an abundant life. In the Great Commission, Jesus does not tell us to be his disciples. He does not call us to obey everything he has commanded. Instead, he tells us to teach others to follow the commands. Maybe this is because he understands us well enough to know that we only really do something ourselves when we are trying to teach it to others.

I love how smart God is—how much he really gets our human nature. He knows that our faith often grows and becomes more alive by giving to and discipling others. After all, that is how he made our brains to learn best. As we grow in embracing the fullness of life, we become better able to disciple others to do the same—and as we disciple others, we grow in our own experience of joy and adventure with God.

The good news is that if you have embraced the journey of faith and life in Christ, whether you see yourself as a hero or not, you can answer the call to be a disciplemaker. If you are a sojourner following Jesus, you can be a friend and ally to those who are on their journey as well. And if you have learned anything from your time with Jesus, you have something to pass on to others.

Disciplemaker Pro Tip

Is there anyone in your everyday life that you sense the Lord is drawing you toward? Do you notice the Lord also drawing them toward you? Pray about whether God wants to continue to draw you closer to each other. The relationship can be formal (you regularly meet to have conversations) or informal (you listen for teachable moments in casual conversation and water what God is already doing).