For the One: Reaching Your City TogetherExemplo

A Community on Mission for the Mission

By Gary Adyniec

“’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, 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.”—Matthew 28:19–20 (NKJV)

Going and making disciples starts with us going. No, not going overseas, but going to church and getting connected. Someone once said, “You don’t need to cross the sea, you just need to see the cross.” 

We also need to be discipled before we can disciple anyone else. It’s a continuing process we achieve by teaching others while we’re being taught. A good illustration of this would be a college student teaching a high school student. When you go to church, you may make friends, but that’s not discipleship, that’s friendship. Getting connected in a community group is not only a place where you can make friends, it’s also a place where fellowship turns into discipleship. 

Part of the Great Commission Jesus gave us is to baptize the new convert. Most people think they need a special baptizing in the Holy Spirit, but notice the command Jesus gave says “in the name (singular) of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” It is one baptism in the triune God or the Trinity. 

The next thing Jesus tells us to do is teach new converts. Most of them don’t know the Bible and need to be taught. It took Jesus over three years to train up His disciples so don’t expect to get this done overnight. Being in a community group fulfills the mission of the Great Commission and teaches new converts how to study the Bible and how to observe all the things He commanded us, like loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and loving our neighbors as ourselves. 

The community mission is for the equipping of the saints for the mission field. Whether we’re going to witness in our workplace, neighborhood, city, or overseas, we need to first be equipped. When the church body is in Christian community, they can serve one another in a smaller setting and spend more time in one place in the Bible to bring out each other’s gifts and callings. Those around us can help cultivate what God has planted in us to do His will. 

You may never go overseas to serve, but you will always run into people who need to repent of their sins and come to know the Lord in a personal way. What an amazing privilege we have been given to share the gospel and then help new believers walk in the truth of the gospel! 

Pause: Are you afraid to speak to others about Christ and what He has done for you? 

Practice: Find a community group near you that can help you overcome your fear of witnessing so they can equip you for the mission. You already have your testimony, now you just need to be more grounded in the Word of God which gives you the confidence you need to speak boldly in the name of Christ.

Pray: Holy God and Father, help me find the right community group that can equip me to do the work of an evangelist, to boldly speak, and to bear witness of Your love wherever you send me.