Re-vision
A great friend of mine, Richard Coekin, has written an excellent article called Making disciples by planting (read it if you can in The Briefing, Issue 401, Sept-Oct 2012), in which he looks afresh at Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:18-20 to “make disciples of all nations” and its implications for church-planting today. You may be interested to know that I came across it after our Vision Evening! Meanwhile, I was gratified to see that he dealt with the command in the same way I had – albeit with more daring application – focusing on the four “alls” in the text:
Jesus came to them and said, “All authority … has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
He sums up: “Let your motive be that all authority is given to Jesus – so go everywhere! Let your goal be to reach all nations – reach everyone! Let your ministry be teaching all that Jesus has commanded – teach everything! And let your confidence be in the presence of Christ always – take every opportunity!” Can I suggest a prayer we can each pray in response? “Lord Jesus, I want to obey your command to make disciples. Please take me where you want me to be; show me who you want me to reach and what you want me to teach them, and thank you that you’ve promised to be with me. Amen.”