…as simple as ABC

If you asked 10 people what the core business of a bakery is they would say “To bake bread.” I f you asked them what is the core business of a coal mine they would say “To dig up coal.” But if you asked them what is the core business of the church you would get 10 different answers from 10 different people all of them at least partly right.

Was Jesus confused about the core business of the church that he was creating out of his motley crew of disciples? Of course not. So what did he tell them after his resurrection

18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mt 28

Jesus summarised everything he wanted in this final command. I like to say that it is as simple as ABC.
A. Admit people to the Kingdom of God
B. Belong to a small discipleship group
C. Commission people to serve

A. Admit people to the Kingdom of God
That’s what Jesus means when he says, “baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. That is what baptising is all about. You give up living the self-centred life of seeking your own pleasure (it is washed away in the waters) and you ‘rise up’ out of the waters to live life Jesus’ way- the way of the Kingdom of God.

Every church should be doing some form of evangelism and invitation to follow Jesus whether it is in special courses, Cafe Churches, one to one sharing of the faith, or big events. Any church that does not do this is like a bakery that does not sell bread. It is doomed to go ‘out of business’. Every church that does invite people to follow Jesus can be sure of Jesus’ blessing, “And surely I am with you always…”

B. Belong to a small discipleship group
Jesus created discipleship. Being a disciple is about learning how to live Jesus’ way. It begins with humility that you aren’t very good at it and you need to learn and grow in Jesus’ way. “Blessed are the poor in spirit” and “unless you become like a little child you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” Jesus never taught his disciples one to one. He insisted on doing it in a small group of 12.

Psychologists indicate that this is the largest number of people you can interact meaningfully with. In other words Jesus’ teaching method involved group discussion and getting to know and trust one another. This is because the Kingdom of God is about building a community that loves God and neighbour, not about isolated Christians.

Small discipleship groups are the core business of Jesus’ church. Without them we are neither growing in our faith nor are we growing in our love for one another.

C. Commission people to serve
Yet if all we achieved in our church was “A” and “B” then we would be a stunted half formed thing. We need the final step to be a properly functioning church.

“and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Mt 28:20

Jesus taught his disciples that every one of them without exception must “obey everything” that he commanded. He commanded that each of us get out there and help our troubled world. “the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the stranger, those in prison- as much as you helped one of these, you helped me,” says Jesus. He pitied those who merely learnt his teachings without obeying them as ‘a person who builds their house upon the sand’ with a torrential flood on the way. A church that only does “A” and “B” is like that house!

Jesus has a ministry for every person in the church community. The church needs to help people identify where they are called to serve and what they are gifted at. Shyness or bewilderment is no excuse or nothing would ever happen in our world! Love motivates us and the rest is details. The church helps people to find their way of serving Jesus and commissions them in His name to do it.

In the next 4 weeks we are looking at our church through the lens of ABC
A. Admit people to the Kingdom of God
B. Belong to a small discipleship group
C. Commission people to serve

The fourth week is all about Jesus because church is not what we do for him it is what we do with him! As Jesus said,

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go … And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mt 28

May you find life in the core business of church community at LFC.