Making disciples: sharing | Vision & Mission
Over these weeks I am reflecting on our vision & mission document. It is available on our website and printed at church, and fits on a side of A4 with relevant Bible verses on the back.
Our mission statement is – making, growing, sending disciples of Jesus.
Making new disciples of Jesus means we all share what God calls us to share: the good news that through Jesus everyone can be forgiven, adopted as children into God’s family, and receive new life in his kingdom.
We do that by sharing, inviting and praying; today we are looking at sharing Jesus in word and deed, with confidence and grace.
Evangelism simply means sharing the good news. It doesn’t necessarily mean standing on street corners or walking up to strangers asking them if they know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour! Most evangelism happens through ordinary friendships and relationships.
Here are some Bible verses to help us see what it means:
Acts 1.8: [Jesus said,] ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’
2 Corinthians 5.20: We are… Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
Colossians 3.17: Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1 Peter 3.15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
First – we need God’s help. Even the first disciples, who had spoken, touched, had breakfast with the risen Jesus – even they needed the Holy Spirit’s power to be Jesus’ witnesses. We are no different – of course we aren’t – so I hope you pray for the Spirit to empower you with confidence in the gospel…
Second – this is not optional. God has chosen to spread the good news about Jesus predominantly through us, his children. Occasionally he breaks into people’s lives with a dream or a vision, but most of the time he does it through us. We are Jesus’ ambassadors, representing him to the world.
Third – evangelism involves words and deeds. No-one will listen if our actions don’t match what we say. And no-one will know if we never explain why. Doing things in the name’ of Jesus means doing things for him, to bring him glory, living his way not my way – when we do that we will look different, and people will want to know why. So therefore…
Fourth – we need to be ready. When people ask about our faith, we need to be ready to share what Jesus means to us, why we have faith, who Jesus is. And of course we do that with gentleness and respect, remembering that we are called not to win arguments but people for the kingdom.
How can you pray this week? Do you need to pray for the Spirit to empower you with confidence? Do you need to change a behaviour or attitude to be more in line with God’s way? Whom can you pray for, that God might give you an opportunity to give a reason for the hope you have?
Let’s pray.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
thank you that because of your great love
we can be called children of God.
Help us to make new disciples of Jesus:
sharing and showing his way, truth and life.
Teach us to grow as his disciples:
faithful to your Word and full of your Spirit.
Send us out into the world as his disciples:
worshipping you with our whole lives.
Pour out your Spirit upon us:
fill us and make us new day by day,
that we might bring you glory and praise.
Amen.