The Watchman and The Warning

My husband taught Bible class Sunday morning continuing the theme that the regular teacher had been teaching - "Seeking and Saving the Lost".  He used a few scriptures that made both of us think about our mission as Christians.  The "warning" issued is for the watchman, and aren't we all watchman for others? Isn't it our duty to tell the lost about Jesus?

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’7 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved. Ezekiel 33:6-9

It's really easy to get caught up in the things of the world and totally neglect the mission - the Commission - that God gave us.  He gave us a job, and it was one of the very last things Jesus told His disciples to do before He left the earth after His resurrection.  All four gospels have some part of this commission from Jesus. He instructed His disciples to go, tell, and make other disciples.  That is the theme of all of the gospels and what Jesus wanted to make sure His followers knew to do when He left them.  (See Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:13-53, particularly vs. 44-49; John 20:11-23).  And doesn't He want His followers now to do the same?  If we're not, are we really doing what He asked us to do?

So my husband, Joe, and I wrote a mini lesson to help teach others of God's plan for salvation. It's short enough that others will read it and easy enough for everyone to understand.  We want to do this so that others might share this gospel message with their friends....and those they may not even know.  This plan shows through scripture how to follow the command of obeying the gospel.  We still must "tell", but maybe this tool will make it a little easier for some.

Love people enough to tell them that Jesus died to save them. In order for one to need to be saved, one must be lost. In order to be saved, one needs to first realize he/she must repent (turn away from) sin. Sin is separation from God. A lost person is "dead" in sin (Ephesians 2/Colossians 2). Only in Jesus can one be saved. Salvation begins through hearing the Word and believing that Jesus is God's Son - and the only One who can save. We can't tell the lost about salvation, yet fail to tell about the repentance that the Bible teaches which results in confessing one's sin and the need for the saving blood of Jesus. When your sins are washed away in baptism, you arise to live life as a new creation. You are buried with Him and raised in Him to live a new life as a new creation. (Colossians 2/Romans 6). That is the gospel...the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Obeying the gospel is a command. We must obey the gospel to be a child of God. (2 Thessalonians 1:8/1 Peter 4:17). The new creation will stumble, but won't (or shouldn't) want to continue in the old life of sin, but along with the help of the Holy Spirit, will strive to follow close to Jesus and strive to imitate Him for the rest of his/her life. Being faithful in everything, continuing to repent for sin, allowing the Holy Spirit to develop in us the fruits of the Spirit - we will be growing mature in the faith. God's love, mercy and grace will continue to heap upon us abundantly until we reach the end of life's race. The reward of an eternal home in Heaven with Him makes the "race" all worthwhile. 

Another thing that Joe mentioned in class is the "Fishers of Men" is a 12 week series of in-depth Bible study.  Visit their site HERE. We went through it years ago, and have recently begun the study with our own children. They are Christians, but it's always good to go back over the elementary truths so that we know why we believe what we believe and know for certain that it is what is taught in the Bible - God's inspired Word.

GO - It's a BIG Word! Part 2

So, in the last post we looked at the first two reasons "GO" is a big word. Now we'll look at the last two reasons.

3. GO is a big word because it is an open-ended command. Jesus said, "go and tell", but we ask the question, "When do I stop?". We may say, "I'm older now." "I've done my part." "I've taught others about Jesus." "I'm retiring from that job." But, we must realize God needs us for our entire life! You and I are never too old to serve God. You and I are never too old to tell others about Jesus. You and I may be telling others about Jesus from a nursing home bed or from a hospital bed, but we can still share the Good News!

Another question we may ask is, "How do I go?". You and I may make excuses. "I don't know what to say to others." "I don't know how to share the Good News about Jesus." By studying and reading God's Word, we become more and more comfortable with the teachings written there and then become more able to share those teachings with others. However, we do not have to be a Bible scholar to teach others! Just open the Good Book and share straight from the Word.

Another thing we have to realize about the word "go" is that maybe you and I are "going" and "telling", but maybe God wants us to get out of our comfort zone and go a different way. Maybe God can use us in a different way or in a different place. I have felt this way since I began teaching teenage girls. I was used to teaching adult women and had for 5 years. I was used to teaching preschoolers and had for 3 years, plus babies, and school-aged before that. But, I had never taught teens and was a little afraid to, honestly! But, God gave me the courage to teach these girls about Jesus and it's been exciting and gotten me out of my comfort zone. It's helped me, but more importantly they are learning about Jesus!

4. GO is a big word because of what we are asking of others. "Make disciples" is not a command that can be mass-produced in a factory. However, remember that Jesus gave this command in Matthew 28:16-20 and not very long afterwards about 3,000 disciples were 'made' in one day! Acts 2:41 says, "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

God did mass produce, didn't he?!

We must remember that we are talking to real people with real lives. They have real opinions about what they believe. They have real experiences that they have gone through. That is an awesome responsibility and we cannot take that lightly. But, just as the Jesus' original disciples carried out the command and God gave them success, we must also have faith that God will bring about the same success now. We just need to get busy and get to work!

As we work trying to 'make disciples', we are telling them about Jesus and showing them His love and power. We are letting them know what a relationship with Jesus means...what following God's plan means for them - ultimately eternal life in Heaven! But, we also can only teach them about Jesus by showing them that we are living for Him. If we are trying to get someone else to become a Christian, it is implying that we have already given our lives to Him. We are telling them that we are striving to live our lives for Him each and every day. Not just once, not just a few times a year, not even 52 times a year, but every single day of our lives here on Earth.

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23


So....GO seems like such a big word because it is. It truly is a big word.

Have a Happy Easter, everyone!

Go - It's a BIG Word!

The "Great Commission", as I've posted about here, before tells Christians to "go and tell" the Good News of Jesus. But that little bitty word "GO" can seem mighty BIG when we think about that command, can't it? Yes, in that instance GO IS A BIG WORD! Let's think about how Matthew 28:16-20(click to read)makes it a big word.

1. GO is a BIG word because it implies something about you, if you are a child of God. It says that Jesus Christ has caused a change in your life and that He has impacted you in such a way that you want to share Him with others. Can you say in words what it means to have Jesus in your life and to explain to other how you are living for Him?

2. GO is a BIG word because it contains a BIG purpose. In this passage we are told to go "make disciples" 'Go' is a simple word. 'Make disciples' are simple words. So how does "go make disciples" (disciples means "followers") become so complex and difficult?

For some, past sins may have had such a hold for so long, that even though now forgiven, we don't feel strong enough to consider ourselves a disciple. We may feel that we have to be a "perfect" Christian before we would feel comfortable telling others about Jesus. And, guess what? You'll never find a perfect Christian. The only perfect man that ever lived on the earth was crucified on a cross for you! However, the blood of that Savior can perfect you in God's eyes and with his forgiveness.

And then, sadly, for others, there is no intention to obey this command of Jesus and God's Will for all Christians. Those who may believe that the Great Commission is for everyone else, but not for them.

"Go make disciples" is not difficult, but it contains a big purpose. It is a grand purpose and our lives should be consumed with this purpose. This purpose being the goal of the early church is what made it grow, as we see in the following scriptures:

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:40-47

Notice in the first bold printed verse: 3,000 souls were added that day!!
Notice in the second bold printed verse: The Lord added to their number daily!!

The early church was doing what the church is supposed to do: The Lord's business. Making disciples. And, the Lord added to the church....daily.

...Okay, this post is getting long and this is important stuff we're talking about! I'm going to ask you (please) to come back for the last two points on the next post which will be Saturday evening sometime. Have you ever heard how the human mind can only take 22 minutes of speaking from a public speaker? I doubt a blog post is even half that much!

You Go Girls!

When you hear something exciting, don't you get excited to tell about it? Now sometimes we have to be careful. Some things shouldn't be told. We have to be careful to avoid gossip. But what about good news that is worth sharing? Someone's getting married! Someone's had a baby! Something special like that....it's just worth telling, isn't it?

In the gospel of Matthew (28:1-10), we read Matthew's account of the resurrection of Jesus. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary had gone to visit the tomb, but when they arrived at the tomb, Jesus' body was not there. An angel of the Lord had come and rolled the stone away. He spoke to the women and told them to not be afraid, but to go quickly and tell his disciples.

They hurried on their way, but along the way met Jesus. They fell at his feet and worshipped him. In verse 10, Jesus told them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." The women went quickly.

Would you have wanted to be one of the women who went to the tomb early that Sunday morning? Would you have gone quickly when the angel said "go and tell"? After you met Jesus - risen and now alive - would you have clasped his feet and worshipped him? When Jesus told you to "go and tell", would you have gone?

I think almost all of us would answer a big YES to every one of those questions, without hesitation. We would have come in contact with the risen Savior!

Well, think about this today: If you are a Christian you, too, have come in contact with the risen Savior! He died, was buried, and rose for YOU! And like these women, you, too, have been told to "go and tell".

Later on in Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus sees the disciples for the first time since his resurrection. He tells them what he needs them to do in order to fulfill God's plan, in verses 19 and 20:

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

We are so excited about the risen Savior and, of course, we should be! But, are we just as excited to go and tell others about this good news? Mary and Mary Magdalene got the opportunity to go and tell the best news that can ever have been told!

Let's make it a point to tell this "juicy" news, too!

Deepen Discipleship

PART 4 - HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
Flowers pollinate. That’s how they multiply and grow. But how does pollination work? Well, it all begins in the flower. Flowering plants have several different parts that are important in pollination. If the flowers have those parts then they can successfully help make other flowers. Only 10% of flowering plants are able to pollinate without animals or bugs or assistance from people. Those 10% of plants, pollinate by wind or water. God, as our awesome creator, made flowers to be this way. God, as our creator, also made us this way.

Remember when Jesus called the apostles? What did he say to them? “Come and follow me” it tells us in the first part of Matthew 4:19. As a child of God we are also disciples. By definition, a disciple is a follower, one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another. The end of Matthew 4:19 says “and I will make you fishers of men.“ A Christian disciple is a person who accepts and assists in the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ. Just like the pollen of a flower is transferred to another flower, God’s Word is taken from us to someone else.

Jesus wants us to be fishers of men - just like he wanted those first disciples to be. We want to be children of God, we want to abide in Jesus, we will even read His Word, but we sometimes we tend say, “God, I can’t go….I can’t tell... I can‘t fish!!”

ONE TRUTH TO REMEMBER: THE GREAT COMMISSION IS FOR ME!!

That is a command that Jesus gave to us through God’s inspired Word. We will never do God’s Will if we are not fulfilling our purpose as His disciples. Jesus wants us to be His true disciples and follow him daily. Luke 9:23 "The he said to them all: If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

He doesn’t say deny yourself and follow me when you want to. He doesn’t say "deny yourself and follow me when it is convenient to". He doesn’t say "deny yourself and follow me when you get everything else done". Jesus wants us today, tomorrow and every day of our lives.

My husband attended a workshop last year where one of the speakers made this statement: "Many people are church "goers", not "Christ’s disciples"." Many people in the church today believe that all there is to being a child of God is regularly attending every worship service....thinking that is all there is to being faithful to the Lord. While attendance is very important in our service to God, there are so many more things that are just as important as we strive to abide in Jesus.

Many people, after they retire, decide to quit teaching classes, quit helping out in various ways with church activities, they quit being involved with the church. But what does the Bible say? When does the Bible says we should retire? WHEN WE DIE!! We can still be Christ’s faithful disciple up until the very end of our lives. Our service may change, who we serve may change, but we will still be serving. We will still be Christ's disciple.