My wife and I are part of a city prayer group, in Augusta we had a guest come and share a desirer she had. Her church has put on a Christmas program every year called “Anticipating Jesus”. This year they were concerned about COVID and people not wanting to come to the church. So she brought it to our city group. She wanted to have it online (Zoom) and wanted to see it other church would like to be part of the program.

Each church would put together a shoebox to accompany then the invitation. The box would contain a Christmas craft, cookies to decorate, a bible, and a devotional. We would have a city-wide zoom call sharing the birth of Christ, and the true “Reason for the Season”. there would be a section of worship (Christmas Carols), have the sharing of the birth of Christ, and different breakout sessions for crafts, cookies decoration.

After all the program was shared, my heart was hurting not about the program, I think it is a great idea, but the lack of the people of God desiring to disciple. I shared that once we bring these people to Christ we need to have some follow-up Zoom sessions to disciple them to know the fullness of Christ.

And it’s true: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be rescued and experience new life.” But how can people call on him for help if they’ve not yet believed? And how can they believe in one they’ve not yet heard of? And how can they hear the message of life if there is no one there to proclaim it? 15And how can the message be proclaimed if messengers have yet to be sent? That’s why the Scriptures say: How welcome is the arrival of those proclaiming the joyful news of peace and of good things to come!

Romans 10:13-15 (The Passion Translation)

I like using the Passion Translation because it uses “proclaim” instead of “preach”. Preaching make people think they need a pulpit in a church to preach. Western church (religion) has focused all the discipleship being done by a pastor (preacher) in the church building. If we could just get them to come to the church we have done our part. This is far from the truth. Jesus told us to “Go and make disciples” in Matthew

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

Jesus never qualified who was to “GO” by education, status, or profession. We know he was talking to his disciples, but Jesus told his disciples to go and make disciples, so we are also disciples. The definition of disciples is “a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher.”, if you are leading another they have become your disciple. You do not have to have a doctorate in biblical studies to lead a bible study, just a bible.

I have been given the task of setting up the follow-up Zoom meetings to explain Jesus more. So for the next four weeks, I will be writing on Jesus a man, Jesus our God, Jesus our King, and Jesus our Saviour.