Why does our church exist?
We exist so that ANYONE can experience TRUTH, GRACE and NEW LIFE in JESUS CHRIST.
AND HOW DO WE HELP PEOPLE EXPERIENCE TRUTH, GRACE AND NEW LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST?
We go and make disciples.
AND HOW DO WE HELP PEOPLE EXPERIENCE TRUTH, GRACE AND NEW LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST?
We go and make disciples.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matt. 28:18-20
WHAT IS A DISCIPLE, AND HOW DO WE MAKE THEM?
WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?
A disciple (of Jesus) is a person who follows and obeys Jesus as Lord, trusts him as Savior, and actively joins in with him on his mission in the world. Simple enough, right? But we mustn’t miss the heart! Discipleship isn’t merely a description of things we do – i.e., follow, obey, trust, join in, etc. – it’s first and foremost about who we are. Discipleship is about our identity in Christ. The three unique and wholly united persons of the triune Godhead (that Jesus referenced in Matt. 28) each offer us a helpful perspective from which to better understand our own identity as disciples of Jesus.
FAMILY
As our savior, Jesus dies for our sins on the cross, not merely to save us from the eternal ramifications of being separated from our Creator, but also to save us for the far more glorious and beautiful reality of being adopted into the family of God. Like Jesus, we can now relate to God as our good and faithful Father. With God the Father adopting us as sons and daughters, we also become joined to a new spiritual family known as the church. In any community, it is important to not just have a general group of people you ‘associate’ with, but rather, ideally, a specific group of friends that you share your life with.
SERVANTS
As our Lord, Jesus is King, and we are His royal servants. This begins with our trust and obedience to everything that Jesus has taught and commanded, which consequently extends to the loving and sacrificial service of the people around us.
MISSIONARIES
With the Holy Spirit sending and empowering us for the continued mission of God in the world, we also take on the identity of missionaries. Like Jesus, the Son who was sent by the Father, empowered by the Spirit, we too have been entrusted with the incredible privilege of being partners with God in making disciples – as we declare and demonstrate the gospel to those who haven’t come to know Him yet.
HOW DO WE ‘MAKE DISCIPLES’?
Assuming we, ourselves, are growing closer to and becoming more like Jesus, then HOW do we help others to come on that journey with us?
How do we make disciples at GC?
FIND OUT MORE...
A disciple (of Jesus) is a person who follows and obeys Jesus as Lord, trusts him as Savior, and actively joins in with him on his mission in the world. Simple enough, right? But we mustn’t miss the heart! Discipleship isn’t merely a description of things we do – i.e., follow, obey, trust, join in, etc. – it’s first and foremost about who we are. Discipleship is about our identity in Christ. The three unique and wholly united persons of the triune Godhead (that Jesus referenced in Matt. 28) each offer us a helpful perspective from which to better understand our own identity as disciples of Jesus.
FAMILY
As our savior, Jesus dies for our sins on the cross, not merely to save us from the eternal ramifications of being separated from our Creator, but also to save us for the far more glorious and beautiful reality of being adopted into the family of God. Like Jesus, we can now relate to God as our good and faithful Father. With God the Father adopting us as sons and daughters, we also become joined to a new spiritual family known as the church. In any community, it is important to not just have a general group of people you ‘associate’ with, but rather, ideally, a specific group of friends that you share your life with.
SERVANTS
As our Lord, Jesus is King, and we are His royal servants. This begins with our trust and obedience to everything that Jesus has taught and commanded, which consequently extends to the loving and sacrificial service of the people around us.
MISSIONARIES
With the Holy Spirit sending and empowering us for the continued mission of God in the world, we also take on the identity of missionaries. Like Jesus, the Son who was sent by the Father, empowered by the Spirit, we too have been entrusted with the incredible privilege of being partners with God in making disciples – as we declare and demonstrate the gospel to those who haven’t come to know Him yet.
HOW DO WE ‘MAKE DISCIPLES’?
Assuming we, ourselves, are growing closer to and becoming more like Jesus, then HOW do we help others to come on that journey with us?
How do we make disciples at GC?
FIND OUT MORE...