CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO PLANT CHURCHES The Great Commission
This strategy is a biblical model to be used by the Holy Spirit toward fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. I am convinced of its biblical legitimacy and its genius toward the end of evangelization, church planting, and the overall task of making disciples. In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; I am with you always, even to the end of the age." The Great Commission of Jesus Christ is the work of the church. These are very plain, clear and practical instructions. This is a basic part of our purpose here on earth. The word used for "make disciples" (matheteusate, vs. 19), is different from the word used for teaching in verse twenty (didaskontes, vs.20). The first word means to disciple or learn. This commission involves evangelizing first, baptizing them, then instructing them ididaskorues, vs.20), to observe all that Jesus commanded them. (Which by the way includes some instruction about the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to believers, Acts 1:8, 2:4 ) The gospel program, by example of the New Testament, brilliantly used the family homes' network of relationships to call families, men, women and children to repent and follow Jesus Christ. The synagogue and the temple quickly became an intolerably hostile environment to the commission of the Lord. The most accessible places for fulfilling the commission would become the market place and particularly the private home. Disciples need instruction in the way of Christ. It involves a commitment of all of the teacher's person just as it did with the Lord Jesus. He taught in all sorts of places. When he spoke in a local assembly (synagogue) the people were ready to push Him off a cliff (Luke 4:16-30). He found the environment more hospitable in the homes of men and women of peace. Often, missionaries and Christian workers find the private home a welcome place of instruction. Matthew 9:35-38 35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep.having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,that he will send forth labourers into his harvest (KJV). The need for trained Christian workers is great and the challenge is to the entire church to seek the head of the church and become involved in the church planting missionary enterprise. C.H. Spurgeon observes:
Mr. Spurgeon was quite on target. The mission field in our own land is tremendous, though at times difficult to see because of our blindness. As one who works in a public school system I have had access to many unsaved people, but with great restrictions placed upon me by school policies. This has frequently brought me great frustration. I do not believe that advanced technology can replace personal involvement of Christian instruction of the Bible on a personal basis when at all possible.This commission is the authority to reach the gentile nations. This is part of the Great Harvest. It is now the churches' continued task to reach all peoples. William Barclay wisely states: If the harvest of men is ever to be reaped, then every one of us must be a reaper, for there is someone whom each one of us could, and must, bring to God. Jesus told the disciples, not just the twelve, to pray for harvesters, for the harvest was plentiful but the workers were few. I believe that something is lost when we travel away from our communities to do church and neglect the fields of harvest around them. The more localized gospel ministry of evangelism and discipleship, utilizing private homes, is the more biblical approach to reaching the harvest! The biblical model is to seek to reach, teach and equip people to be harvesters first in their own field or circle of influence. From there one can move to fields beyond.Unfortunately, many never see themselves a harvest worker for Jesus Christ. Reaching all peoples includes the re-evangelization of post-modem western people who need a fresh confrontation with the living Word of God. True evangelization cannot be accomplished by only holding events or services. Simply saying to people "come and hear" in this indifferent, frequently hostile, spiritual climate is not enough. To be biblical in our methods means the church fleshing out the good news of Christ in word and deed in the community as much as possible. The multiplying house/cell is quite consistent with the call of the Great Commission. The making of disciples requires smaller "units of care" for true reproduction. The use of the home and small accountable groups aid in the fulfillment of Christ's command to "teach them to observe all the things I have commanded you." The art of disciple making is both for the mind and the heart. New values and priorities are to be lived out as well as taught. These priorities need to be adopted by new Christians. This practice should be for the edification of the whole church as well. Do you realize that the Lord taught publicly and from house to house? Christians ought to plant churches out of love for and obedience to the command of the Lord. The local church is the scriptural agent of fulfilling the task of the Great Commission. Biblically, no other organization or greater task is for the church to perform. The desire is from the heart of God toward lost mankind. Jesus told the disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest for workers. The purpose of workers was to bring lost people into a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The church is to baptize and teach them to observe all the things He has commanded. | Faithful People
We Christians as the church are to be to be the faithful people of God. We are to bring glory to God and is to be His agent of evangelism to the world. An important part of our function is to nurture and bring all believers into a mature holy life and faith. We as the body of Christ are to be a community of love and fellowship in the Spirit that cares for its own (1 Tim 5:1-17). You see, believe it or not, the church began as primarily a house movement (Acts 2:42-47)! It continued as a grass-roots house movement primarily among those of low stature in the world's eyes. The early believers also worshipped God in the temple as well! The presence of the Spirit guided their forms of worship, fellowship and practice of the charismata (spiritual gifts) and the Lord's Supper on a more intimate basis in the home. As they met from house to house, the faith spread in like manner: family members to family members, neighbor to neighbor, friend to friend, eventually penetrating all walks of life. They showed their love for one another by caring for one another during times of need.
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