DISCIPLES OF JESUS
Matt. 28:19
“ . . . go and make disciples of all nations . . .”
LEADER: We are the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast.
PEOPLE: We have stepped over the line. Our decision has been made.
LEADER: We won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
PEOPLE: Our past is redeemed. Our present makes sense. Our future is secure.
ALL: Our course is set. Our gait is steady. Our goal is heaven.
LEADER: We no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, praise, or popularity.
PEOPLE: We live by faith, we lean on His presence, we are lifted by prayer, and we labor by His power.
LEADER: Our road may be narrow, our way may be rough, our companions may be few, but our guide is reliable and our mission is clear.
PEOPLE: We will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed.
LEADER: We will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of adversity.
PEOPLE: We will serve until we drop, preach until all know, and worship the Savior until He comes.
ALL: We are disciples of Jesus Christ!
I am not really sure of the original source of this reading. I have found it in several different versions and attributed to a variety of people. For several weeks in a row we read it responsively in worship. I thought it was extremely powerful and it touched my heart to hear the passion in your voices as you said these words. It touched me because I believe Jesus was serious when he called ordinary people like us to be His disciples and entrusted the Gospel to them. I believe He seriously expected them to reproduce themselves as they shared their experiences with the Jesus and taught others to walk in His ways. I believe He seriously expected the Gospel to permeate all nations and peoples and tribes on the face of the earth. I believe Jesus is still serious about His call. I believe that’s why He called us! We ARE disciples of Jesus Christ!
Pastor Keith Andrews