What Are We Doing?

Let's cut it straight. Many people have misconceptions about what ministry is all about. Some think it is just for the "professionals," those who have been to seminary and are in full time ministry. Others think of ministry in specific terms - preaching, reaching out to the homeless, visiting hospitals, missionary work, etc. There are wrong conceptions about the goal of ministry - to have a big church, to rehabilitate drunkards and drug addicts, to keep children out of trouble, etc. Simply put, the misconceptions abound.

What is amazing about these misconceptions is that Jesus could not have been clearer in what ministry is all about. Before He ascended He gave a commission. We call it the Great Commission. It is found in Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus said to make disciples. That's what ministry is all about and that is the goal. We do that by evangelizing (goinig), baptizing, and teaching believers to observe or do all that Jesus commanded. There it is. It is plain, straightforward, and easy to understand. The disciples got it and did it. In fact, in Acts 14:21 it says that Paul and Barnabas went to Derbe and made many disciples. How could any one miss this?

Unfortunately, many do. I've even heard church leaders express opposition to this whole idea of discipling because they saw it as a parachurch program and they were against programs by parachurches. In fact one man said, "I don't even know where this idea of discipling comes from." Wow. The simple fact is that many Christians have not been adequately discipled and they have never discipled anyone else. Most believers who have some idea of discipling talk about it but don't necessarily do it. Parents, who should be discipling their children are woefully ill prepared to do so.

It's time to re-examine the words of our Lord and get back to the commission of making disciples. This is what He told us to do and this is how we accomplish the ministry. In up coming posts I will be looking at what this discipling thing is really all about. I hope that you will put aside any misconceptions you may have been carrying around and join me in looking at what the Bible says. As we look at this together, come with an attitude of readiness to obey what you learn. You really don't know discipling if you are not doing it. So let's cut it straight and just do it.