Making Disciples by Following Jesus

I’ve spent the last several months praying to God and asking Him to give me a vision for David Baptist Church for 2012. You should know that it’s normal for a pastor to receive a vision for God’s church but if the people do not buy into it then the vision will never be realized. As I’ve been praying about this, God has revealed anew to me several truths about His church:

First, every church exists because God has called to exist. Additionally, He allows them to continue to exist. I also believe that God allows unfruitful churches to close down as he “takes their lampstands” away from them as He warned in Revelation.

Secondly, I also believe that every church has one basic calling: to make disciples. This specific calling can be accomplished in a variety of ways. From helping the poor to witnessing to one’s neighbor, the process of making disciples is a never-ending one that includes many streams to fulfillment. Jesus has called the church to make disciples through loving others into His Kingdom.

This truth led me to think more about the main duty of the church in making disciples. Who makes disciples? Individual believers. And the primary calling of every individual believer is to follow Jesus. Following Jesus is not easy. It’s hard...but it’s well worth it. One look at Jesus’ life and it's clear that he called many. Some followed. Others refused.

The vision that I want you, the people of David Baptist Church, to take hold of in 2012 is that as a part of God’s church, you are called to make disciples. You can accomplish this as individuals by following Jesus as closely as possible.

I am going to spend much of the year preaching through the first eight chapters of the book of Acts. Then we're going to look at the seven churches of Revelation. As we learn about these churches of Jesus, let's meditate on how these individual believers made disciples by following Jesus.

Join me in making your personal 2012 slogan: “Making Disciples by Following Jesus.” It was what you were called by God to do when He saved you.