What Now: Make Disciples

Matthew 28:16-20- Kirk Rupprecht 

Commonplace Church exists to glorify God, equip disciples & share the Good News of Jesus. Learn more at commonplacechurch.org

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:35

All right. We are happy you guys are here. How's everybody doing? So I'm going to start and pray for us because I'm like, this weather's gobby. I'm not going to lie. Like I was pumped up yesterday, nice and sunny, and now it's like, hmm. So I'm just going to pray that maybe we get revived this morning to talk about God's word. So let me let me pray for us and we'll jump in. Lord, we just uh thank you for uh just who you are, God. Thank you that uh in spite of whatever uh environmental uh challenges we find ourselves in, God, we know that you remain constant and true. And um, God, that our hope is uh is is securely uh in you, Jesus, and what you've done and and the and the resurrection, God. And so we uh we come before you now, Lord, just uh excited to just talk about who you are, God, and talk about your desire for us, Lord, as disciples. And so would you just encourage us this morning, God, with your word? Uh Lord, we are thankful that we have a God who's revealed to us through uh through through your word, Lord, um just how we are to uh move forward as your disciples, Lord. And just reveals to us the beauty of the good news of the gospel, Lord. So uh we just give this time to you, Lord. Uh just ask that you would uh speak uh Lord um through whatever you've uh put on my heart this morning, God, and uh just be encouraging to all of us. And we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. All right. Well, glad you guys are with us. My name is Kirk. I'm the pastor here at Commonplace. Uh, if you're visiting, so glad you're here. Uh, we really are just grateful to have you be a part of this uh this morning here. Even if it's a dreary outside, we're trying to bring some joy uh in here this morning. And uh we're in the middle of a short series that we kicked off last week called What Now? And and here's the premise behind it. It's it's this following our uh just the joyful event of the resurrection, right? Of Jesus conquering uh what was the most incredible thing ever, right? He accomplished is this raising from the dead, right? Something that that no one has ever done before. And Jesus does this and he's living and he's active and he's uh with us now, right? And in the presence of the Spirit as well. And and this is a moment that Jesus, I would say it's this like climax of the human story, right? Where we, our biggest challenge was death, right? And and Jesus conquered this thing of death. And so it seems like, okay, mission accomplished here, right? What else needs to be done? Because he renders death, he renders it powerless. And it reminds me of like um those who have maybe accomplished just really big tasks or really big um feats in in maybe their career. I was thinking about this week one of my childhood heroes, a good old Michael Jordan, right? Anybody remember that guy? Um could be considered the GOAT, right? Three-time NBA champion, he uh let's see, MVP. Uh and you know, he accomplished really basketball greatness. And then it was like, okay, well, what now? And for Michael, unfortunately, he tried baseball. Not uh, didn't go so well, but um it's the same idea, right? It feels like everything uh that needed to be accomplished has been accomplished. So what's what now? Right? And and then that's exactly where disciples, where they found themselves after the resurrection. They witnessed this incredible victory of Jesus over death, and they were left with this question of okay, uh, what now? Maybe baseball Jesus? I don't know, right? Um Jesus thankfully didn't try his hand at baseball, although the Mets could use him right now. Um, okay, but but seriously, the disciples uh were left sitting in this tension of what now. And so here's I'd say what one of the things I love about this question, what now? So when it comes to let's just say worldviews of uh and religious worldviews of uh where we where we are find ourselves, this what now, it's uniquely, I would say, a Christian question. Let me explain that. Because here's the thing no other religion, no other worldview ideology makes the claim that Christianity does. It's this is that the the work of gaining access to God, it's been completed. Right? No other worldview offers a God who would sacrifice himself in death so that life could be given in return. No other belief system centers around a savior who declares from the cross it is finished. Because here's what other worldviews tend to ask What do I need to do? What must I accomplish to earn access? What work is required to secure an afterlife? But Christianity, it doesn't start there. Jesus, he makes this clear declaration. He says, access to God is offered through the way that has been made through Christ's work, the work of Christ in Christ alone. And it's already been done. And so when we ask something like what's now, we're not asking from like a place of like achievement. Here's what we're asking from. We're asking for a place of response. Not like speculating about what needs to be done, but stepping into what's already been accomplished. And here's what uh makes it even more incredible. Yes, Jesus finished the work. However, for his followers, he doesn't call us to sit back, like kick up our feet, like wait until he returns. He doesn't he doesn't invite us to be like just passive, stagnant, where we just kind of drift along through life. He does something far more exciting. He invites us into action. It's more of like a uh not like a what now, but it's like a what next when it comes to Jesus. And and and that's what next is is really an incredible thing because it's not like some sort of vague speculation, it's a clear directive given by Jesus Himself. And last week we looked at the first part of this directive of Jesus, known as the Great Commission. Uh, and here's what Jesus says to his disciples after the resurrection Matthew 28, 16 through 20. It says, Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven, on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you, and behold, I am with you always to the ends of the age. So here's the bullet points of this great commission of Jesus that he calls his disciples. Uh, the first thing is to go. And we looked at that last week. We took some time and recognizing, well, how do we go? And Jesus tells us in this passage, we go from his authority, right? That's how we go out. It's rooted in his authority. We don't go out in our own authority, we go under the authority of the one who held all authority over everything, Jesus Himself. And then Jesus makes two more uh directives. He says, make disciples, and then he says, baptize. And so today we're gonna spend our time focusing on this next part of his commission, this idea of making disciples. So let's jump in together here. Uh once again, though, this call to make disciples, it's important to recognize it's it's rested on Jesus' authority, okay? Like, like we spoke about last week, right? It means that we're not going out into the world to make like disciples of ourselves. All right? Um, believe me, this world does not need any Kirk Rupeck disciples out there. That would be a train wreck, okay? What the world needs is disciples of Jesus. And so here's what I want us to do as we explore this this morning. First, we're gonna just take some time to understand what a disciple actually is. And so we'll define that term. From there, uh, we'll look at the process. What does it actually look like to make disciples of Jesus? Asking some even important questions like is discipleship like something, I don't know, just reserved for a select few? Maybe like uh the elite, the varsity Christians, which isn't actually a real thing, but at times a lot of people fall into that category and believe that it is, believing that disciple making is something maybe you grow into later, something for more the more mature. But but the truth is this if you are a follower of Jesus, disciple making isn't something you eventually arrive at. And being discipled isn't something you ever graduate from. Discipleship is an ongoing process of both making and molding. See, we make disciples as we're continually being molded into disciples. And yet, in the process, here's the thing: we can't lose sight of the source. That source is Jesus. It's his authority that sends us out to make disciples, while at the same time it's Jesus' authority and his work that's continuing to work in us and shaping us as disciples. So let's start with just the definition here of disciple. And a broad level, disciple is this it's a learner, it's a student, it's a follower devoted to a teacher, and specifically Jesus in this in this context, who seeks to imitate his life, obey his teachings, and help others do the same. Now, in the time of Jesus, there was a specific, I would say, framework. There was this role that was called uh rabbi, and that means teacher. And we see many of Jesus' uh early followers, particularly those of Hebrew descent, they refer to him in that way. For example, we see Peter during this moment of the transfiguration says this Peter said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah. We see later on, John, John and other disciples, as they first encountered Jesus in John's gospel, declares this Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, What are you seeking? They said to him, What? Rabbi, which means teacher. Where are you staying? He said to them, Come and you will see. So we see this term used in Jesus' ministry all throughout. Now, what's powerful about Jesus is this, okay? He doesn't uh he doesn't earn this title by displaying his degrees, like his credentials from some like Hebrew school. Right? He doesn't put on like a rabbinical robe and people are suddenly like, oh, rabbi, right? No, Jesus, he isn't recognized based upon his human accomplishments, he's recognized by his display of spiritual authority, not by how he presents himself, but by the power of his presence. And so this title rabbi is also connected to another term. And this term is called master. Now listen, in our cultural context, that word master carries a lot of weight, understandably so, right? Our nation's histories attached to the this deep and evil of what was human slavery. And so, because of that, we can hear that word master and immediately feel uh a negative reaction. And rightfully so, right, when it comes to the context we're familiar with. But here's what happens. In in that context of our terms, it's it's it's something that is almost reflects abuse or control or dehumanization. Yet the original term and context we see Jesus use it here, it's it's its master was not about an abusive power. It was not about lording over others. What it was, it was an acknowledgement of a rightful authority, someone who teaches, someone who leads, someone who directs. So I just want to acknowledge the tension that we might hear that word, but also I want to just reframe it for its proper context, right? One of respect, one of admiration, one of one of authority. And so we have the role of rabbi, teacher, master, and then there's another role. This is the role of a disciple, which is a learner, which is a follower. I love how um theologian Dallas Willard he describes it. He uses the word apprentice. This is a great word to use. It says, disciples, this is a quote from Dallas. Discipleship is being with another person under appropriate conditions in order to become capable of doing what that person does or to become like what that person is. An apprentice of Jesus is learning from him how to lead their life as he would lead their life if he were they. I find this word apprentice just so helpful because it truly captures what a disciple was meant to be. See, a disciple's primary goal was to do this, was to become like their rabbi. And so what that means is that they've modeled and they followed their teacher, right? It means they didn't just sit around studying information about their teacher. They followed, they watched, they modeled, they took on characteristics, they took on the rhythms, the ways of their rabbi. Their entire life was shaped, it was shaped around becoming like the one they followed. And that's exactly what Jesus was commanding and commissioning his followers to do, even us today, to live lives devoted to our rabbi Jesus. And ultimately, here's what that means: it means that our ways they transform into his ways. That's what sits at the heart of discipleship. It's this idea of what's called a spiritual formation, of being formed into the likeness of Christ. Not just in how we act, but in how we think, how we move, how we live, how we have our being. Yeah, yeah, here's the thing that kind of formation, it doesn't start externally. Here's how it starts. It starts internally. It begins in the primary place that fuels everything. It begins, it begins in our hearts. At the core of discipleship, it's it's this it's a renovation of our heart to reflect the heart of Jesus. Paul puts it this way in 2 Corinthians. It says, We all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is spirit. So if we're gonna define discipleship as Christians, it begins at the heart. But here's, I think, the challenge I want to point out. For our cultural setting, this this is this just to me, it makes sense. But I know when I hear that discipleship, right, is about aligning my heart with Jesus. Here's my instinct, and maybe you feel the same way. It's immediately to like look for a plan. Like, okay, what's step one? And and what's the step two? I need a strategy. Like, let's map out like a one-year, three-year, five-year plan for heart transformation. I don't know what book should I read, what what discipline should I implement? How to become a prime disciple? And maybe that's where your mind goes as well, because that's our our cultural conditioning, right? We're wired to think in terms of systems and strategies and measurable outcomes. And now to be clear, uh things, those things aren't bad, right? We should read scripture, we should uh read books that help us grow, we should practice spiritual disciplines like prayer and fasting and serving others. Those are good things, but here's the tension: the goal of discipleship, it's not just to gain knowledge or refine our practices. The goal is this is to have our hearts aligned with the heart of Christ. Because there's there's a reality that we can look at. There's a group of uh that Jesus opposed the most during his ministry, and that group was known as the Pharisees. And listen, here's the thing about the Pharisees they had all the right practice, they knew the scriptures, they understood the law, they were disciplined, they were committed and externally obedient. And yet, Jesus stood in direct opposition to this group. And so the question is why? Well, it's not because that knowledge is bad, not because the discipline is necessarily wrong, but because their practices, they never did this, never penetrated their hearts. What they believed is that they knew enough, if they did enough, they would reflect the way of God. But in that they missed this deeper issue. They missed that the very thing that kept them and any of us from truly reflecting God was their hearts, was dealing with the sin in their hearts. Look what Jesus says to them. He says, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outerly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. So here's what Jesus is getting at in this moment. We can present outwardly like a disciple, but to truly be a disciple of Jesus, here's what has to happen: we have to deal with what's happening inwardly, the issue of the sin in our hearts. So, what does that mean for us today? Well, for those of us who want uh like a practicality, we we want strategy, we want a clear path forward. Well, hey, thankfully Jesus doesn't leave us stranded. In fact, his his harsh words, even to the Pharisees, they weren't meant to just condemn. Here's what they were meant to do: they're actually meant to invite an invitation to move forward with what true discipleship, where it begins, which is at the heart. We see this invitation play out in a really powerful way with one of the pharies in particular. If you look at John chapter 3, Jesus he encounters this high-ranking uh religious leader, uh, this Pharisee, uh respected teacher, his name was Nicodemus. And what's interesting is this. So Jesus, he doesn't just rebuke Nicodemus for his like pharisitical approach. Here's what he doesn't say, he invites him. He invites him to the very first step of discipleship. Look what it says in John 3. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you're a teacher, come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. So here's what Jesus is offering Nicodemus. And really, honestly, anyone who desires to be his disciple, this first step is this. It's this first step of new life, to be reborn, to put to death the old heart. And we find this through forgiveness that's found in Jesus that he offers to us, and and from there to receive something entirely new, a new heart. And Jesus, he's not just talking about some sort of better routine, a new way to organize our lives. He's not offering like behavior modification. Here's what he's doing: he's calling for full regeneration of our hearts, a transformation at the deepest of level. And I love this because Jesus, he doesn't just make a declaration, here's what he does, he shows us the way. How do we receive this new life? Well, it's it's through the gospel. This is why we're here this morning, because of the gospel, right? It's by repenting of our sin. It's turning from the old ways, and what it's doing in return is returning into Jesus' work on our behalf, what he did that we could never do. His work that forgives us. And it not only forgives us, but it fills us, fills us through the Spirit of God, which indwells within us. It's a it's a spiritual cleansing, it's this complete renewal. It kind of reminds me of this. Um, I'm not really like a car wash guy. I kind of thought that's what rain was for. But um the other day I I did, I had a coupon for a free car wash. So I was like, all right, let me see what all the hype is about. And so I handed over my coupon. I pulled in and and you know, I went through the whole process, my car getting like aggressively rained on, uh, scrubbed, dried, all that thing. And listen, I gotta admit, when uh when I when that I came out, like the other side, my like not so new car looked pretty close to new. And and and on a much greater level, that's what cleansing of Christ does in our hearts. He takes what's worn, what's broken, what's stained, and through his work, he does this, he makes it new, he clean, a new life. And so that's the essential first step in discipleship. It begins at being born again. But but that's just like the beginning because what we recognize is is this just like I would say uh a physical birth leads into something further, the process of growth, the process of formation, spiritual birth, it does the exact same thing, right? Think about it when you were born, you didn't just stay infants, we we grew, we developed, and not just like physically, but uh mentally, emotionally, even like culturally. We we became um shaped by the world around us, things like our environment, things like our influence, our experiences. And and the same is true for those who are born again. There's a process of, well, let's call it reformation. So, what does that process actually look like? Well, good question. Jesus has it here. Look at John 15. It says, I am the true vine, my father is the vine dresser. Every branch of me that does not bear fruit, he takes away he takes away. Every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because the word I've spoken to you. Abide in me and I in you. So what's at the core of discipleship? It's this it's abiding, abiding in Christ. Now let's talk. What does that actually mean? What does it mean to abide? Well, to abide, it simply means this it means to remain, it means to dwell, means to stay connected. So if we want to know practically, here's what it looks like it's doing this, it's living in the reality of the presence of Jesus every moment of every hour of every day. Now, now, yes, that includes things like reading the word, it includes prayer, it includes spiritual disciplines, but those actions we have to remember. Those aren't the source. They're not the source of our formation. They flow out of the source of our formation. Those spiritual disciplines come out of our formation, out of Jesus. They're not something we do to become something. They're something we do because we've already are something. Children of God. It means this: we're being formed from the presence of Jesus. And we do so as we remain in his presence. And from there, what we see happen, we see two things take place. Our hearts, they they start to conform to his ways, and then they're transformed to his ways. And if you think about it, this principle isn't just something we see spiritually. It's something I'd say we experience every day in our lives. Think about it. If you spend a lot of time with like a certain group of people, or if you immerse yourself in like a particular culture, well, what tends to happen? Well, you start to take on their ways. You reflect that presence. I'll give you an example. For about like eight years of my life, I worked in the urban area of Norwich and East Orange. And every day I drove from Bud Lake to New and spent most of my time in a culture that was so different from what I was used to. A culture that was rich in African American roots, Hispanic influence. And over time, without even trying, I started taking on aspects of that culture. My taste in food changed. I'd come home disappointed if there weren't Jamaican beef patties or oxtails for dinner. And my wife was like, What's an oxtail? Even my music was impacted, like more like urban, different like rhythms. At one point, I did start rocking the do-rag and some bandanas. It was a very different Pastor Kirk in that time. But my point is this: where we remain, it shapes who we become. And Jesus, he invites us into true discipleship, true formation by abiding in him, by remaining in his presence. This is the path of discipleship. Now, here's something we also need to acknowledge. It's this any place we choose to remain, abide, what also takes place is that you lose what once was. It's inevitable that abiding, essentially, it comes with a cost. Because stepping into a new way of life, here's what it does. It often means stepping away from something that maybe felt familiar. Right? Just like my time in Newark reshaped my preferences and my patterns, abiding in Christ will reshape us. However, when we abide in Christ, we come to see a better way. And I also love this about Jesus. Um, Jesus doesn't hide the fact that being his disciple actually comes with a cost. He's actually very upfront. Discipleship does it cost. Look what he says in Luke. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. And so here's what Jesus isn't, okay? Jesus is not this. He's not like a hidden cost, hidden fee, like you've had to read 30-page terms and conditions, kind of God, okay? Unlike so many experiences in our lives where we only discover the cost later, Jesus puts it all there out front. Yeah, following me will cost you. But let's be honest, isn't that true about anything we follow?

unknown 25:22

Right?

SPEAKER_01 25:22

There's always some kind of crop cost. Think about following a career. It could come at the cost of time with maybe family, following a certain lifestyle. It could come at the cost of values or priorities, right? There's nothing we give ourselves to in life that doesn't come with a cost. That's just reality. Yeah, here's the difference. Only Jesus is up front about that cost. And there's more, there's the beauty. Yes, following Jesus may come with a cost, but the cost it pales in comparison to what we gain. Because only Jesus can make this promise. Only Jesus can say that following him, we will receive both abundant and eternal life. And that gain is what is offered to every disciple of Jesus. Now, real quick, this process of discipleship. I know we desire like a clear objective, we're goal-oriented. It's important to recognize that this process, there's no arrival point this side of heaven. Discipleship is ongoing from now until eternity, which I know could be a hard concept for us to grasp because we're wired for instant results, quick wins, like immediate outcomes. But here's the truth: discipleship, it isn't instant. It's slow, it's intentional. It's the process of being shaped and formed over time. It reminds me of um, it's kind of kind of like baking, okay? My daughter uh Cassidy, she is an awesome baker. And there's almost always like something in our oven in the oven at our house. And and and here's though, what I've learned good baking doesn't happen instantaneously, right? You don't just throw ingredients together, you immediately have something to eat. No, there's a process, right? It includes time, heat, transformation, includes ingredients coming together to become something good, something enjoyable. And that's what discipleship is. It's a process. And yet it's a good process because it produces something beautiful, showing us this. Disciples aren't just declared, they're made. They're made. So let's land there for a moment. Disciples are made. Because it leads us to this question. If Jesus calls us as his disciples to go and then make disciples, what does that actually look like? How does that happen? And so, to stick with the baking theme, maybe make us a little more hungry, um, it starts with one essential ingredient, John chapter 15. I am the vine, you are the branches, whoever abides in me and I in him, he is it that bears much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. So, once again, what is the key ingredient? It's abiding. But it's this, it's abiding with a purpose to do this to bear more fruit, to see more disciples made. And don't miss this, right? We're not just abiding as like a principle, we're we're abiding in a person, in Jesus. And to continue on this baking analogy for a moment, okay? As disciples, we're not just like these ingredients that are floating around hoping something comes together. Here's what we are. We're this. We are ingredients that are in the hands of a baker. What that means is ingredients on their own, they can't make a cake. Right? They have potential, but they have no form. They have no purpose, there's no final product. What brings it all together? It's the baker. It's the one who knows what they're doing, the one who forms, who shapes, who creates something good. So, yes, we are like ingredients invited into what God is making, disciples, and disciples who make disciples. But ultimately, we are not the ones doing the forming Jesus'. He is the one creating something beautiful. And in his grace, here's what he does: he invites us into that process, not to just be formed, but also to participate, to invite others in, right? More ingredients, so so to speak, like more disciples. And as we abide in him, our lives, they do this, they they they begin to carry like an aroma, like something different, something that like draws people into to experience the beauty of the one who is forming us, of Jesus. That's what disciple making is, right? It's not just declaring truth, but it's also doing this, it's displaying it. It's it's living out alongside others. It's walking with people as they too are also being formed. Now I'm gonna um pause on the baking analogy here because I'm sure some of us are hungry, and it also sounds like Jesus wants to eat us. He doesn't, okay? Um, but but here's the thing He is gathering people together for a much greater purpose. To be his representatives in this world, to declare a king who is building a kingdom. So from that place, let's ask what does discipleship practically look like here at Commonplace Church? Well, first and foremost, I think practically um it's it's rooted and abiding, right? John 15 makes that so clear. If we want to be faithful to the commission of Jesus, disciples, it begins with remaining in him. And then from there, discipleship takes on a few ways. One, just organic discipleship through intentional relationships with one another. This is where we're intentionally walking with one or two others in the church body, uh abiding in Jesus together, where we're both discipling and yet also being discipled, walking with those who may be earlier in their journey, but also learning from those who are a little bit farther along. And so what does that what does that actually look like? Well, it looks like it looks like a shared life. It looks like something like this making time. Looks like creating margin. It looks like letting people into our world and then stepping into theirs. Sure, that can look like sharing meals together, praying together, reading scripture together. And also it could look like this confessing sin to one another. And listen, that last one is huge because here's what we see in James. James tells us we confess our sin to one another, we are healed. Now, what's important about this verse in particular, that kind of confession has to be mutual. It's not just one person confessing while the other person just pretends they've got it all together. That's not the case, right? It's both people coming together honestly before one another, before God, because we are all sharing the same reality. We are all in the battle with sin. We all desire that Jesus has victory over those sinful spaces in our lives. And it takes both parties. And it reminds us of just this important aspect of discipleship. Discipleship is not a solo journey. In fact, one of the greatest threats to discipleship is this it's isolation, the lone wolf approach to like following Jesus. So that's exactly why Scripture reminds us of this: not neglecting to meet one together as the habit of some, but encouraging one another all the more as you see the day drawing near. This verse is so powerful. And there's here's what this verse is speaking into. It's the other discipleship offerings that come from being connected to the church. The call for discipleship of the corporate gathering, reminding us that Sundays aren't meant to be some sort of like obligation for the follower of Jesus. Sunday gathering is is this it's an intentional opportunity in our discipleship process. Look what Paul instructs the church in Colossians. He says, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. So, sure, there is a personal abiding that we're called to do, but through God's design of the church, there's also this. There's this corporate abiding He invites us into, which I believe is just one of the greatest blessings of the local church. Not just to gather to attend, but to gather for the sake and purpose of discipleship, to be discipled, to disciple one another, to be reminded of who we are, sons and daughters of God. This offering of the church as a sacred space for discipleship and also a space to be renewed. Because let's let's let's be honest. Many of us we come here each week and we're worn down. Like work has been weary, right? Been hard. Family situations are heavy. The battle with sin feels real, right? We're just beat down. And God sees that. And in his grace, he gives us the church. Even with all her imperfections, all her blemishes, he gives us the church as a place to be renewed in our discipleship. A place where grace, where mercy, they meet us once more, a place, sure, where we can be lovingly challenged, a place where we can also be encouraged. A reminder that this journey of discipleship is not one we're sent out to walk alone. And so let me just encourage you with this. Look, this sounds very self-serving, but please it's not. Don't let Sundays become optional, okay? Like your soul, your soul needs this. But at the same time, don't let Sunday be the only option for discipleship. Because, like any relationship, if we only give it an hour a week, well, we we shouldn't feel surprised if it feels kind of shallow. Think about it. If I only spent like an hour a week with my kids, sure, I'd have a relationship with them, but it wouldn't feel like a healthy like father-child relationship. It would feel distant, it'd feel limited. And I think the same is true with God and with one another in our discipleship. If we only invest an hour, we'll probably experience an hour's worth of growth. So, with that reality, I just want I want to challenge us in this. Take steps beyond Sunday. Do something like join a connect group, right? If you're a student, lean into student ministry. Uh, ladies, we we have a group that's meeting every other Saturday for discipleship and connection, right? Don't miss that opportunity. Look, I know life is busy, I know there are real obstacles, but let's be honest, this is North Jersey. We want something, we find a way, right? And and this journey of discipleship, it does, it requires community. Yes, we make disciples through abiding. Yes, Jesus is the one who produces fruit, but often he does that through the beauty of community. I mean, that's why we're here today. If you really think about it, a group of 12 guys, right, a group of disciples, empowered by one extraordinary Savior and Spirit, changed the world. And that's why we're here. And so, if that's true, if those guys, if those men could could allow for this to be here even today, well then imagine what could God do through a group like this? What could North Jersey look like if we actually took Jesus at his word? If we committed to abiding in him, if we committed to real community, if we lived as disciples who make disciples. Like I can I could see it. I could see lives changed, I could see marriages restored, I could see addictions broken, hearts transformed, right? Peace-filled homes. And that's not just like wishful thinking, right? That's not me trying to be the overly optimistic, but that's what Jesus actually does. And that's what we believe. That's at the foundation. He can transform. And not because of what we can do, but really it's because of his authority, his power, his power to do so. But the beauty of Jesus, I love this so much, he invites us to be a part of it. And so, with that, the question is: do we believe he can? As a community, as a church, do we believe he can? Do we actually trust that Jesus can change lives? That he can change this area, he can change our communities. And if we do believe that, are we willing to follow him? Are we willing to be his disciples? Are we committed to living as disciples, carrying out his mission? Now I know for me, what keeps me grounded in this commitment is honestly, it's what I've seen him do in my own life. I've seen the power of the gospel firsthand. I've watched Jesus take a life that was heading towards destruction and just completely changed the direction. All by his grace. I mean, if I'm I was on the path toward jeath towards death, and and Jesus He stepped in. He met me in my mess, met me in my brokenness, in the lowest of places. And here's what he did: he offered me something I could never earn. He offered me a new life. He offered me a new purpose. And he didn't do so when I had it all together. It wasn't when I cleaned myself up. It was when I finally realized I needed a savior. I needed to be forgiven. I needed Jesus. That's when grace, that's when grace in my life became real. That's when mercy became clear. That's when I came to understand this. If Jesus could save someone like me, who can't He save? And I don't know, maybe maybe that's your story. Or maybe you've never taken that step. Maybe you've never received this new life. Here's this: there is no better time. There's no better time than today. Because I gotta be honest with you, Jesus loves you. He went to the cross, gave his life so that you can have life. He demonstrated his love. He put he took your sin, he put it to death, and in return, he offers new life. Not just new life, but here's this a new identity, not just as a disciple, but as a son, as a daughter of the most high. And I just want I just want to leave us with this final thought. Disciple is a term we get to carry as followers of Jesus, but it's also a term we get to declare as followers of Jesus. And the way we do that is through baptism. We get to see that next week. I can't tell you how excited I am. And baptism is this outward expression of what's happened inwardly. It's this public uh proclamation that we belong to Jesus. And so next week we're gonna celebrate that. If you're a follower of Jesus, you've never taken that step. I guess the thought is why wait?

unknown 40:42

Right?

SPEAKER_01 40:42

This this isn't about earning anything. Baptism isn't what saves you, it's a declaration. It's a chance to say, Jesus has given me new life, and I want the world to know. So listen, if if you're feeling that prompt, then come come talk to me after service. I'd love to just walk with you and pray for you with that step. Uh so with that, let's close in prayer. Lord, we thank you that I you've allowed us to understand what it means to um to be disciples, Lord, and to not just be disciples, but be disciples who make disciples, Lord. And it's when we find ourselves just abiding and dwelling in your presence, God. So I pray this morning, God, that um, Lord, we're all living in North Jersey, busy, distracted, so many things, Lord. And would you just remind us the beauty of just being in your presence, of remaining in your presence, God, acknowledging your presence, Jesus. And would you allow that to encourage us, Lord? And God, would you allow that to just even send us out, Lord, to to make disciples, to to bring the gospel forward, God? We we truly believe that, Jesus, you you have the power to transform this area here, Lord. You have the power to to break the chains, Lord, of things like addiction, Lord. You have the power to restore things that have been broken, Lord, like uh relationships or marriages or whatever uh broken uh spaces we find ourselves in, Lord. But you have the power. Jesus, you have overcome death and brought about life. And it's that same power, Lord, that can work in each one of our lives. And I just pray this morning for anyone who's never taken the step of declaring you as Lord, as Savior. God, would you just bring such joy in the in the reality and the acknowledgement, Lord, that um forgiveness is all for grace is offered.