"Going" on Mission

 

It's the most-cited passage of missionaries (and missions committees) everywhere:

"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; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:19-20)

But have we missed the point? Have we focused so much on the first word, that we have misunderstand the core command?  

In the original Greek, there is one strong verb -- one command -- from Jesus: make disciples. The other verbs are participles, describing what it looks like to make disciples:

• going 
• baptizing 
• teaching 

Note that a better translation of "go" is "going." This is not a command to go anywhere, but to make disciples as we are going through life, everywhere and every day.

Helpful Questions as Your Children Go

In Sharing Jesus as We Go, Brian Dembowczyk explains that this means "as you go" or "as you are going." He explains:

"Realizing that the verb that begins the Great Commission can be translated “as you are going” should give us a different perspective of how we are to live it out. This verb phrase positions the Great Commission as a task in our daily lives, not just on mission trips.

As I go to work. As I go to the store. As I go to school. As I go to the ball field.  As I go through my daily routine, whatever that looks like, I make disciples."  

Then he gives four helpful questions we can use to guide them to think about how they can share Jesus as they go, not just when they go on mission trips:

1. Where do you go? 
2. Who do you know?  
3. How do you grow?  
4. What can you show?

Of course, these same four questions will help us also live on mission for Jesus and the gospel. Be sure to read the full article.

"Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence."  (I Peter 3:15)

Related Links:

• What's So Great About the Great Commission?
• Simple Ways to Disciple Your Kids on Mission   
• United and Sent 
• Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?  

**image courtesy of coloniera via rgbstock