Next Step Christian Church
Worship 2/28/26
      • Bible Trivia
        Loading...
  • Rise
  • Glory
  • Reign Above It All
  • Your Great Name
  • We are commanded as disciples of Jesus to teach folks "all that Jesus has commanded us." While we each will teach in different ways, this is not just for "teachers" and "preachers" but for every disciple. Do we know his commands? Do we have a strategy, a curriculum, a process for teaching those? Jesus' commands are an invitation to the good life, and a "next step" for folks saved and unsaved. Are we a place and a people that "teaches exactly how to do everything Jesus said to do?" Let's do it! Let’s practice together, on purpose, so we are ready, on purpose, so we will go, on purpose, and make disciples. On Purpose.

    Making Disciples on Purpose

    We are laser focused this year on making disciples. Jesus Great Commissions, his Mission here on earth, the Mission of the Church… and a crazy invitation for us to be a part of it!
    And we want to be a part of it. Not out of guilt or shame or obligation, but to bring joy and light and freedom into this world, to people we love.
    And so we will “Go” on purpose, and while we are going… our eyes are open to see the opportunities the Spirit is putting in front of us. In the grocery store, in the workplace, in our home.
    We are prepared and ready to Proclaim the Gospel: the good news of how life is going to be in Jesus’ Kingdom. Not just one day, but life abundant starting now! We know what we can say to bring Jesus into the conversation, and we know how to share the heart of the gospel.
    And I hope this week, as you prayed and considered, the Spirit put some names on your heart, in your mind, and you have a name, or a few names, that you can disciple on purpose. If you are still seeking, still praying, that’s great, but don’t give up. The Spirit will direct your attention to people who need you to show them Jesus, the Way of Jesus, Life in Jesus… and they need it the way YOU are going to do it.
    Jesus had names. The apostles had names. We need names, to do this on purpose.
    If we don’t do it on purpose, we may well end up with Dylan’s who don’t know how to read! ;)
    Or, far sadder, “Christians” in name only, who don’t look like Jesus, know what Jesus is about, or follow him in any meaningful way.

    But… how?

    But how are we going to do it? How are we going to actually go about doing this on purpose?
    I have got a name or two, what is my approach? What is my curriculum? How do I get started?
    Wouldn’t it be great if Jesus gave us a method of making disciples?

    Commissioned to Teach

    Matthew 28:19–20 ESV
    19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

    Learn and Live the Commands

    Teach in the Moment, Teach on Purpose
    You must learn the commands of Jesus. If you are not walking in the footsteps of Jesus, you can’t lead anyone to Jesus. If you aren’t learning from the Word, you cannot pass on the Word. That DOES NOT mean you have to learn “all the things” before you start teaching.
    Spoiler: you will never learn it all. If that is your definition of “ready”, you will never be ready.
    As you live out the commands of Jesus, you are already teaching the commands of Jesus. By example. By demonstration. Some call this “lifestyle evangelism” and want to stop there. We won’t stop there, because Jesus commanded us to do this, as if we are supposed to do it “on purpose.” So what does “on purpose” look like?
    At times it will still be opportunistic. Over and over again, many of the commands of Jesus, we hear in response to a situation. Jesus encounters a human in need, hurting, needing healing, vulnerable or broken in some way… and he gives a command to “Go” or “Believe” or “Repent” or “Sin no more”… and “Be Healed!”
    More about that later…
    But Jesus did not JUST teach situationally, he also had a method. He made opportunities, he brought commands, teachings, sometimes out of “nowhere” because that was the next most important thing for his disciples to learn.
    Jesus had named disciples that he taught his commands (Word) on purpose.
    To that end, how are we doing that? When? What is our curriculum?
    We can absolutely get there with regular and intentional bible study, with church attendance, with sermons, all of those things. That can be part of it. But we don’t usually think of it that way, and we could very easily miss “teaching the commands of Jesus” amongst all the other things Bible Study could be. Maybe it’s just spiritual entertainment, or historical interest and exploration, or prideful demonstration of intellectual superiority… or guilt-motivated obligation. Oof.
    But if I have a disciple, with a name, what would it look like to methodically teach them the commands of Jesus. On purpose.

    Teaching Practice!

    Pick a command, gather in groups.
    You can put it in a scenario like we did with Proclaiming the Heart of the Gospel: meeting a friend at lunch, coffee, talking with a coworker… or you can just start into it.
    What did Jesus command? 
    Why is that good news? Who is it good news to? 
    What would your life look like if you "kept" that command? Not out of guilt or "try-hard", but as a Spirit-powered new creation?
    Bonus questions:
    What does it say about "who God is" that He would command that? 
    What does it say about "who Man is" that we would need that command?
    What does it say about our relationship with God and others?
    How does this command "Love God and Love Others?" 

    Proclaim the Good News

    But wait, you may say, weren’t we all about “proclaiming the gospel?”
    Yes, and here is where it all comes together.
    The commands of Jesus are all “good news.” They are his Evangelion: the good news of how life is going to be in the Kingdom of Jesus.
    And each command is especially good news of what life can be in Christ.
    We have “good news” to offer people in our lives who are hurting, and that is a GREAT starting place to bring gospel into the conversation.
    To my friend who is anxious, Jesus commands: “Don’t worry - be free from anxiety and worrying about tomorrow.”
    To my friend who is stressed, Jesus commands: “Rest in Jesus, rest in his Sabbath, rest in his yoke, lay your burdens down.”
    To my friend who is spiritually tormented, Jesus says “Demons flee!”, be free!
    To my friend who is alone, Jesus says “I will be with you. Abide in me!”
    Above all, to my friends who have no direction, Jesus says “Follow me!”
    Disciples of Jesus. You who have heard the radical good news of Jesus. Saved by His Sacrifice, Alive in His resurrection, filled by His Holy Spirit.
    Hear the command of Jesus to Go and make disciples, teaching them everything he has commanded… and those commands are the “good news” of how to live. Free. Free from guilt and shame. Free from sin. Free from brokenness. Free from darkness. Free from anxiety and worry. Free from fear.
    Let’s bring some good news, on purpose.

      • Matthew 28:19–20NIV

  • I Will Go
Next Step Christian Church
pastordusty@nextstepchurch.org
(720) 663-9085
https://www.nextstepchurch.org
18 members • 15 followers