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I can tell the stories about the birth of each of my children. If you have children, I’m sure you can do the same. After the birth of my first, I ran two stop lights driving home because I was so elated. The second was born on Easter Sunday. For our last child, we drove over 30 miles to the hospital. Each birth was special. But my role as a parent didn’t stop with their birth. I loved, hugged, played and taught each of my children. Being a parent isn’t simply about producing a child. It requires raising a child to adulthood.

The same is true about being a disciple of Jesus. As disciples, we make other disciples. But that is more than just involvement in their spiritual birth. Listen to Matthew 28:18-20, ‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”’ (NIV)

Notice disciples teach others to obey Jesus. Whether teaching a class, leading a small group or simply talking to another person, share what you’ve learned about living for Jesus. Disciples of Jesus teach one another to obey him.

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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00 — 3.7MB)

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Decades ago, I was baptized into Jesus Christ. I remember going forward at the end of the Sunday church service, making a statement of faith, changing into a white robe and being immersed. But it didn’t just happen. I didn’t suddenly wake up one morning and decide to get baptized at church.  It required other people. I listened to ministers preach about Jesus – more than once. While at summer camp, I discussed my search for forgiveness with another person. My brother and sister, back at home, talked to a different person the same day about faith in Jesus. When I called from camp to discuss my decision, I learned they had also decided to follow Jesus. We agreed to get baptized on Sunday. When we went forward, our father also responded. A friend baptized us all on the same day.

But it wouldn’t have happened without people sharing the message of Jesus. I am so thankful they did. They were living the words of Matthew 28:18-20, ‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”’ (NIV)

Keep sharing the message of Jesus. Others will be thankful you did.

How to leave a review: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/rate-and-review/

Visit Elmer Fuller’s author website at: https://www.elmerfuller.com/

Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00 — 3.7MB)

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My neighbor loves to grow plants. His favorite activity is to plant a seed and watch it sprout and grow. He has grown oak trees from acorns, avocado trees from pits, as well as pumpkins, cucumbers and corn from seed. He enjoys the amazing cycle of a seed producing a plant, which produces a seed that grows into a new plant.

This reproductive cycle of plants and seed reminds me of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, ‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore goand make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”’ (NIV)

Did you catch it? Disciples of Jesus will make disciples and teach them to obey Jesus by making more disciples. Just like seeds produce plants that produce seed in an unending cycle, Jesus’ disciples participate in a spiritual cycle of life.

Making disciples is the key command in this verse. But notice we do this while “going.” It accompanies us throughout our daily lives. We must be intentional about sharing the message of Jesus and teaching others to obey his commands. May your life display the intentional rhythm of planting seeds of faith in Jesus.

How to leave a review: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/rate-and-review/

Visit Elmer Fuller’s author website at: https://www.elmerfuller.com/

Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

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What do you think about when you hear the word mission? If you have a military background, you may think of a set of orders that sends you out from a base of operations. If you live in the American Southwest, you may picture a historical building constructed by Spanish monks spreading the message of Jesus. Or, maybe you think of the films where a spy is given a task which is clearly impossible, but the team still accomplishes it. The common denominator in all of these is a mission is an important task.

Jesus also gave his followers a mission. It is found in Matthew 28:18-20, ‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”’ (NIV)

This passage tells us our mission is to make disciples of Jesus from all nations. This involves going, which is the intentional effort to reach all nations. Disciples are made by baptizing them and teaching them to obey what Jesus commanded – which means teaching them to also make disciples. The mission is to reproduce more people discipling others.

So, how are you doing on your mission? Just remember, with Jesus, making disciples is never mission impossible!

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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.