It is important as we consider a disciple-making pathway as a new church we consider our IDENTITY as a group of baptized believers.
The Great Commission gives us a charge to live into and it also gives us a claim to understand how our new IDENTITY can inform our path as a new church. Matthew 28 says this,
The Father identifies us as FAMILY.
The Son identifies us as SERVANTS.
The Holy Spirit identifies us as MISSIONARIES.
In the Book of Acts, the early church adopted this pattern:
Community: others and other-centeredness
Committed:
learning: the Gospel as taught to the Apostles by Jesus
gathering: fellowship, breaking of bread, and praying
Pathway:
IDENTIFY people of peace and places of peace.
INVEST in people of peace in places of peace
INVITE people into biblical community and be willing to be invited into their places of community.
INCREASE disciple by joining the Trinity in moving people to belonging to believing to making other new disciples.
Foundations to support you on the path:
The Gospel - immerse yourself into Jesus story
Biblical Community - community centered on the Father, the Son and the Spirit.
Spiritual Formation - each believer is growing into the likeness of Jesus.
Intentional Discipleship - moving people into the Kingdom and into the Body of Christ
The Great Commission gives us a charge to live into and it also gives us a claim to understand how our new IDENTITY can inform our path as a new church. Matthew 28 says this,
We have been marked by the threefold name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.Matthew 28:19-20The Message (MSG)
18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
The Father identifies us as FAMILY.
The Son identifies us as SERVANTS.
The Holy Spirit identifies us as MISSIONARIES.
In the Book of Acts, the early church adopted this pattern:
Acts 2:42The Voice (VOICE)
42 The community continually committed themselves to learning what the apostles taught them, gathering for fellowship, breaking bread, and praying.
Community: others and other-centeredness
Committed:
learning: the Gospel as taught to the Apostles by Jesus
gathering: fellowship, breaking of bread, and praying
Pathway:
IDENTIFY people of peace and places of peace.
INVEST in people of peace in places of peace
INVITE people into biblical community and be willing to be invited into their places of community.
INCREASE disciple by joining the Trinity in moving people to belonging to believing to making other new disciples.
Foundations to support you on the path:
The Gospel - immerse yourself into Jesus story
Biblical Community - community centered on the Father, the Son and the Spirit.
Spiritual Formation - each believer is growing into the likeness of Jesus.
Intentional Discipleship - moving people into the Kingdom and into the Body of Christ
