5. Jesus gives us the how.
This is critical for our discussion. There are two things that Jesus says we need to do:
Baptize them in the name of the triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
Teach them to obey everything Jesus has commanded.
We will explore these two sides of disciple-making more in-depth below.
6. Jesus answers our objections.
What if we aren’t good enough? What if it’s too risky?
Jesus reassures us that he will be with us always. He is sending us to go on a mission, but we are not alone. He will be with us, and the Holy Spirit will guide and empower us along the way.
We won’t accomplish the mission under our own power because we are good enough, but under God’s power because he is more than enough.
In summary, the mission of the church can be defined in response to these six question:
Why should we go? God has commanded us to go.
When should we go? We should go now.
Where should we go? We are sent to all nations.
What task are we sent to do? We are sent to make disciples of Jesus.
How do we make disciples? We baptize them and teach them to obey Christ.
What if we aren’t good enough? God will be with us.
This is what I mean when I say that the mission of the church is to make disciples.
THE TWO SIDES OF MAKING DISCIPLES
To further understand the mission of the church, we need to draw out the implications of the two-sided nature of disciple-making according to Jesus.
Jesus told us to make disciples by baptizing them and teaching them to obey his commands (Matt 28:19-20). In the New Testament, baptism always follows conversion.
For example, on the day of Pentecost, Peter preaches the gospel and “those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).
In Acts 8, Philip preaches the gospel, and “when they believed…they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12).
Later, Philip encounters the Ethiopian eunuch and helps him understand the gospel. As they approach some water, the Ethiopian says, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized? …and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him” (Acts 8:36-38). The eunuch believed, so nothing prevented him from being baptized.
Therefore, baptizing someone implies that they have heard the good news of the gospel and have responded with faith in Jesus (Rom 10:17).
This is the evangelism side of disciple-making. After baptism, however, the disciple-making process does not end. After baptism, we must then teach believers to obey everything that Jesus has commanded us.
