Building Disciples Through Authentic Relationships
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today marks the beginning of Missions Month, a time when we focus on the Great Commission and our role in spreading the gospel. Over the next few Sundays, we will hear from various missionaries, and next week, Dr. Fraze will join us for a valuable discussion on supporting families and emerging generations in our complex culture. Our goal for this year's missions budget is $125,000, and I am confident that with God's help, we will achieve it.
Today's focus is on how true mission begins, rooted in the Great Commission. The church has seen a decline in attendance and trust over the years, partly due to scandals and a shift towards institutional self-preservation rather than serving people. This has led to a corporate mindset, focusing more on making members than disciples. However, the essence of the Great Commission is to make disciples, baptize, and teach, which translates to belong, believe, and behave.
Jesus' approach was relational. He invited people to follow Him, creating a community where they felt they belonged even before they fully understood or believed. This relationship was the catalyst for their spiritual journey. The early church grew because it was rooted in authentic relationships and community, not just institutional loyalty.
Paul's teachings in 1 Corinthians emphasize focusing on the good of others and building relationships. He encouraged believers to live in a way that would attract non-believers through genuine care and love. This relational approach is crucial for fulfilling our mission today. We must see people as divine gifts and opportunities for relationship, not just as numbers or means to an end.
As a faith community, we are called to make disciples by including people wherever they are in their spiritual journey. This is where mission begins—in relationships. When people know they belong, trust grows, and lives change. Let's continue to be a community that gives, includes, and focuses on making disciples, fulfilling the Great Commission through authentic relationships.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Essence of the Great Commission: The Great Commission calls us to make disciples, baptize, and teach, which translates to belong, believe, and behave. This order emphasizes the importance of creating a sense of belonging before expecting belief and behavior changes. Authentic relationships are the foundation of discipleship. [14:35]
2. Relational Approach of Jesus: Jesus invited people into a relationship with Him and His community, where they felt safe, needed, and useful. This relational approach was the catalyst for their spiritual journey. We must emulate this by inviting people into our community and building genuine relationships. [16:08]
3. Challenges of Institutional Church: The church has lost trust and respect due to scandals and a focus on self-preservation. This corporate mindset has led to a decline in attendance and a shift towards making members rather than disciples. We must return to a community-focused approach, prioritizing relationships over institutional loyalty. [08:25]
4. Paul's Teachings on Relationships: Paul emphasized the importance of focusing on the good of others and building relationships. He encouraged believers to live in a way that would attract non-believers through genuine care and love. This relational approach is crucial for fulfilling our mission today. [22:21]
5. Mission Begins with Relationships: True mission begins in relationships. When people know they belong, trust grows, and lives change. We must see people as divine gifts and opportunities for relationship, not just as numbers or means to an end. This is where mission starts, and it is through these relationships that we fulfill the Great Commission. [27:04]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[03:07] - Opening Prayer
[05:03] - Decline in Church Attendance
[06:41] - Loss of Trust in the Church
[08:25] - Institutional Self-Preservation
[10:01] - Corporate vs. Community Church
[11:19] - The Rise of the "Nones"
[13:02] - Authentic Christianity
[14:35] - The Great Commission
[16:08] - Jesus' Relational Approach
[17:44] - Belong, Believe, Behave
[19:28] - Relationship Over Transaction
[21:05] - Paul's Teachings on Relationships
[22:21] - Focus on the Good of Others
[23:46] - Early Church Growth
[25:26] - Love and Relationship
[27:04] - Mission Begins with Relationships
[28:41] - Call to Action
[30:28] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV): "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.'"
2. 1 Corinthians 10:24-33 (NIV): "No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, 'The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.' If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, 'This has been offered in sacrifice,' then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved."
### Observation Questions
1. What are the three main actions Jesus commands in the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20?
2. According to 1 Corinthians 10:24, what should be the primary focus of a believer's actions?
3. How does Paul suggest believers handle situations where their actions might affect another person's conscience? (1 Corinthians 10:27-29)
4. In the sermon, what are the three steps mentioned that translate to "belong, believe, and behave"? [16:08]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize making disciples, baptizing, and teaching in that specific order in the Great Commission? How does this order reflect the relational approach discussed in the sermon? [14:35]
2. How does Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 10:24-33 about seeking the good of others align with the sermon’s emphasis on building genuine relationships? [22:21]
3. The sermon mentions that the church has lost trust due to scandals and a focus on self-preservation. How does this impact the church's mission to make disciples? [08:25]
4. What does it mean to see people as "divine gifts and opportunities for relationship" rather than just numbers or means to an end? How does this perspective change our approach to mission? [27:04]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own experience in church. Have you ever felt like just a number rather than a valued member of the community? How did that affect your faith journey? [27:04]
2. Think about a time when you focused more on someone's belief and behavior rather than building a relationship with them. How could you approach that situation differently now? [17:44]
3. How can you create a sense of belonging for someone in your church or community who may not yet believe or behave according to Christian teachings? What practical steps can you take this week? [16:08]
4. Paul encourages believers to live in a way that attracts non-believers through genuine care and love. Identify one non-believer in your life. What specific actions can you take to show them genuine care and love this week? [22:21]
5. The sermon highlights the importance of authentic relationships in fulfilling the Great Commission. How can you foster more authentic relationships within your small group or church community? [14:35]
6. Reflect on the idea of seeing people as divine gifts. How can this perspective change the way you interact with others in your daily life? [27:04]
7. The sermon mentions the decline in church attendance and trust. What role can you play in restoring trust and building a more community-focused church? [06:41]
Devotional
Day 1: The Essence of the Great Commission
The Great Commission is not just a call to evangelize but a call to make disciples, baptize, and teach. This process can be summarized as belong, believe, and behave. The order is significant because it emphasizes the importance of creating a sense of belonging before expecting belief and behavior changes. Authentic relationships are the foundation of discipleship. When people feel they belong, they are more open to believing and eventually changing their behavior. This approach mirrors Jesus' method of ministry, where He first created a community of belonging.
[14:35]
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who feels like an outsider. How can you create a sense of belonging for them in your community this week?
Day 2: Relational Approach of Jesus
Jesus' ministry was deeply relational. He invited people into a relationship with Him and His community, where they felt safe, needed, and useful. This relational approach was the catalyst for their spiritual journey. Jesus didn't wait for people to fully understand or believe before inviting them to follow Him. Instead, He created a community where they could belong, which eventually led to belief and transformation. We must emulate this by inviting people into our community and building genuine relationships.
[16:08]
John 1:39 (ESV): "He said to them, 'Come and you will see.' So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour."
Reflection: Who in your life can you invite into a deeper relationship this week? How can you make them feel safe, needed, and useful?
Day 3: Challenges of Institutional Church
The church has lost trust and respect due to scandals and a focus on self-preservation. This corporate mindset has led to a decline in attendance and a shift towards making members rather than disciples. The church must return to a community-focused approach, prioritizing relationships over institutional loyalty. Authentic Christianity is about living out the teachings of Jesus in a way that attracts non-believers through genuine care and love.
[08:25]
1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV): "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."
Reflection: Reflect on your own church experience. How can you contribute to making your church more community-focused and less institutional?
Day 4: Paul's Teachings on Relationships
Paul emphasized the importance of focusing on the good of others and building relationships. He encouraged believers to live in a way that would attract non-believers through genuine care and love. This relational approach is crucial for fulfilling our mission today. We must see people as divine gifts and opportunities for relationship, not just as numbers or means to an end. This perspective changes how we interact with others and helps us fulfill the Great Commission.
[22:21]
1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (ESV): "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings."
Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life that needs more genuine care and love. What specific actions can you take this week to show that person they are valued?
Day 5: Mission Begins with Relationships
True mission begins in relationships. When people know they belong, trust grows, and lives change. We must see people as divine gifts and opportunities for relationship, not just as numbers or means to an end. This is where mission starts, and it is through these relationships that we fulfill the Great Commission. By focusing on building authentic relationships, we create an environment where spiritual growth can flourish.
[27:04]
Acts 2:46-47 (ESV): "And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."
Reflection: Identify one person you can build a deeper relationship with this week. How can you show them that they are a divine gift and an opportunity for a meaningful relationship?
Quotes
1. "So thank you for participating with us in this. Thank you for going on these mission trips. Thank you for commuting. Thank you for communicating with our missionaries because it matters. So I'm excited about what God's going to do for us at the very end of this month. So we're going to kind of lean into that. And today I'm going to begin with a conversation that I think is where missions begins." [02:30] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I believe that as a church, not particularly our church, but the church as a whole, I believe that it has lost a lot of trust and respect over the past few decades. So institutional loyalty is not the same as the it used to be in the golden age of emerging American Christianity. You know, I think with the rise of television, the rise of 24-hour news, all the social media platforms, we now have the ability to share stories that could reach thousands of people very quickly." [07:00] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Communities are people-centered. They focus more on relationships. They focus more on cooperation. You know, one characteristics of a corporate church, corporate-minded church, is the emphasis on expansion. And you see a lot of this. You see franchising. I'm not saying that's bad. I'm just saying that's a particular model. You know, you start doing church, you know, satellite campuses and different things like that. You know, there's this, there's this focus, I think, whenever you get really big of making members. And I think sometimes we focus more on making members than we are making disciples." [10:01] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The emerging generations are looking for the same things that most of those people in the early church were looking for. They're looking for an authentic Christianity. They're looking for an authentic faith. They're looking for an authentic Jesus, and they're looking for authentic Christians. People who look the same here as they do out there. And that's one of the reasons why a lot of, a lot of kids are leaving church whenever they graduate high school. It's because the faith they see lived out at home is not the same faith they see lived out at church." [12:30] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus was offering salvation but he did it through relationship and I think sometimes I forget and we probably all forget that our community here our church is way more than this building we sometimes forget that that this hour every Sunday is not the point of our faith it's merely one of the highlights I'm not I'm not saying it's not important it is very important but it's not the point our concern should be rooted in the relationships we have been blessed with." [18:30] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Unbelievers were attracted to the faith not through catchy slogans or the glitz and glamour of a congregation's worship style in those little homes that they met in it wasn't because people guilted them into living a moral life but it's because of the relationship and the spirit working through the care and love the believer was showing unflinchingly to the non-believer first time these non-believers were in a community that wasn't trying to take from them they weren't trying to use them because these early faith communities were devoted to one another in love reserved for family." [24:00] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "I believe the key to fulfilling the mission of God is relationship is this love that we are supposed to be known for in fact I don't think anybody can be persuaded into a lasting belief in christ-like behavior apart from relationship so when we focus on our mission we cease to worry about someone's negative behavior right we we cease to be surprised when someone who's grown up and has been planted in the world exhibits worldly behavior." [25:30] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "If we hope to make disciples we need to be ready to include people into our community wherever they are in their spiritual journey this is where mission begins it begins in relationship when people know they belong trust grows when they know they're not just a number when they know they're not just a way to make money trust will grow because they see that that's authentic relationship friendship grows whenever trust grows relationship grows belief will grow lives will change." [27:04] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Let's continue to be a community that gives and does not take let's continue to be a community that includes others so that they know they belong let's continue to be a community that is focused on making disciples and baptizing and teaching so that others may know the true authentic christ so first peter 2 9 tells us you are a royal priesthood you are a holy nation with a mission to declare the praises of god so let's do that in every divine relationship you are a holy nation you are a holy nation we've been given and then we're going to see the great commission fulfilled slowly intentionally we're going to see it in real time." [28:41] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "This is missions month we have a life of mission and this mission of god begins with you because you are the mission of god and god's mission has a church let's help the gospel spread to the end of the year now if you don't know god if you don't know jesus i'm here to introduce you to him there are going to be men and women around the room here in just a moment who would love to introduce you and we don't want it to stop right there we'd love to know you and we want to be known by you this is who we are we're sinners saved by grace and we have hope and a future." [29:30] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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