Don’t have a seminary degree? Awesome! Can’t quote a bunch of scripture? Ok. Never said the sinners prayer with someone? Fine, neither have I. Converted 10 of your friends to Christianity? Wow. BUT…
“The one question that matters to Jesus is: Have you loved people enough to minister to them?” Bob Roberts, Jr. in Real-Time Connections (Read Matt 25.34-40)
Chapter 1 in Real-Time Connections is about rethinking the Great Commission because many seem to have lost sight of this command to ALL CHRISTIANS. If we are obeying this command then we should see everyday regular Christian people turning the world upside down from where they are. The time is now.
“These who have turned the world upside down have come here also…” Acts 17:6
So, what’s the Great Commission again?
TO GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS (Matthew 28:18)
Bob says, “The Great Commission is not simply a call to recruit people in the Christian faith; it is a command to engage in discipleship in every domain of a society in such a way the nation is transformed…..It’s about transforming people in such a way that they cannot help but transform their families, their neighborhoods, their cities, and their countries.”
At Bob’s church in Texas they use this term called, “Kingdom In, Kingdom Out” in regards to discipleship:
Kingdom In: The way we talk about our personal relationship with God.
Kingdom Out: How we refer to our relationships with other people and our calling in the world. It’s all about my love for God overflowing from a grateful heart into the hearts and lives of other people, drawing them into the joy I have experienced through his grace.
“When ordinary believers in their different domains engage in discipleship – transformation and change will come.
Not because we have more preachers and churches.”
Bob lists FOUR COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF THE GREAT COMMISSION:
1. The Great Commission begins in Matthew.
Rethink it: The Great Commission begins in Genesis.
2. Preachers Are the Key to the Great Commission.
Rethink it: Disciples, ordinary followers of Jesus, are the key.
3. The Church is Where We Focus Our Efforts to Fulfill the Great Commission.
Rethink it: Society is where disciples should engage the world.
8 Domains of Society that Bob Roberts, Jr. likes to focus on:
1. Economics
2. Education
3. Health
4. Communication
5. Society
6. Science-technology
7. Agriculture
8. Governance
Are you currently working in any of these domains of society? What are some doors God has been opening for you to turn the world upside down from where you are? Please share!
4. Only Certain People or Groups Are Allowed to Participate in the Great Commission
Rethink it: The barriers that separate people come down in the church, starting with our witness to the world.
In his book, Bob asks, “If the gospel were to break loose in our world today, what are the divisions that would have to come down?”
I want to know what you think.
Learn more about Bob Roberts, Jr. and “Glocalization” at http://www.glocal.net/
(In addition to rethinking the Great Commission you may want to revisit the message of the gospel. Tim Keller of Redeemer Church in NYC has a sermon that is very helpful and encouraging to me: http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sites/sermons2.redeemer.com/files/sermons/RPC-The_Gospel.mp3)
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I work in communications. It's a scary time for this sector with so much change happening in publishing and media.
As Christians, we're still faced with the same questions. How can we love God through new communication tools? How can we love our neighbors through these tools? Or to pull from the great commission like Bob Roberts does, how can we be good disciples with these tools?
I've chosen a simple answer. I do my best to listen to my online neighbors with as much intentionality and focus as possible–and to encourage my neighbors to keep asking good questions.
What about you, Christina?
This is a great post that covers some common misconceptions about the Great Commission, and sets up the rest of this project!
I'm kinda with Marcuson the idea regardless of the tools, it is important to be very intentional about community and relationships. What I think is exciting is that God seems to continue to open doors for me to practice and grow in in reaching out and turning the world around me upside down!
I have to say, I love the strategic side of all of this… It makes me want to go take the world by storm!
Thanks Christina, I enjoyed the breakdown. “The one question that matters to Jesus is: Have you loved people enough to minister to them?” Such a foundational statement.
wow Christina! Great article…I'm currently preaching through the Great Commission and I thought you did a great job capturing the first chapter of the book and reminding us that Christ did call for His people to be salt and light in our world and to make Him a reality to those who don't truly know Him by being the vehicle through which He would reveal His love to a world that doesn't know it. It is through our relationships and how we conduct ourselves with those that do not know Jesus that will even give us someone to listen to the precious message He has given us…again, great article!
I think that's awesome Marcus! That is a great question and I agree that even those simple ways can make an important impact.
I'm still learning each day new, creative, and fun ways to do this. Including joining blog rings like this and getting your friends excited about it. 🙂
I'm very transparent about what I believe in on my Facebook page, posting whatever thoughts or resources that speak to me in my own walk. It's amazing how people I don't know that well in person but have friended me on FB will come up to me in person to tell me how a particular thing I posted was really encouraging to them.
Thank you! I am meeting more and more leaders and pastors growing with this heart and moving away from the idea of just “reinventing church.”
Thank you for being a salt and light to me even through just social networking so far! =D Even though I'm already a believer, I still need that from my brothers and sisters. I'm learning that when we get together like this and even use something simple like social media to love each other in Christ that can minister to others who don't know Him. So there's all kinds of reasons to press on in this Great Commission!
Thank you! Yes I love that statement. It struck me to the heart.
Amen! Thanks for turning the world upside down even with just Bibledude.net! =D
Thanks for the kind comment to mine. I will have to admit that the area in which I currently serve is very much tied to the more modern idea that church is a place that you go on Sunday wearing your very best instead of what you are as a way of life. It has been challenging getting people to begin exploring the idea of being an incarnational kingdom (the kingdom of God made into the people He touches) and being passionate about what God can do through His true body. It is a struggle that has gone on for 2000 years and am under no illusion that I can change it by myself, but if maybe one or two…… Again, thanks for the encouragement!!
Anytime!
“It is a struggle that has gone on for 2000 years and am under no illusion that I can change it by myself, but if maybe one or two……”
You are so right and that is very humbling.
I get similar comments about my articles and poems, Christina. For all the
criticism you hear about social media turning us all into shallow
skim-readers with no substance, I have personally experienced the exact
opposite. Sounds like you have too.
I do have to say that I really appreciate your transparency online. You always seem to be very authentic, and I think that even though I only know you through these types of online interactions that I see the real you.
I appreciate your willingnes to jump into these conversations like this! Thanks!
I agree with Christina! Jesse, you have a way of picking up on the sweet stuff like this… Thanks for popping in to check out this project! I definitely would love to have you involved with another one soon!
What you say here about going to church on Sunday wearing your very best is something that resonates with me. I believe that it is meaningless to “put on your Sunday best” if it is a mask for a life that lacks a connection with God and His will the rest of the week…
Count me in with the one or two…
Wow, what a great post to jump into this book! (confession: I haven't started yet–your post is my cliff notes, Christina!)
I work in healthcare. We generally have an ongoing battle with low morale at the hospital where I am employed. When the focus of the organization seems to be more on profit than human resources, burnout is huge. I'm thinking about turning that world upside down now. It kind of breaks it wide open to think of it that way. Sort of opening my eyes.
This post has made me think, Christina. Thanks for that.
Wow, Christina, we’re on the same journey! I think it’s interesting how what he calls the 8 domains of society are called “mountains” by some and “gates” by others. It’s the same message that Holy Spirit is speaking… he wants to be glorified in and through our lives, everywhere we go!
this is definitely an interesting perspective on the Great Commission, and i love the different things that people get out of this. i also couldn’t agree more that the Holy Spirit is urging us all to go and glorify Him! it’s a pretty clear call for each and every one of us!