This church: reaching non-religious and nominally religious people
Daily Scripture
Matthew 28:16-20
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. 18 Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.”
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Matthew’s gospel ended with Jesus giving his followers what we call the “Great Commission.” He sent them forward to make disciples, baptizing and teaching them to join the Kingdom of God he’d spent his adulthood preaching. The Commission included (and includes) caring about “all nations,” making continual choices to invest energy and talents in making the lives of others (whoever and wherever they are) better. Resurrection’s purpose statement, based on Jesus’ commission, is “… to build a Christian community where non-religious and nominally religious people are becoming deeply committed Christians.” One of our guiding values is that we are Outward-Focused. * As Pastor Hamilton puts it, “We don’t believe we are more Christian than any other denomination, or that we are better than anyone else. But we do believe our approach to the gospel is one that reaches some that other churches might not reach.” **
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The risen Jesus boldly claimed, “all authority in heaven and on earth.” That sweeping authority meant that he could promise his followers: “I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” To those early disciples, that meant not even the seemingly mighty Roman Empire could block Jesus from being with his followers. “The apostles are to go out as heralds, not of someone who may become king at some point in the future, but of the one already appointed and enthroned…. One day that kingdom will come, fully and finally. In the meantime, we have a job to do.” *** Jesus’ promise wasn’t just a temporary thing for the first apostles. It also means that no power on earth today has the authority to make Jesus abandon you. How can knowing Jesus is with you give you courage, strength and peace? How can it make Resurrection, and you as a part of Resurrection, fearless as “one church in many locations”?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, empower me to be more effective as a witness to Jesus who loves me, and who has saved me. Let my peace, purpose and passion help my church better draw others to Jesus. Amen.
GPS Insights
Steve Schneeberger
Steve Schneeberger serves as the RezLife Student Ministries Lead Director. He grew up in Overland Park, graduating from Baker University and the University of Kansas. He has led and taught about youth ministry for over 30 years. He is married to Carol, elementary school counselor, and they have three children (Hannah, Bobby and Michael). Steve enjoys running, playing basketball, watching Netflix and reading.
The Great Commission intimidates me. It is a big task with lots of authority. “Make Disciples of All Nations???” Wow! And, I have to baptize them, too? Last I checked only ordained pastors in our church have the authority to baptize people. So, what does this all mean for the rest of us?
I’m in Clearwater, Florida, for Thanksgiving, visiting my mother-in-law and getting ready to run the Turkey Trot 5K, our annual tradition. This year we rented an AirBnB for our family. So, the first task was to go out and buy groceries. I’m the grocery shopper in the family. My daughter, Hannah, went with me.
This gave us a chance to catch up and talk about the issues of the day which we like to do in our family. (My wife’s father was a newspaper editor.) As we were placing items on the conveyor belt in the check out line, our conversation happened to be on the politics around transgender people. I was sharing with Hannah the statement Pastor Adam wrote in his e-note and how I was pleased with his reflections on Jesus’s values of loving others unconditionally.
Before telling me my total, the checkout clerk looked me straight in the eyes and said, “I really appreciate your conversation.” I was momentarily surprised and then thankful that our conversation was encouraging. I don’t remember exactly what I said next. But it went something like this, “I am thankful for being a part of a church that loves others.”
I’m not sure if this is exactly what Jesus intended by the Great Commission. But maybe an overheard conversation begins to hedge to the point of the Gospel where we are asked to love others. I’m counting it. We were in Florida, after all, somewhat closer to other nations.
I hope that when people overhear your conversations, no matter where you are, that they are drawn into a closer encounter with the God who created all of us!
© 2024 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* All purpose and values statements found at https://resurrection.church/about-resurrection/#ourvalues.
** Adam Hamilton, notes in preparation for November 24, 2024 sermon.
*** Wright, N.T., Acts for Everyone, Part One: Chapters 1-12 (The New Testament for Everyone) (p. 8-10). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.
