The People of God: The Story of the Churchنموونە

The commission that Jesus gave his first disciples is the same one that we receive today. We are only here today because of the thread of discipleship that has been weaved right from these first followers to us today. We have a responsibility to seek to make disciples in the same way they did. What a privilege and a responsibility to be entrusted with the good news of Jesus in our generation! This is not something to be taken lightly, but we also have the Holy Spirit to aid us in our commission.

After Jesus ascends to the Father, he gives the disciples instructions to wait for the Spirit to be sent to them. This happens at the Jewish festival of Pentecost, and the results are wild! Peter addresses a crowd that had gathered for the festival, and three thousand are added to the church. The Spirit causes incredible unity and community to be present amongst the believers in Jesus’ resurrection. They meet in homes and at the Temple courts to share the Christian life together. Notice what these followers devote themselves to - how can we, as followers of Jesus today, devote ourselves to these same things as we seek to make disciples?