Discipleship: God's Plan for Reaching the WorldSample

God’s Plan for Reaching the World

While John the Apostle was in prison on the island of Patmos, God gave him a prophetic vision.

In this vision, John saw “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb”’ (Rev 7:9-10).

Imagine what that will be like—billions of people from across the ages, from every conceivable people group, speaking thousands of languages, all united in one thing—worshipping Jesus. What a glorious moment that will be!

Later in Revelation 21, we get a glimpse of the heart of God for his people. We read how God will make his home with them, remove the destructive consequences of sin from their reality, and make all things new so they might live flourishing lives for eternity (Rev 21:3-5).

Can you imagine a world like that?

Can you imagine a world in which God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, where there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain because these things will have ended?

It is God’s endgame. Yet all we have to do is lift our eyes off our Bibles, and we instantly experience the gap between God’s vision for humanity and our lived reality. It almost feels insurmountable to conceive a world where people with many differences can unite in harmony.

How do we get from here to there?

How does Jesus intend to advance his kingdom on earth?

How does he intend to overcome the powers of hell?

Jesus’ answer to these questions is surprising: the church.

After Peter acknowledged that Jesus was the awaited Messianic King and the Son of God (Matt 16:16), Jesus says in Matthew 16:18-19:

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

The church is the chosen vehicle through which Jesus plans to overcome the strongholds of evil, take territory, and establish his kingdom on earth.

Jesus Christ has delegated power and authority to the church, but how does the church exercise that power and authority? Once again, the answer can be surprising: discipleship.

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus declares His authority over all of heaven and earth and promises his followers that he is with them when they make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching them the way of Jesus.

The church accesses the power and authority of Jesus and advances the kingdom of God when they make disciples of all people and help them follow the teachings of Jesus.

That is why we need disciple-making churches for every person and place. Whenever and wherever the church makes disciples, the kingdoms of this world diminish, and the kingdom of heaven advances.

Application

The Lausanne Movement commissioned artist Bryn Gillette to paint a visual representation of the desire to see ‘disciple-making churches for every people.’

Once you have read today’s Bible readings, take some time to meditate over the imagery of the painting. Focus especially on the spotless bride, depicting the global church and all the people who are a part of her, holding the flame of the gospel and the power of God.