When God said:

"Let's Go Make Disciples"

By Michael Puckett

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Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” John 21:15-19

TO THINK ABOUT

Peter saw Jesus heal the blind, cast out demons and resurrect the dead. But when Jesus was being crucified, Peter said, “I do not know the man.” Peter gave up his livelihood, relationships and comfort to follow Jesus, but when it came time to die with Jesus he refused. He was willing to give up everything, but not his life. Peter followed Jesus all the way to Golgotha, but he was not willing to follow Jesus to the cross.

Like Peter, every time I sin – I deny Jesus. I refuse to believe in him. I refuse his grace and I refuse to submit to his leadership. I have witnessed Jesus’ work in my life and in the lives of people around me but when it comes down to following Jesus with my whole life, I deny that I even know the man. I wonder if people were to look at my life what would they say. I think that they would say, “Really, this guy says he knows Jesus?” I am willing to offer Jesus a lot, but when he leads me to the cross and invites me to come with him that is when I draw the line. I refuse to follow Jesus.

What about you? Jesus has called you to lose your life. He has called you to follow him to the cross. Will you follow Jesus?

When Jesus resurrects from the dead he finds Peter, makes him breakfast, sits him down and gently asks him a simple question: “Do you love me?” Jesus does not deny Peter, he does not ignore him, he does not reject him, but rather he offers Peter a new relationship. Jesus invites Peter back into discipleship and he invites Peter into a mission. A mission that will require Peter to take up his cross. A mission that will require Peter to lose his life. But also, a mission that in the end results in eternal life with Jesus. What is this mission? Discipleship. If Peter loves Jesus, what does Jesus ask him to do? Jesus asks him to feed and care for his sheep… Jesus essentially says to Peter, “Let’s go make disciples!”

I am glad that Jesus has forgiven me and he has invited me back into relationship with him. I am glad that he has given me a mission to make disciples. I know that Jesus loves me, but do I love Jesus? Do I make disciples?

Seven Rivers Church is committed to making disciples. Every week I see little kids playing in the church and being loved by God’s people. Every week I encounter the conviction of the Holy Spirit through the Bible preached and my heart is transformed by God’s Word. Every week I see students following Jesus despite a culture that says, “Jesus followers are dumb.” Every week I hear about lives being transformed through the ministry of discipleship groups and small groups. Every week I see sinners loved by a Holy God and being sanctified. God loves to make disciples and this is what Seven Rivers Church loves to do, too.

Do you want to be a part of this? If so, Jesus asks you a simple question: “Do you love me?” Even though you have sinned, even though you have rejected him, Jesus invites you back into relationship. Truly, do you love Jesus? If you do, then feed and tend his sheep. If you love Jesus, go and make disciples… and what is the cost of discipleship? It is not just your money, your time or your work… but it is your whole entire life. Will you give up your life and follow Jesus? If so, let’s go make disciples.

TO APPLY

1. Is there anything standing in the way of giving up your whole life to Jesus (i.e. family, friends, money, time, work)?
2. What would it look like for you to take up your cross and follow Jesus? What do you need to repent of? What do you need to confess?
3. What would it look like for you to feed and tend Jesus’ sheep? What would it look like for you to go make disciples at Seven Rivers Church?
4. Do you love Jesus?

PRAY

Adoration—Adore that God is Holy and yet he invites us into relationship with him.
Confession—Confess that often you fail to love God and that you need his grace.
Thanksgiving—Thank God for his love for you and the mission that he has called you to despite your sin.
Supplication—Ask God to show you how he wants you to make disciples and to give you the strength to follow Jesus to the cross.