Showing posts with label Followers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Followers. Show all posts

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Preach vs. Teach

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Make disciples of all men - not just converts who warm the pews, but actual disciples. Teach the gospel and see what it will accomplish - preaching it alone might win souls, but when it is taught, it is caught! Live the message - the gospel was always meant to be something that is backed with action, not just words spoken from a pulpit. If they are willing to follow, bring them along.

When we submit to the leadership of Jesus, we are acknowledging that we are willing to take up the mission he has given each of us. Yes, we are to tell others about Christ - but the billboard you hold on the side of the roadway won't cut it. Yes, we are to quote scripture - but we cannot beat people up with it. Yes, we are to pray constantly for our community, leaders, and even those we don't know and may never know, but prayer alone is still not enough.

We follow Christ through daily relationship with him. We learn to stand upon his Word and put it into practice on a daily basis. We commit to serve and then we do it. Too many 'serve' Jesus when and where it is 'convenient' for them, but too few really serve him as he asked us to serve. One thing I was always taught is that 'delayed obedience' is nothing more than disobedience in a 'pretty package'. Jesus wasn't asking the disciples to go and make disciples that would follow them. He asked them to go and make disciples of all men that would follow HIM. Our obedience to the calling on our lives may actually be the ONLY way someone comes to experience the reality of relationship with him. Perhaps we could preach a little less and teach a little more. Just sayin!