Jesus' eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus had told them to meet him. Jesus came to them and said: "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world."    Matthew 28:16, 18-20 (The Contemporary English Version)

The Great Commission is a personal directive given by Jesus to all his disciples, even to those of us who are counted as his latter day disciples.

A Lutheran pastor published a book in l994 entitled: Evangelism: The First Business of the Church. This intriguing book, by Pastor E. Dale Click, was based on the "Lutheran Evangelism Mission" (LEM), which was a church-wide emphasis of the United Lutheran Church in America (ULCA) during the l950s. It provided a blueprint for how local congregations, frequently overwhelmed with many other concerns, such as, stewardship, Christian education, new mission work, social ministry, human justice and world hunger, should focus on "evangelism" - the church's primary mission in the world! In assessing the importance of the book, one on his former seminary professors and a noted Lutheran theologian, pointed out that "evangelism is not just another activity of the church, but its basic function, the gospel itself in action." The book can be a valuable resource today to pastors and lay leaders because it has a step-by-step program for enabling congregations to proclaim the Great Commission in a practical, useful, theological manner.

Jesus taught that personal spiritual growth occurs when believers go into the world and make disciples of others. Jesus prepared the twelve disciples for their first engagement with the world by telling them where to go, how they should dress and how they should respond to their hearers. Then, according to Luke, Jesus sent out seventy-two other followers, two by two, into every town and village where he was about to go. Before their journey, Jesus reminded them: "Whoever listens to you is listening to me." When they returned, Luke reports: "They were excited and said, "Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we spoke in your name.!' " However, Jesus said to them, 'Don't be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven." (See Luke 10:1, 16-17, and 20).

We must never forget that the church's primary mission is to proclaim to others that God loves them and wants them to be reconciled unto Himself. Church growth is a natural concern for every congregation, but we dare not forget that some of us are called to plant the seeds of faith, others to water and nourish that budding new faith; however, it is God who gives the increase and makes us his faithful disciples.

Gracious Father, give me the courage and strength to proclaim the Great Commission and help me to experience the excitement that comes from sharing with others the good news of Your Kingdom. In the Name of Jesus, the Christ, we pray. Amen.

Contributed by Pastor Don
Sunday October 15, 2006
Liturgical Year B Week 47