Matthew: Ministry.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28: 19a)

  As I have indicated earlier, the main verb of this sentence is not, “Go,’ although the intent is there. It should read more like, “While going….” That still implies that the disciples are on the move and not stuck in a locality, to be sure. This is clarified in the beginning of Acts where Jesus last appears and tells the disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Then they are to go and be Jesus’ “witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Notice that the mission spirals out from where the disciples were at the moment. 

 That is settled. Now, go and do what? Let’s approach it this way. What does the text not say? It does not say “go and make converts.” It does not say “go and preach.” Neither does the text say, “go and evangelize.” Jesus said to “go and make disciples.” It took Jesus three years of intense face-to-face interaction with a steady small group of twelve apprentices to make disciples. Hear that again: It took Jesus three years of intense face-to-face interaction with a steady small group of twelve apprentices to make disciples. I am sure that it will not take less than that for us to do the same.

 Over the years the clarity of the church’s ministry has been a problem, both among evangelistic-minded Christians and service-minded Christians. The need for a balance can be illustrated with the story of the difference between George Whitefield (1714-1770) and John Wesley (1703-1791). 

 Whitefield was a ‘field’ preacher before Wesley became one. To preach in the ‘field’ meant to preach outside the church, perhaps even in the open air. Whitefield was a gifted preacher, better than Wesley. He held rallies in England and conducted three evangelistic tours of the American Colonies. People flocked to his sermons and many converts were made. When the rally was over, Whitefield would move on to the next venue. 

 It was Whitefield who convinced Wesley to begin ‘field’ preaching by standing outside of a coal mine in Bristol and preaching to the workers who emerged after their shift. He also was successful. However, Wesley soon came to see that more was needed. Wesley said that he would not strike a hammer blow where he could not follow up by building a congregation.

 Wesley was an organizer. He formed his converts in one area into an organization he called a ‘Society’. These he divided into smaller ‘Class Meetings’. Wesley had a method, and thus his detractors called his movement ‘Methodists’. Wesley claimed that the method was the Biblical way of putting converts in groups of anywhere from 6 to 12 members and having them meet weekly to encourage growth as disciples of Christ. The process raised accountability to a new level as members were asked about their struggles and successes that week living the Christian life. Counsel and prayer were given.

  The meetings were designed to teach people the Bible and Christian doctrine. In this way, Wesley wanted to prevent new converts from falling away, and confirm them in their personal growth as disciples of Christ. The groups were nurturing and affirming. Thus, Wesley intended that the members would experience joy in growth and willingness to be a witness to others about Christ. So, after a few years in a group, each member should be able step out and lead a group of new converts.  

 Such a practice was carried out in the early church and, indeed, in most of the history of the church. But by Wesley and Whitefield’s time (the 1700s) discipleship groups were rare in England or elsewhere. The upper class went to church where they owned a pew, the middle class barely got in, and the poor were left outside. 

 Whitefield and Wesley took the gospel out from the church and into the streets so that poor people who had never heard the Gospel now learned that the good news was intended for them. They had a personal invitation from a loving God who would forgive their sins and empower them to live a new life. Whitefield made many converts, but he did not organize them. After a rally, he went on to the next one. Wesley stayed and organized discipleship groups. 

 An old story is told that goes like this: “Whitefield met an old friend, Mr. John Pool and accosted him in the following manner: ‘Well, John, art thou still a Wesleyan?’ Pool replied, ‘Yes, sir, and I thank God that I have the privilege of being in connection with him, and one of his preachers’. ‘John’, said Whitefield, ‘thou art in the right place. My brother Wesley acted wisely–the souls that were awakened under his ministry he joined in class and thus preserved the fruits of his labor. This I neglected, and my people are a rope of sand’.” (from Jon Earls, “The History and Significance of the Wesleyan Class Meetings.” 2020. holyjoys.org. Cited from a book by Michael D. Henderson, John Wesley’s Class Meeting: A Model for Making Disciples. 1997. Nappanee, IN: Evangel Publishing House. Page 11).

 You can guess what a ‘rope of sand’ might be like. Try to pick it up and do something with it, then you will see. 

 Jesus’ instructions were to “make disciples,” not just converts. Unfortunately, the church seems to have fallen away from this command and is satisfied with bodies in the pews. If they show up on Sunday morning and give money, they have met their requirements as a Christian. What we are doing is not what Jesus envisioned.