Central Truth

There are probably few Christians that cannot recite all or some part of Matthew 28:19-20 and recall The Great Commission. But, in reality, how many of us really know the central truths of the Great Commission so that we can use it in our daily lives to impact others?

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Reflections

As a business coach, I work with owners or presidents of small and medium sized companies on a regular basis to help them be more effective and move their business forward.  Time is always at a premium, and efficiency and simplicity are keys to making real measurable progress.  As a result, I am always looking for ways to breakdown business principals or fundamental truths into smaller segments, phrases or lists that are easier to remember and implement.  In practice, if you can remember three or four words, you can remember three or four truths and as a result, the process, tools, tips or steps you need to follow to achieve your desired result.  Simple, right?!

As an early Christian believer I was taught to pay particular attention to the statements are made in scripture that follow the word "therefore."  I was told that anytime the word "therefore" appeared, there was a central truth that followed that God wanted us to pay attention to.

At the end of Matthew 28, I found both the "therefore" and the simple three or four words that give us our simple marching orders for what we are to do.  As I see it, the four words it boils down to are: "Go, Baptize, Teach, and Remember."

"Go" and make disciples. We must take action.  We need to be active participants in sharing the Gospel with others in order to create disciples.

"Baptize" them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
To baptize means to cleanse or purify of sins.  A key part of following Jesus is to recognize that we are sinners and that we need to repent of our sins.

"Teach" them to obey everything that I have commanded you.
We must learn and communicate that obedience to God's commandments is critical to our success as believers in living the life that God has intended for us.

"Remember," I am with you always. Know that we are not alone: God has given us His Spirit to guide and empower us to share His Good News.

Now, Go, Baptize, Teach and Remember!

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Discussion Questions

1.  What specific actions can you take to "go"...

2.  Are you well equipped to share with others the need for repentance?  Does your life exhibit an example of Christ-like purity in order to be able to share that with others?  What are some ways that you may not be the example you should be?

3. Are you well acquainted with God's commands in order to share them with others?  What is one way you could improve your knowledge to be more effective in sharing God's commands?

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