Are you a member of your church or a disciple of Christ?
Is your primary relationship with the congregation or with Jesus Christ?
In and out of your church, what do you hear about most: conversations about people and activities in our lives or our relationship with Jesus Christ and what He’s doing in our lives?
Membership – Members in a congregation are expected to:
- Give money to support others who do ministry such as the pastor or a missionary.
- Maintain the institution. Give enough money to keep the building heated, lights on, and maintained and to make sure that enough people take their turn on committees and council.
- Live an upright life and be a good citizen of the community.
Discipleship – Our primary relationship is with Jesus Christ, not the congregation. Although, the congregation is the community of people with whom this relationship is lived out and nurtured.
- As disciples, we are commanded to have a deeper relationship with Jesus, become more like Jesus, and share the “Good News” with others.
- Disciples think of the pastor and the congregation being in a “partnership” instead of thinking they “pay the pastor”. They don’t complain about what the pastor is or isn’t doing but instead they understand that “ministry” belongs to all God’s people.
- Disciple’s life involves praying daily, reading scripture daily, going to church to worship weekly, tithing, serving others in Jesus’ name, and sharing Jesus with the unchurched.
- Disciples see that the church can’t grow within the walls of the church….they go out into the community to reach the unchurched, those in need, and those who have not gone to church for some time.
Nowadays, a lot of churches have few members and even fewer disciples.
Therefore, Christ’s call to discipleship is not an option but the livelihood of the church.
Our VISION should be on the Kingdom of God, NOT the church itself.
Are YOU a church member or a disciple of Christ?
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
