Inspired, empowered, connected to to do what Jesus did. Do individuals truly know what Jesus did? In fact, how many individuals have you asked that question to? Today many people think they know what Jesus came to do, but when you ask them for an answer to the question you receive a myriad of responses. Moreover, some individuals say that Jesus came to save us. Others respond by saying that Jesus came to grant us grace so that we will not live a life of eternal damnation. Yet others say that he came to fulfill the promise of the old testament prophets. However, is that really what Jesus came to do?

Jesus did a lot in the short time He was here. During that time he recruited the apostles who became his disciples. What is a disciple? A disciple was a follower of a teacher. Comparatively, a follower was a student. Jesus, became a teacher to twelve students. While on this earth we see many occasions in the Bible were Jesus pulled them aside to teach them separately from the crowd. Why? Probably, because the message he delivered to the crowd was just to wet their appetite. But, if you were a true follower you didn’t just want the appetizer you wanted the whole meal. Jesus took the time to breakdown the message in a more intimate setting with the disciples because they were committed to following him. He wanted to make sure that when he was no longer there to teach them they could repeat the process to lead others to Christ in the same way. Take a moment for reflection. How many individuals have you recruited to follow Jesus? Consequently, Jesus is not here on earth but you are, so when an individual receives your invitation to follow Jesus then you are the teacher and they are the follower. Have you helped them transition from the crowd to being a disciple?

“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.” —Woodrow Wilson

You know a true disciple of Jesus when they separate from the crowd of Sunday services to come to small group discussions when you make an invitation. Those are the ones who are tired of just receiving the appetizer and want the full meal. In fact, these individuals have made the transition from the crowd to being part of the inner circle of the family that says I want to be more connected to the body of Christ. I want to get to know Jesus a little bit more. These individuals are willing to step out of their Sunday morning routines to commit to being part of the family of Christ. That is not to say that the others are not part of the body they are, but they are just not ready to commit to the full meal.

Jesus never forced anyone to follow him. Jesus made an invitation. Those that followed could choose to say yes or no. But there is a difference from the crowd and those he chose. The crowd followed Jesus because they were captivated by his message the good news. But those that were invited into Jesus’s inner circle and accepted wanted more than the good news they wanted to do what He did. Today when we come to church we are part of the crowd but when we choose to accept the invitation to become part of the small groups that the church has to offer that is when we become disciples. Before Jesus died on the cross He mentioned that His work was completed. In John 17:4, ESV Jesus was speaking to the father and He says “that he has glorified him on earth by accomplishing the work that God gave him to do”. It begs the question what work? Jesus, had not yet died. He had not yet been taken to the cross. What was the work that Jesus finished? Well, we can discern that it was the teaching of the disciples, because Jesus goes on later to say “that he has revealed God to them, the ones God gave to him”. So, Jesus contrary to popular belief came to the world to make disciples in a small group setting. Those who could then in turn make disciples of others one person at a time.

I encourage you if you are part of the Sunday crowd to make the transition to be a follower of Jesus Christ by joining a small group where you can go deeper in the word with others. This is where the true journey begins. When you can be poured into, so that you can duplicate the process by pouring out into someone else who will hopefully one day join the Sunday crowd and eventually transition to a small group where they can become a mature disciple just like you. We are all called to inspire, empower, and connect to others to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

Today take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself are you truly a disciple? Have you separated yourself from the crowd that only comes to church on Sundays to be a disciple? If not, make the transition. Let this be your inspiration to join a small group and become empowered and connected to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, so that one day you can do the same for someone else.

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