Salvations, Baptisms, and Discipleship

The Great commission says, ¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18–20)

There are three parts:

• The “teach all nations” part is the part about proclaiming the Gospel and seeing people saved.
• The “baptizing them in the name…” part is the authorized institution (the church) identifying them with Jesus and his teachings
• The “teaching them to observe all things…” part is about the systematic training of those baptized believers.

This week, we get to enjoy fruit in all three areas. Last week, souls were saved, and on Sunday, two people will be baptized. Tonight (and almost every Wednesday night), several people are here and there in all the spare rooms and offices, receiving one-on-one discipleship training from God’s Word, and the kids are receiving training in the Master Clubs, and the teens are receiving training in the Teens of Faith, and we are receiving training in the sanctuary on how to study the Bible.

If you’re looking for a fancy new plan on how to do church, I’m not sure that we have one. We’re just doing the simple, steady work of ongoing ministry. We’re just calling Christians to be faithful to God, available to serve, and have a teachable spirit. We’re just living our lives in love for God and others.

That’s the Christian life.

So happy to be living it with the Calvary Baptist Church family.

-Pastor Ryan