ICYMI: You've Got the Job!

In Case You Missed It, we are discussing some of the essential things to know and do following Jesus' return from the dead. These are not just messages but life-transforming principles and practices.

In Case You Missed It: You've Got the Job! | Gareth Nicholson | 27 Apr 2025

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I remember going for my first interview, getting my first job, and showing up at work, but not sure exactly what to do. A lot of time was spent doing" on-the-job training", and I found later that I learnt the most when teaching others. Perhaps you have had a similar experience?

Jesus' way of sharing the cure for the brokenness of the world was to give the job to eleven guys, and the way of getting this done was a lot like on-the-job training (but without the interview process). We're here today because of them

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, go 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 I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus' idea: "When I come back, there should be more of you."

Salvation is the start line, not the finish line!

Disciples, not Christians

• Christian appears just 3 times in the Bible (Acts11:26,26:28, 1 Pet 4:16)

• Disciple appears 269 times

• Disciples are learners, growing, developing

• In times of old, followers of Jesus were known as people of "the way"

• Jesus didn't come to make Christians, he came to make disciples!

• The apprentice model (watch, do)

• ICYMI, if you follow Jesus, the Great Commission is your job description!

• Commission Components

  • Go - missional

  • Make - intentional

  • Baptize - relational

  • Teach - informational

  
  

• Commission Condition

  • "And surely, I am with you"

  • He is closest when we are doing what he has commanded us to do"

• Our Expression of this

  Help people to

  1/ Follow Jesus 

  2/ Know True Identity

  3/ Grow in Freedom

  4/ Go live With Purpose

  We want to help you do this well. We Go Together

  Three Barriers to overcome:

  • Delegate - "Someone else should do this, maybe the church staff."

    • A full room doesn't equal a fulfilled mission

    • Preaching is like spraying everyone with a hosepipe and saying everyone got water

    • There are no "levels" in Jesus version, both the worshippers and doubters got the job - YOU are the Church, and an important and necessary part of it

  • Disqualify  "I can't… because of..."

    • No matter what you may have done in your past, Jesus Christ is not ashamed of you, and can use you!

    • If he qualifies you, who are you to disqualify yourself?

  • Delay - "When I… then I will..."

    • "Go quickly and tell them," the angel said in Matt 28:7. At that time, women were not considered trustworthy witnesses - imagine if they had delayed until things changed in the culture...

    • I'm still working on getting a theology qualification - imagine if I put everything on pause until I had the certificate?

  
  

  •  Don't think cookie-cutter approach in the sense that everyone should be preaching the Gospel in the same way - books have been written about see several different styles of evanglesim : Direct, Intellectual, Testimonial, Relational, Invitational, and Service

  How to become a disciple who makes disciples:

  1. Admit this is missing

  2. Be before do

     1. Walk authentically with God

     2. You reproduce what you are

  3. Choose three key relationships

     1. In front, alongside, behind  (Paul, Barnabas, Timothy)

     2. Everyone needs to be discipled. Everyone needs to make disciples.

  4. Develop this culture in your life

     1. Spend time in passages of Scripture that stir your heart for the lost.

     2.  Continuously reflect on what God has done in your own life.

     3. Be around people who have the value of discipleship in their lives.

     4. Get into places and spaces with people who are not disciples

  "Ultimately, each church will be evaluated by only one thing - its disciples."

  Neil Cole

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• Discussion Questions for Life Groups:

  
  

  1. When you began to follow Jesus, was there someone who was there to help you grow?

  2. When / how have you grown the most as a disciple?

  3. Which of the three barriers is most familiar to you?

  4. What practical steps will you take to grow in your discipleship journey?