Senior Pastor – Jonathan Peppers
Jonathan Jottings
The last words of Christ that Matthew records are
what we call “The Great Commission”: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:18-20, ESV). You’ve heard before that the main verb in that commission is “make disciples,” and that is true; however, we rarely focus on the prerequisite to making disciples: being disciples.
The Greek word translated “disciple” in the NT simply means a learner. So to be a disciple of Jesus
means that we are learners of Him. Please read Matthew 12:46-50; there you will find the pattern for a disciple: one who listens to the teaching of Christ, understands what he has heard, and is committed to obeying Jesus’ teaching. We have a tendency to overcomplicate things; but that’s what a disciple is! It is simply someone who studies and obeys the teachings of Christ! This reminds me of the OT paradigm in Ezra. The Bible says that “the good hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it [i.e. obey it] and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel” (Ezra 7:9-10, ESV).
So, before we talk about making disciples, we must first make sure we are being disciples. As is always the case in the Christian life, being comes
before doing.
Are you truly a disciple of Jesus? Are you faithfully studying and understanding His teaching with a heart fixed on obedience?
what we call “The Great Commission”: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:18-20, ESV). You’ve heard before that the main verb in that commission is “make disciples,” and that is true; however, we rarely focus on the prerequisite to making disciples: being disciples.
The Greek word translated “disciple” in the NT simply means a learner. So to be a disciple of Jesus
means that we are learners of Him. Please read Matthew 12:46-50; there you will find the pattern for a disciple: one who listens to the teaching of Christ, understands what he has heard, and is committed to obeying Jesus’ teaching. We have a tendency to overcomplicate things; but that’s what a disciple is! It is simply someone who studies and obeys the teachings of Christ! This reminds me of the OT paradigm in Ezra. The Bible says that “the good hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it [i.e. obey it] and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel” (Ezra 7:9-10, ESV).
So, before we talk about making disciples, we must first make sure we are being disciples. As is always the case in the Christian life, being comes
before doing.
Are you truly a disciple of Jesus? Are you faithfully studying and understanding His teaching with a heart fixed on obedience?
Jonathan
Elders
Rick Haden
Aden Joy
Scott Longfellow
Quentin Smith
Justin Snyder
Jonathan Peppers
Officers
Treasurer – Peggy Johnson
Asst. Treasurer – Florence Girard
Clerk – Darla Joy
Administrative Assistant
Jayne Morrissette – Administrative Assistant
Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10 am – 3 pm
Ministry Teams
Children & Youth – Lori Kemling
Mishele Longfellow
Discipleship – Levi Whitley
Lyle Koerber
Fellowship & Caring – Barbara Kortman
Chris Smith
Finance & Property – Doug Herman
Missions & Outreach – Brian Longfellow
Conrad Trost
Prayer & Worship – Joann Freeborn
Gwen Miller
unday School Teachers
Nursery:
Jayne Morrissette & Kathy Herman
Beginners (ages 2-3):
Lori Kemling
age 4 – 1st:
Mishelle Longfellow & Liv Longfellow
2nd – 3rd:
Justin Fleming & Brian Kemling
4th – 6th:
Alaina Peppers & Sara Fleming
7th – 12th Grade:
Meeting with Adult Classes at this time
Adult Class:
Aden Joy
Scott Longfellow
Friendship Class:
Quentin Smith, lead teacher
Doug Herman, substitute
Sunset Home: (Not currently meeting)
Van Morrissette & Doug Herman
Youth Leaders
Brian Kemling
Youth Assistants: Nikki Goertzen
Justin Fleming
