GO, MAKE DISCIPLES…BIBLICAL INSIGHTS FOR

RLC’S YEAR OF “GO”

SESSION 1:GO...THE GREAT COMMISSION

 

GORLC’s theme for the coming year

We continue to CONNECT and GROW through reflection on what it means to be a Christian servant.

As God’s baptized children we experience the new FREEDOM we have in Christ to love and serve all of God’s children and all of God’s creation.

Empowered by the Risen Christ, we are SENT into the world to baptize and teach in Christ’s name and with Christ’s presence.

Session 1: September 14: “Go…in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”

Promise and power for Christian discipleship in the name of God

Session 2: September 21: “Go..and Learn what this Means: Mercy and not Sacrifice”

We Go with God’s message of mercy and forgiveness

Session 3: September 28: “Go…as Trustworthy and Wise Servants”

Faithful and wise Service makes good use of the resources we have been given

Session 4: October 5: “Go…and I am with you to the end”Responsible service tests our creativity and faithfulness in our use of God’s gifts

Overview of Sessions

The Christian Life: A Journey and a

Center

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

CONNECT in Christ

with one another and the world

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

GROW in Christ

with one another and the world

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40 And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' (Matthew 25:34-40)

SERVE in Christ

serving one another and the world

Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you-- that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:44-49)

GO in Christ ‘s Name

In mission to one another and the world

CONNECT

GROW

SERVE

GO

A Journey of Faithful Companionship with the Scriptures: We Go! Empowered by the Promises of GodThe Bible is our Norm because of what it does.

We read as ones called into being by the Word of God

We read expecting that God will continue to do so again“The Bible is a book that does what God wants it to

do: a book that affects us, that transforms us, because it reveals Christ to us and draws us into a living relationship with Jesus Christ who is risen from the dead….The Bible opens the very heart of God to us. It shows us what God has done for us—what God still does for us—what God always will do for us.” (Powell, Opening the Book of Faith)

• God's Word is never abstract truths, but addressed to specific situations

• Authority and Interpretation: Dynamic not Static: Read/Study-Listen/Understand

• Living with Ambiguity

• Living with Diversity

• Hearing new Word for new occasions

GO! BIBLICAL IMAGES

A LIVING LORD A RESURRECTION

PEOPLEAs they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." (Mark 16:5-7)

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:45-49)

So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." (Acts 1:6-11)

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:19-22)

GO MAKES DISCIPLES…THE GREAT COMMISSION

A THEME FOR RLC YEAR OF “GO”

MATTHEW 28:18-20

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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."

Framing the Good News

She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." (Matthew 1:21-23)

And remember, I am with youalways, to the end of the age.

Framing the Commission

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

 Therefore….Go

 And remember, I am with you always, to

the end of the age 

Focusing the CommissionMake disciples: Baptize: in the name of Father, Son, Holy Spirit

And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenlythe heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Teach: all that I have instructed

"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" 37 He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40)

All Authority Given to Me

I Am with you Always

Go..Baptize…Teach….

Coming and Going: The Double Direction of DiscipleshipAll things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:27-30) All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,