Evangelism
Same Mission, New Method
This devotional is written by Matt Coombs.
Matthew 28:16-20
The Great Commission
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, baptising 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."
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, baptising 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."
Reflection
The Mission has not changed but the Method must…
Over the last 2000 years, Christians have continually needed to respond to Jesus' Great Commission in new and innovative ways. The church has used the technologies of the day to communicate about the new life they have found in Jesus.
From the Apostles who travelled from town to town establishing churches and seeking to impact the surrounding regions. They travelled to these places often via Roman road. Such journey’s were difficult before the Roman Empire established its road system. We still do the same thing, we go to start new worshipping communities in areas that need them.
Through the ages, art has been used to impact the viewer. From the Sistine Chapel to stained glass windows, they have been vital for communicating the stories of Jesus, even to this day.
Over 500 years ago the invention of the Gutenberg printing press allowed for mass printing of the Bible in the language of the people. A number of years ago, I met a man giving out copies of the New Testament on Oxford Street and I asked why he was doing it. He replied: “Someone, 31 years ago handed me a New Testament on the street and I opened up the gospels and met Jesus. I’ve been sharing in the same way ever since.”
During the second world war, C.S. Lewis utilised the technology of radio to talk about Christianity to the nation. Air Chief Marshal Sir Donald Hardman wrote: "The war, the whole of life, everything tended to seem pointless. We needed, many of us, a key to the meaning of the universe. Lewis provided just that.”
The church has a responsibility to redeem technology to reach the lost and make disciples.
We can’t wait for the world to return to 'normal' to fulfil our calling in the ways we have done them before. Let us continue to go and make disciples. Let's use everything that has worked in the past, communicating the wonder of Jesus through art, aesthetics, and audible proclamation. But let us also utilise every technology available to us and reach the lost in new ways too.
Let us pray to hear stories of people saying: “31 years ago, someone invited me on a Zoom call and I met Jesus.”
Over the last 2000 years, Christians have continually needed to respond to Jesus' Great Commission in new and innovative ways. The church has used the technologies of the day to communicate about the new life they have found in Jesus.
From the Apostles who travelled from town to town establishing churches and seeking to impact the surrounding regions. They travelled to these places often via Roman road. Such journey’s were difficult before the Roman Empire established its road system. We still do the same thing, we go to start new worshipping communities in areas that need them.
Through the ages, art has been used to impact the viewer. From the Sistine Chapel to stained glass windows, they have been vital for communicating the stories of Jesus, even to this day.
Over 500 years ago the invention of the Gutenberg printing press allowed for mass printing of the Bible in the language of the people. A number of years ago, I met a man giving out copies of the New Testament on Oxford Street and I asked why he was doing it. He replied: “Someone, 31 years ago handed me a New Testament on the street and I opened up the gospels and met Jesus. I’ve been sharing in the same way ever since.”
During the second world war, C.S. Lewis utilised the technology of radio to talk about Christianity to the nation. Air Chief Marshal Sir Donald Hardman wrote: "The war, the whole of life, everything tended to seem pointless. We needed, many of us, a key to the meaning of the universe. Lewis provided just that.”
The church has a responsibility to redeem technology to reach the lost and make disciples.
We can’t wait for the world to return to 'normal' to fulfil our calling in the ways we have done them before. Let us continue to go and make disciples. Let's use everything that has worked in the past, communicating the wonder of Jesus through art, aesthetics, and audible proclamation. But let us also utilise every technology available to us and reach the lost in new ways too.
Let us pray to hear stories of people saying: “31 years ago, someone invited me on a Zoom call and I met Jesus.”
Recent
Archive
2020
January
New YearNew YearNew YearThe Path to Spiritual GrowthEvery Night with MattThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeHow to PrayThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of Luke
February
The Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeHow to PrayThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of Luke
March
The Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of Luke
April
The Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeLent: The Final WeekLent: The Final WeekLent: The Final WeekLent: The Final WeekLent: The Final WeekThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeHow to PrayThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of Luke
May
The Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukePentecostal PrayerPentecostal PrayerPentecostal PrayerPentecost PrayerPentecost PrayerPentecost Prayer
June
July
August
2019
January
John the Baptist prepares the wayJesus announces the good newsJesus heals manyJesus forgives and healsJesus heals on the SabbathParable of the sowerLamp on a standJesus restores a demon possessed manJesus raises a dead girl and heals a sick womanA prophet without honourJohn the Baptist beheadedJesus feeds the five thousandJesus walks on waterThat which defiles
February
Faith of the Syro-phonecian womanFeeding 4000Jesus heals a blind man at BethsaidaTransfigurationJesus heals a boy possessed by an impure spiritJesus predicts his death a second timeDivorceThe rich and the kingdom of GodJesus predicts his death a third timeBlind Bartimaeus receives his sightJesus comes to Jerusalem as kingJesus curses a fig tree and clear the templeThe authority of Jesus questionedPaying tax to CaesarThe greatest commandmentThe destruction of the temple
March
June
July
A Fellowship of DifferenceLove your neighbourLove your enemyNeither Jew nor GentilePray for PrideEphesians 6:10-13Ephesians 6:14Ephesians 6:15Ephesians 6:16Ephesians 6:17Ephesians 6:18-20LoveLove, for the day is nearLove is patientGod is loveCreationSabbathThe Lord does not grow wearyPsalm 23Come all you who are wearyBe stillJesus asleep in the boatQuiet you with love
August
Proverbs 1Proverbs 2Proverbs 3Proverbs 4Proverbs 5Proverbs 6Proverbs 7Proverbs 8Proverbs 9Proverbs 10Proverbs 11Proverbs 12Proverbs 13Proverbs 14Proverbs 15Proverbs 16Proverbs 17Proverbs 18Proverbs 19Proverbs 20Proverbs 21Proverbs 22Proverbs 23Proverbs 24Proverbs 25Proverbs 26Proverbs 27Proverbs 28Proverbs 29Proverbs 30Proverbs 31
September
October
A Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleBack very soonSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the Mount
November
Sermon on the MountSermon on the MountOpen to the SpiritOpen to the SpiritOpen to the SpiritOpen to the SpiritLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the Thessalonians
No Comments