The Truth Hurts

"So they picked up stones to throw at him."
Text: John 8:48-59

We cannot engage the culture without getting to the gospel. And the gospel is offensive.

Jesus has given us a mission: “Go and make disciples of all nations."

I love Bobby Harrington's definition of discipleship: “Discipleship is trusting God’s presence as we intentionally enter into the lives of others to guide them to trust and follow Jesus and obey all His teachings.” 

Last night I led another installment of "Intro to Grace." These classes are an excellent reminder for me of our mission and purpose. We are here to help each other know and follow Jesus in our homes, city, and world. The church is for training and equipping believers. As people become healthy disciples, they will daily encounter family, friends, and coworkers with the words and the work of the gospel. Like Jesus, they will seek and save the lost. But we must remind not only new disciples, but also ourselves, that discipleship comes with a cost. Jesus said people love darkness rather than light because their works are evil (John 3:19). We must expect resistance and rejection. We must expect modern-day stones to be thrown at us. But Jesus promises to be with us as we go!

"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" (Matthew 28:19-20).

Over and over during Jesus' time on earth, He stated He was following God the Father's will, and everything He did was for God's glory. Luke tells us that "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke 5:16). If God the Son needed to break from ministry to spend private time with His Father, you do, too.

You won't be able to handle rejection if you are now empowered by the One who has called you. You cannot give and serve others faithfully if you are not empowered by the One who called you to imitate Himself. You won't be passionate about the truth if you don't know the One who is the way, the truth, and the life.

It's All About Jesus,
John