Comments on: Guest Editorial: Don’t Stop Short

By: Casey Shutt

Casey Shutt — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:48:43 +0000

FYI: Andrew, I’ve done a post that is in response to your question (http://baptistmessenger.com/catechesis-needed/). It is a start in answering the question you’ve raised. The interview that is linked in the post I think is very helpful. We are talking about some fundamental changes in the way we think about the average church member (they are disciples being made as well as disciple-makers) and pastoral staff (who are also disciple-makers and disciples being made). It is a commission that makes active every member. I look forward to hearing the thoughts of others.

By: Catechesis needed! :: Baptist Messenger of Oklahoma

Catechesis needed! :: Baptist Messenger of Oklahoma — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:37:43 +0000

[...] Chris Gore’s editorial is a helpful reminder that the scope of the Great Commission is greater than we often assume. Too often we focus on the “going” and “baptizing,” which are only aspects of the more fundamental command to “make disciples.” [...]

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:46:10 +0000

Rev. Gore,

Excellent post…I agree that we need to do more to disciple those we baptize. More than declining baptisms, I surprises me more that historically, Southern Baptists have only retained 20% of their baptisms (if one compares average worship attendance year-over-year to baptisms, it’s basically 1:5 from 1950 on)

By way of starting the conversation, what do you think an appropriate strategy for “disciple multiplication” might look like? While we’ll be at it for a lifetime, how long before we “turn them loose” to disciple others themselves? What would we need to teach them as a foundation for committed and passionate Christianity?

By: Michael Cooper

Michael Cooper — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:38:15 +0000

Perhaps this is why we are in the decline that we have been in for the past several years? Why would we expect God to bless our partial obedience? Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

By: Jay Sampson

Jay Sampson — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:54:27 +0000

Good stuff, Chris. This “life-on-life” disciple making is the call of the Commission. It seems that in a press to see the “results” of the Commission we rush right past obedience TO the Commission. It may betray in us yet another way that we can accomplish what we believe to be God’s will in a more expedient, efficient way than he has set forth. In so doing, we miss His will altogether.

As we go, may the Spirit be pleased to use us as He creates disciples of men and women and they be baptized and taught how to obey all His commands that they have come to love.

By: casey

casey — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:13:35 +0000

spot on.