Title: Disciples Making Disciples
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00:19 Individual Christianity, the Local Church, and Missions are All Connected
04:29 What Is a Church?
09:27 A Church Has a Mission
13:26 What Does "Disciples Making Disciples" Mean?
15:08 A Look Inside: How Do I Engage with Missions
24:36 A Look Outward: Practically Loving Others
38:31 A Look Upward: God is Working Everywhere
44:18 Questions to Ask Yourself about Missions and Discipleship
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- Acts 2:42-47 – Characteristics of the early church (teaching, fellowship, worship, service, and community).
- Acts 1:8 – The church’s mission to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
- Luke 24:46-48 – The mission to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations.
- Matthew 5:1-12 (Beatitudes) – Emphasizes the need for God and the blessings of those who seek righteousness.
- Philippians 2:3-8 – Jesus’ humility and call for believers to serve others.
- 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 – Comfort from God is given so that believers can comfort others.
- Hebrews 13:15-16 – Offering sacrifices of praise and doing good to others.
- 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 – Paul describes believers as God’s fellow workers in His mission.
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In his sermon, "Disciples Making Disciples," Jed Gillis emphasizes the inseparable connection between individual Christianity, the local church, and missions. Drawing from Acts 2:42-47, he highlights the essential characteristics of a biblical church: teaching, fellowship, worship, service, and community. The church is not meant to be inwardly focused but is called to mission, as seen in Acts 1:8 and Luke 24:46-48, where Jesus commands His followers to proclaim repentance and forgiveness to all nations.
Gillis explains that engaging with the church and missions should not be about self-promotion or self-righteousness, but rather a recognition of personal need and dependence on God (Matthew 5:1-12). A true disciple understands their own thirst for God and seeks to help others find the same satisfaction. The blessings believers receive are not just for them but are meant to be shared, following the example of Christ’s humility in Philippians 2:3-8 and Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7—that God's comfort is given so that it may be extended to others.
Furthermore, a church cannot fulfill its purpose without a commitment to making disciples, both locally and globally. Hebrews 13:15-16 reminds believers that their worship includes doing good and sharing with others, while 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 reinforces that believers are God's fellow workers in His mission. Gillis challenges listeners to consider how they are personally involved in disciple-making, urging them to recognize their own need for God, share His blessings with others, and look upward to see His ongoing work around the world.
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.
