I introduced this phrase and corresponding image to the church a few months ago. I presented this to the congregation in the context of discipleship; A disciple Loves God (through worship), Loves Others (through Christians Community), and Serves the World (through Christian service).  I said something along the lines that if people were worshiping in our Sunday gathering, connected to the community in our Sunday School classes or Connect Groups, and serving our community either by volunteering in the ministries of the church or in their community, that I would be the happiest pastor in the world. 

I’m not looking for people to be in the church building whenever the doors open. I don’t expect people to volunteer for 15 different ministries.  Its not realistic that people would develop deep and meaningful friendships with everyone in the church.  So my oversimplified definition of a disciple is someone who Loves God, Loves Others, and Serves the World. 

But not only is this our definition of a disciple, but it is also our plan on how to be faithful to our mission.  The goal of the church ministries and leadership is to invite, equip, and empower others to participate in these three specific categories of activity.  While I believe that God can and does engage people as individuals, I also believe that disciples are best made in community.  I’m confident that is why Jesus gathered the church and then gave them the mission to make disciples. 

A person can worship God by themself.  A person can serve others as an individual. 

But I strongly believe that there is something critically important about worshipping together as a gathered community, developing relationships with other Jesus followers, and participating in service with a faith community. Disciples are made in the community, to live as part of that community. 

And our mission as the church is to be disciples (people who worship, connect in Christian fellowship, and participate in Christian services), who make disciples (people who worship, connect in Christian fellowship, and participate in Christian services).

Something happens when we get this specific about our mission and motivations.  As we clarify what our mission is, we also indirectly clarify what our mission is not.  Our mission is not to give people information about Jesus or God.  Our mission is not to convince people to believe ideas about Jesus or God.  Honestly, that goal sets the bar too low.  We’re after disciples; formed in community, living in community, belonging to the community, and committed to the community.   What we want for others is not that they receive information, but rather experience transformation. And that is a much bigger task for us as the church.  

How can we possibly faithfully embrace that mission?

Love God. Love Others. Serve the World. – This is not only our definition of a disciple. This not only states what we want for others.  But it is the roadmap or the process through which we seek to make disciples; 

Our desire is for people to enter into a loving relationship with God.  How do we help people who don’t love God learn to love God?  We invite, encourage, and equip them to worship. And how does our church worship God?  The primary method of worship is our Sunday morning worship gathering.  Not only is that the activity that allows us to Love God, but if we invite, equip, and empower others to participate in that gathering, we are fulfilling that part of the mission to make disciples.  

Our desire is for people to develop deep and meaningful friendships shaped by Christian fellowship and a sense of belonging.  How do we help people who don’t love others in Christian community learn to love others in Christian community?  We invite, encourage, and equip, them to connect in a Connect Group or Sunday school class. The primary activity that forms deep relationships shaped by prayer, care, and faith are these small groups.  

Our desire is for people to live lives of service motivated by God’s love for the world.  How do we help people become disciples who Serve the World?  We invite, encourage, and equip them to serve right where they are. We don’t ask people to serve because we want people to serve us.  We invite people to serve because Jesus taught us that serving others is a primary way we experience God’s kingdom in our presence.  Helping others find the gifts, calling, and place to serve is a priority of the church leadership and community at large.   

We recently hosted a Fall Festival filled with games and activities to provide a fun family experience for the families of our daycare and preschool.  There were a few conversations about why we weren’t doing more teaching about God or the Bible.  And I completely understand where these questions are coming from.  But as a pastor, I didn’t see this event as a means to get non-Christians to know more information about God. Rather, I saw this as a SERVE event in which our church served the families in our community.  People who would be hesitant to teach a Sunday School class or work in the nursery had the opportunity to serve others by greeting our neighbors, playing games, serving refreshments, or helping families find their next fun activity. 

People asked me how many non-church people came.  I didn’t even count.  I was more excited about how many church people served.  How many people said yes to letting the families in our community know that we loved them; that we wanted something for them more than what we wanted from them?  And the answer to that question is: ALOT.  

So let’s invite people to Love God by inviting them to Worship with us.  Let’s invite people to Love others by inviting them to belong to our deep and authentic communities. And let’s invite people to Serve the World by serving in the church or serving their neighbors.  

In future writings, I will explore the ramifications of having people who aren’t yet disciples in the spaces and activities we have traditionally viewed as places for disciples.  But for right now, join me in trusting that if we invite people to worship, connect, and serve with us that they will learn to Love God, Love Others, and Serve the World. We will be disciples who make disciples.