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nqualified. Do you ever feel that way? That’s how the world viewed the men Jesus chose to be his disciples. But that didn’t stop him from calling them and empowering them to change the world with the spread of the gospel. Their experience with Jesus made it impossible for them to be silent and compelled them to share. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), while a direct command from Jesus, was also a natural response to an encounter with Jesus.
UNQUALIFIED
TO SHARE THE
GOSPEL DOES AGE CHANGE YOUR ROLE IN THE GREAT COMMISSION? BY JEREMY MORRIS
Students are usually treated the way the disciples had been before their call to follow Jesus. In my experience, though, these so-called unqualified youngsters are some of the most effective disciple-makers. I was led to Jesus by the faithful prayers of a group of teenagers when I was a high school teacher. There are few things in our faith more humbling than being led to the Savior by someone that, in the world’s eyes, is not qualified to lead. Jesus says in Matthew 28:18-19: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The most exciting part of this scripture is the inference that Jesus makes: because he has been given all authority on heaven and earth and since he lives in us, we then have the same authority. When we realize that includes teenagers and children, that is when I think we see revival. Young people will step up to the plate as disciple-makers when we give them a chance and we empower them to do so. It is important that teens realize the Great Commission isn’t just for adults. The sphere of influence of our students is so much greater than that of most adults. When students carry the presence of the Holy Spirit into their community, not only is the community transformed but also the individuals themselves. A teenager who radically obeys the Great Commission will see his or her own relationship with Jesus grow exponentially. Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured you.” When we give away what we’ve been given from the Lord, he returns it to us in great abundance. When our faith is given away to others, God gives us faith back—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Our motivation for sharing is because we have encountered the truth of the gospel, and the result is more truth. As we engage in disciple-making, I believe we become more connected to Jesus, and as we give away, in turn, we are drawn closer to him. Is the Great Commission optional? Absolutely not. We are called to go to our “Jerusalem” and to the ends of the earth. For students, Jerusalem may be their neighborhoods, and the ends of the earth may be their schools, especially as schools become more and more diverse. The nations are coming to us, and our students are on the front line of the greatest mission field. Partnering with the Holy Spirit to make disciples is both their challenge and responsibility. Paul writes in Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentiles.” When our students are unashamed of sharing the gospel, they obey the Great Commission. I believe when our teenagers become disciple-makers, we will see amazing revival in our communities and in our nation. Jeremy Morris is a former high school teacher who was led to Jesus by students. In 2016, he was called to the assosciate pastor role at Stonebridge Church, in Marietta, Georgia, and has since been led by God to accept the youth pastor position at Stonebridge. september/october 2020
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