The familiar passage of scripture known among believers as The Great Commission says, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20/ KJV).
This scripture text not only reveals our commission to evangelize the lost through teaching them the plan of Salvation (being Born Again: John 3:1-7, Luke 24:44-48, Acts 2:38); it also reveals the responsibility of the church to disciple the converts after conversion!
The process is clear and simple:
teach | baptize | teach
I had the opportunity two weeks ago to teach Celeste a Bible Study which explained in detail what the Bible says about being saved. It was the first "teach" found in Matthew 28:19. We talked about repentance, being baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ and receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-4). The teaching was basic but Biblical, and let me just go ahead and remind those who might be wondering that the Word still works!
Then last Wednesday night, September 24th, I had the opportunity to "baptize" Celeste in the only "name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" - JESUS! (Acts 4:12)
The responsibility of the church did not end at merely teaching and baptizing (conversion), the Great Commission also included a second set of "teaching" instructions which would happen after conversion. This "teaching" is what we call Discipleship. Celeste is currently being discipled by the Moreno family in our church.
It's been said that the Gospel is only good news if it gets there in time, and I would like to add that the Great Commission will only work if we follow the whole process...
teach | baptize | teach
Marshall and Amy were married in April of 1996 and soon moved from Georgia to Jackson, Mississippi to enroll in Jackson College of Ministries (“JCM”). While attending JCM, Marshall received the call to preach. In 1999 Marshall graduated from JCM with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology and Amy with a Bachelors Degree in Music. After graduating, this anointed team moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Marshall served as full time Youth Pastor/Assistant Pastor and Amy served as Minister of Music. About a year later they were called to the evangelistic field.
After evangelizing, Marshall accepted an Assistant Pastor’s position in Conyers , GA , and ministered there for a year and a half. It was while they were in Conyers, that Marshall and Amy felt God leading them to start a NEW work in the City of Lawrenceville. On April 7, 2002, the dream became reality and REVIVAL CENTER began having services at the Holiday Inn Express on Hwy. 120. A year later the church moved to its previous location on Gwinnett Drive. The church continued to grow until a new building was needed to expand the vision. A year later the church moved to its present location on Cedars Road. Through prophecy and much prayer, God has opened the door of Revival in the City of Lawrenceville and under Pastor Clack’s leadership REVIVAL CENTER is excited about the future.
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