Mississippi Messenger Messenger-Spring 2018, Single Page | Page 3

What to do When “The Big One” Comes
“The Big One” is here, Easter Sunday Morning. What should we do as a church to help make disciples of those that attend “The
Big One” at our local church? This worship service will possibly be the biggest day of the entire year for your church in means
of special guests. How do we make disciples of those special guests?
The starting point begins before “The Big One.” The church has to implement a method of assimilation for the church to
practice. This process is necessary in the developing of disciples, especially those special guests, for they must first become
assimilated to the local church. This process can include greeters at the front door of the church, who can welcome your guest
and handout greeter’s cards, to gain the information as to whom your guest are. Ushers are needed to assist your guest in giving
information and directions concerning the church and facilities.
The all-important factors in assimilation take place as the guests leave the church and in the days following their visit. The
church must follow-up with the guests that attend your church within the first twenty-four hours after their visit. The members of
the church must be hospitable in the market place toward the guests that attend your church. These two things are becoming
more important than your greeting and assisting while they are at your church. The all-important concern of your special guests
is this “Does your church care enough to contact them and treat them like Christ outside of the walls of your church?”
In order to effectively implement this type of assimilation process, the pastor must make disciples of the leadership of the church.
The pastor doesn’t have the time or means to disciple every member of the local church, but he does have the time and means to
disciple the core leadership of the church. Discipleship doesn’t take place in the pulpit. Discipleship takes place within a small
group or one-on-one setting. Therefore, the pastor must first select the chosen, within the local church, to teach and train as
Disciples of Christ. It will then rest upon those taught and trained to select a group to teach and train themselves in this
discipleship process.
Once a pastor or leader has selected a group to disciple, they must follow the steps of “The Great Teacher, “Jesus Christ. In the
Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:1-7:29, Jesus teaches his followers the Word of God and how they are to live in the difficult
culture around them. Thus, the purpose and mission of Christ was seen in his approach as a Great Teacher for he taught his
disciples three things.
First, the Great Teacher taught his disciples the truth. The truth of God’s Word serves as the foundation or structure for living.
It is the truth of God’s Word that gives the foundation for spiritual development and growth. It is the responsibility of the pastor
and church to offer to its members the structure that is needed within the church and home, in order to produce true Disciples of
Christ. A true disciple is one who can then teach and train others in the truth of God’s Word.
Second, the Great Teacher taught his disciples how to get alone and pray. The Lord didn’t tell his disciples how to pray, he
showed them how to pray. The key to truly teaching is to be the example of that which you teach. If you preach on prayer, but
fail to display true genuine prayer before those you are teaching, they will not follow.
Third, the Great Teacher taught his disciples how to care for others. Jesus taught his disciples the Word of God and how they
should love their neighbor and also their enemy. He taught them how to treat others as they would want to be treated. But he also
taught them by example. He would heal the Leper by having compassion on him and even touching him. He truly showed that
he cared for all humanity. The teaching of Christ wasn’t in word only, but in true deed.
If we are to make disciples after “The Big One,” like Easter Sunday, then we must be willing to select a small group of leaders
w ho can be taught and trained for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). It doesn’t matter which
method or program you use, for discipleship is not a program. Discipleship is based on these three principles: teach them the
truth of God Word, teach them how to pray, and teach them how to care for others. You will only teach them if you truly show
them. This is the all-important step of assimilation after “The Big One.”
Dr. Daniel Smith
Pastor, Mt Carmel COG