“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (New International Version, Matt 28:18-20)
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He left His faithful eleven apostles with what’s known as “The Great Commission!” Reading the Great Commission, we see Jesus’ master plan to win the world!
There are three parts to His plan:
- Go and make disciples – For Jesus, Christianity was never meant to be a “Sunday religion,” but a daily relationship with God with a focus on living out His mission for us to “go out and make disciples.” Interestingly enough, in Mark 1, Jesus makes the first disciples at the beginning of His ministry! The central theme behind Jesus’ ministry is to make disciples, and we must imitate Him (1 John 2:6).
- Baptizing them – Jesus not only wants us to go and help people change their lives and live for Him, but He commissioned us to baptize those we make into repentant disciples (Acts 2:38) so they can receive the forgiveness of their sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, entering them into a covenant relationship with God (Jeremiah 31:31-37). Unfortunately, the truth of baptism has been lost and, (pun intended), watered down in the false doctrines of today’s “Christianity.” The Bible emphatically teaches that, the only way to become a true disciple is to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). This is Jesus’ plan for us to become saved!
- Teaching them to obey – Lastly, Jesus desires for all of these newly baptized disciples to be taught to “go and make disciples” themselves. This is not a one time thing, but a continual, lifelong process that takes time, effort and patience!
It’s been incredible to see this passage lived out over the last 11 months here in the Denver church as God has grown the church, from 33 to now over 60 SoldOut disciples of Jesus! However, our focus is not just to evangelize the city of Denver, the state of Colorado or all the Rocky Mountains but to help conquer the entire world with true discipleship for Christ.
To assist in this great endeavor, twice a year as a church, we raise what’s known as Special Missions contribution. Once we raise the money, we send It to our sister church in Los Angeles who distributes it to Missions efforts, new church plantings, and 3rd world churches that are not self-supporting (Acts 11:30).
Because of the heroic efforts of our brotherhood worldwide this year, by God’s grace, we are planting 24 new international and national churches!
- Bahrain
- Berlin (Germany)
- Casablanca (Morocco)
- Cochabamba (Bolivia)
- Edinburgh (Scotland)
- Kampala (Uganda)
- Lviv (Ukraine)
- Naga (Philippines)
- São Carlos (Brasil)
- Stockholm (Sweden)
- Sucre (Bolivia)
- Taipei (Taiwan)
- Tijuana (Mexico)
- Warsaw (Poland)
- Auburn (Alabama, USA)
- Baton Rouge (Louisiana, USA)
- Delaware, USA
- Fresno (California, USA)
- Iowa City (Iowa, USA)
- Kansas City (Kansas, USA)
- Louisville (Kentucky, USA)
- Manchester (New Hampshire, USA)
- Oklahoma City (Oklahoma, USA)
- Portland (Maine, USA)
The Spirit – through these plantings – will have led the SoldOut Movement into 55 Nations and 37 of the 50 States in America!
Today, as we complete the raising of our Spring Special Mission’s contribution, let’s rejoice in the incredible things the Spirit is doing in here in Denver and all around the world!
And to God be all the glory,
Jason T. Woody
Evangelist
