Faith-based encouragement. Biblical truth. Inspirational resources. Hope through the good and the bad . . .
This is what pastors, staff, ministry leaders, and faithful Berean members have shared on the Berean Blog for nearly five years. To those of you who've followed along from the beginning and others who've just recently joined on the journey, we want to say thank you! We have loved walking alongside you, encouraging you in your faith, and hopefully pointing you a little closer to Jesus - the only reason we exist in the first place!
The end of one season marks the beginning of the next!
This post marks the conclusion of the Berean Blog for the foreseeable future. Although, like change with any season of ministry, we are sad to say goodbye, we are beyond excited for what God will continue to do through his Church and the faithfulness of his people. As we evaluate our ministries, schedule, vision, and mission for the future, we want to do everything in our power to align our team around specific initiatives that serve our primary calling.
As we conclude this season of ministry with the blog, I want to offer a preview of what's coming for Berean this new year.
We must remember the Great Commission . . .
If you’ve been around Berean for any length of time, you’ve no doubt heard mention of the Great Commission. At the end of Matthew, after Jesus' resurrection from the dead, he appears to his disciples and gives his Church her marching orders:
"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age'" (Matthew 28:18-20).
As we look to our future and re-articulate our vision and mission, a few aspects of this Commission have been weighing heavily on my heart. Let me lay some of that out for you.
We are called to make disciples, but what does this mean?
Jesus calls us to make disciples. That’s the simple command. But the question then follows: "What does this mean?" Or, to put it another way: "What kind of disciples are we to make?" This is where the rubber meets the road.
Are we looking to make 'disciples' by convincing as many people as possible to get dunked in the water? Are we simply asking people to attend church occasionally? Do we want to produce disciples who have all kinds of head-knowledge but live contrary to the gospel? The answer to these questions must be a resounding, 'No. Of course not!'
You see, there is no shortage of confusion about what it means to be a disciple in our world today. Thankfully, Jesus gives us a clarifying statement in that Great Commission: “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This is where we see Jesus’ desire, and it's also our dream here at Berean to make disciples.
Let's take a look at Berean's 3D Discipleship Approach for 2024.
I want to frame our vision for making disciples as Berean’s 3D Discipleship Approach. What do I mean by “3D”? I mean that we are passionate about making disciples who have Depth and who are Developed and Deployed for the gospel. Let's look at each of these a little more closely:
We are passionate about making disciples who have Depth:
We long to see our people deeply love Jesus and joyfully submit to his Word. Shallow or superficial discipleship isn’t what Christ had in mind. We want to see our people go deep.
We are passionate about making disciples who are Developed:
The job of pastors and elders is to train and equip God’s people for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13). We want to develop our people (you!) to live as contributors rather than consumers – to be resourced and developed so that you can use the gifts God has given you (Romans 12:3-8).
We are passionate about making disciples who are Deployed:
Finally, we want to be a church where people live in their every day, in every way, for the glory of God. Whether it be sharing the gospel with neighbors, shepherding their kids under Christ, or heading off to the mission field, all disciples are called to take part in the Great Commission.
3D Discipleship is exciting, and it's possible.
As I look to the future, I am confident that Christ’s command to his Church can be accomplished through the power of the Spirit (Acts 2:6-11). I am hopeful that this simple paradigm called “3D Discipleship” will help us stay on track to reach even more people with the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
As a pastor, nothing excites me more than seeing this reality lived out in people’s lives. I love it when we host large events, when attendance grows, and when giving is on point.
But what I truly love most is seeing people’s eyes opened to the wonderous beauty of Christ. I love seeing people trained and equipped in intentional ways to go out and live it out in their every day.
When I hear stories of Berean’s people caring, serving, sharing the gospel, and ministering in their workplaces, homes, friend circles, and schools, I get really, really excited! That’s what it’s all about!
God wants to work through you!
God has you where you are for a reason. He wants to use you and work through you. Just imagine yourself being used by him to reach someone with the saving message of Jesus Christ! Wouldn’t that be incredible? If we’re going to make a difference, it doesn’t come from great strategy and our own creativity. It comes as we grow in our depth and become developed and deployed as fit ministers of the gospel.
I can’t wait to see what God does in the coming years for his glory at Berean.
Pastor Deven
Perhaps you're new to berean . . .
What was shared above focuses a lot on addressing those already familiar with Berean, but perhaps you came across this post, and this is the first time you've heard of us. If you're looking for a place to connect and a church to call home, we'd love to help you get plugged in. There's a place for you within our faith community!
Here's a Good Place to Start:
- Browse our website.
- Fill out a connect card.
- Attend one of our worship services in person or online.
- Attend our First Connection gathering held the first Sunday of the month.
We can't wait to connect with you and help you take the next step in your faith journey.
