Christians love getting together. We get together for fellowship, for meals, and for worship. Gatherings are fun. But I think that only tells half the discipleship story.
Look at the pattern of discipleship in the gospels
Mark 3:13-14 says, "Jesus...called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve - designating them apostles - that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach."
You see, there's nothing wrong with the gathering. Jesus does call disciples to himself. Gathering is good. But there's a purpose for the gathering. The purpose for the gathering is so that we might be with him in order to be sent out to preach.
And that's the part that's missing in too many Christ-followers. Where's the sending part? Where's the going out into the world to preach Jesus part?
And until Christ-followers take both the gathering and the sending seriously, the church will continue to limp along as we become totally inwardly focused.
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