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Christ’s Method Alone Series

Theme Week: “Mature and Mobilized — Christ’s Method Alone”
Key Texts: Hebrews 5:12–14; Matthew 28:18–20

Story: A Woman and a Phone Book

I once heard a story about a woman who wanted to make a difference but didn’t know where to start. She wasn’t a preacher, she wasn’t a Bible worker, and she wasn’t part of a big outreach team. She was just a woman who believed that Jesus could use her prayers.

So one day, she opened her phone book (back when we all had those) and picked a handful of names—seven, maybe fourteen. She didn’t know a single one of them. But she prayed for them by name, every day.

Whenever there was an evangelistic meeting in her town, she’d slip quietly to the front after the appeal and ask for the decision cards. She wasn’t there to count numbers. She was looking for names. She’d search the list to see if any matched the ones she had been praying for.

Years went by. Most nights, she prayed without knowing if her words mattered. Then one evening she came forward again, and as the names were being read, she began to cry. Several of them matched her list. She introduced herself after the service and told those new believers, “I’ve been praying for you by name for years.”

Later, she searched for the others who hadn’t been in that meeting—some had moved away, others had found churches elsewhere—but to her astonishment, every single one had come to faith in Christ.

She had never preached a sermon, led a small group, or knocked on a single door. She simply labored in prayer—faithfully, quietly, persistently—and the Holy Spirit did what she could not.

Reflection: Maturity and Obedience

That woman didn’t wait to be told to go. She understood what so many of us have forgotten: to be a disciple is to make disciples.
To follow Jesus is to continue His mission.
If we’re not making disciples, we’re not obeying the King.

And if we’re not obeying, how can we call ourselves mature?

Maturity in Christ isn’t measured by how long we’ve been members or how much Bible knowledge we’ve stored up.
It’s measured by obedience—by whether what we know has become what we live.

Jesus said,

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

In His final words on earth, He gave us our life’s assignment:

“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.” (Matthew 28:19–20)

That wasn’t a command for a few trained leaders. It was a commission for every believer.

When the church stops going, it stops growing.
When we stop moving, the Spirit stops multiplying through us.

The mature church doesn’t wait for programs to begin.
The mature believer doesn’t need permission to obey.

Call to Action: Your Mission Field List

Take a piece of paper—or your phone—and write down three names.
They might be friends, coworkers, neighbors, or even people who irritate you.
These are your Mission Field List.

This isn’t a one-week project.
Commit to praying for these three souls until Jesus comes.
Ask Him to open their hearts, to use your life as His witness, and to guide you into opportunities to love, serve, and share.

Pray until the day you can rejoice with them when Jesus gives them the grand tour of their new heavenly home.
They will be part of your eternal spiritual household.

Inductive Bible Study: Learning from the Text

Take your Bible, a notebook, and maybe your family or small group.
Let’s discover what maturity looks like through the lens of Scripture.
Read each passage slowly, asking the three inductive questions:
What does it say? What does it mean? What does it call me to do?

1️⃣ Hebrews 5:12–14 — The Call to Grow Up

• What contrast does the writer make between milk and solid food?
• How does he define maturity?
• What does this teach us about spiritual growth and personal responsibility?

2️⃣ Matthew 28:18–20 — The King’s Command

• Who is Jesus talking to in this passage?
• What four verbs describe the mission? (Go, Make, Baptize, Teach)
• How personal is this command? What does it look like for you today?

3️⃣ John 14:15–21 — Love and Obedience

• What connection does Jesus make between love and obedience?
• What promise does He attach to obedience?
• How does the Holy Spirit fit into our call to make disciples?

4️⃣ Acts 1:8 — The Power to Go

• What kind of power is promised?
• When does it come, and for what purpose?
• How far does the mission of a disciple extend?

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, I want to grow beyond milk and into maturity.
Teach me to love through obedience.
Fill me with Your Spirit to go, to make, to teach, and to baptize.
I place these names before You—(speak them aloud).
May Your Spirit work through my prayers, my presence, and my life,
until these souls stand beside me in Your kingdom.
Amen.

Tomorrow’s Post: “Christ’s Method Alone — More Than a Slogan.”
We’ll watch how Jesus ministered—with compassion, conversation, and connection—and learn how to do the same in our community.

Blessings in Jesus’ Name,
Tom Nicholas, Pastor

We are a Holy Spirit-Filled Church Family whose members engage deeply, serve faithfully, and reach their community for Christ.