We Are a Doing Faith: Finishing the Task Through Discipleship

By Pastor Rick Warren

When Jesus was twelve years old, he said something that has guided my entire ministry.
He said, “Don’t you know I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).

That raises two important questions for every believer and every church:
What is the business of Jesus?
And what is his business plan?

Because whatever his business is, that is our business.

What Jesus began to do in his physical body, he is continuing today through his spiritual body, the church.

The Great Commission is not just about believing in Jesus.
It is about continuing the work of Jesus.

From Crowds to Disciples

My goal in ministry has never been simply to build a crowd.
A crowd is not a church.

A crowd can be turned into a church — but only if there is a disciple-making process.

The real question is not seating capacity.
The real question is sending capacity.

How many people are being mobilized for the mission?
How many believers are becoming ministers?
How many ministers are becoming missionaries?

The Great Commission is about moving people systematically and sequentially —
from knowing Christ,
to loving Christ,
to growing in Christ,
to serving Christ,
to sharing Christ.

Bring them in.
Build them up.
Train them.
Send them out.

Discipleship Is Not Just Knowing, It’s Doing

In John 13:15, Jesus said, “I have given you an example to follow. Now do as I have done for you.”

That is biblical discipleship.

There are four simple steps:

• I do it.
• I do it, and you watch.
• You do it, and I watch.
• You do it on your own — and train others to do it too.

 

Discipleship is not a curriculum.
Discipleship is a do.

That is why the Great Commission says,
“Teach them to do everything I have commanded you.”

It does not say teach them to know.

Today, the Church knows more than it is doing.
Our knowledge is far greater than our application.

We assume that because we have heard a sermon, we are obeying it.
But knowing is not doing.

Jesus made it very clear in John 13:17:
“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

The blessing comes in doing, not in knowing.

Christianity Is a Doing Faith

Scripture says, “Be doers of the word, not hearers only” (James 1:22).

This is what makes Christianity different.
We are a doing faith.

Follower means movement.
You cannot follow Jesus unless you are actually moving.

Following Jesus means you are taking steps.
You are serving.
You are sharing.
You are going.

That is why Christianity builds civilizations.
It builds hospitals.
It starts schools.
It cares for the hurting.
It proclaims the good news.

We are not just trying to get people to heaven. We want to educate minds, heal bodies, and transform communities, because that’s what Jesus did.

The Five Things Jesus Did

When you study the ministry of Jesus, you see his consistent priorities.

He went from village to village proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. He taught and equipped disciples. He healed the sick and cared for those who were suffering. He often withdrew to pray. And he built his church.

I often summarize these five actions with the acrostic PEACE:

P — Proclaim the good news
E — Equip disciples
A — Alleviate suffering
C — Continually pray
E — Establish churches

If we want to be like Jesus, we must do what Jesus did.

Finishing the Task is simply continuing the same mission he started.

Taking the Church to the Community

Jesus described his followers as salt, light, seed, and yeast.
All of these pictures show penetration.

The church is not called to sit still and wait for people to come.
We are called to move into the community.

When people see our love in action, they become open to hearing the message of Christ.

But we must do both.
We must walk the walk and talk the talk.
We must lead with love and then explain the Good News.

Finishing the Task in Our Generation

On the night before the cross, Jesus prayed,
“I brought you glory on earth by finishing the task you gave me to do” (John 17:4).

Our purpose is the same.
We bring glory to God by finishing the work he has given us.

This means proclaiming the gospel to every person.
It means equipping every believer.
It means mobilizing the whole Church for the whole mission.

The Great Commission will be completed when disciples live out a doing faith —
not just hearing the Word, but obeying it.

Because the blessing is not in what we know.
The blessing is in what we do.

To learn more about how you can get started making disciples and finishing the task in your life or church, visit https://finishingthetask.com/take-your-next-step/