Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries
In Matthew 28, we hear the final words of Jesus before His ascension. Verse 18 reminds us that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him.
19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matt. 28:19-20)
“Go” and “make disciples” are the two commands of ultimate importance as Jesus’ final instructions. The two ways in which we fulfill the command to make disciples are baptizing them and teaching them. Then finally, we hear the promise that Jesus will continue to be with us. Amen!
These facets of the Great Commission are integrally connected to the Greatest Command: to love God and love others. Can we truly make disciples outside of relationship with God or others? The teaching would be limited to lists of instructions or rote information without relationship. “Teaching them to obey” is different than “telling them what to obey.”
I cannot properly teach someone how to make an arepa without first introducing them to this Venezuelan staple. I could tell them what to make, even provide detailed directions, but both of our levels of frustration will be high if I cannot demonstrate how to make it. Subsequently, if my pupil felt defeated and her arepas didn’t turn out well, she will be less likely to make them again on her own.
Conversely, if I explain how to make arepas, step by step, standing by her side and illustrating with my own dirty hands how to prepare the masa and form the arepas, when to flip them, and when they were ready to eat, my student will feel better equipped to continue in the process. Then, we sit down and continue our time together by eating and deepening our friendship, a memory is made, and a connection is built.
The next time my student friend wants to make arepas, she has been set up for success and, if she has a problem, she knows exactly who she can call! We even celebrate together when she sends me a picture of her family eating her imperfectly formed arepas. She is practicing and developing her skills. And she is not alone. Her growing confidence in how to follow the instructions has been encouraged by her teacher. They delight in sharing a good meal and both are inspired to do it again.
The teaching and the learning happened in relationship.
Iron Rose Sister Ministries’ vision is to equip women to connect to God and one another more deeply. The founding principles of that vision and our 2023 theme draw from the Greatest Command (Mark 12:30-31) and the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20), inspired by the imagery of Jesus as the True Vine and us as the branches called to bear fruit (John 15). We cannot fulfill any of those commands without relationship! Through the blog posts, virtual events, and other resources, we will emphasize the relational aspects of these three biblical texts: “Teaching and Learning through Relationships.”
First and foremost, our relationship with God is foundational.
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5)
Secondly, the “much fruit” of our relationship with God will be more disciples, which brings us back to the Matthew 28 text. I love how God ties it all together and brings it full circle!
Thirdly, the ongoing relationships with God and with one another are reiterated throughout the remainder of the New Testament. Luke’s narration of the early church, Paul’s letters, Peter’s reminders, as well as John’s and James’ instructions all provide affirmation of the important of relationship.
If you are not familiar with these scriptures or have not known the blessing of these relationships, we invite you to connect with these promises and commands. Ladies, we especially want to illustrate these foundational truths in the ways God has called us to teach and learn through relationships.
This year, we will follow the same pattern established in 2022 for our blog posts. Tuesdays will describe teaching and learning through relationship(s) in the Bible. Thursdays will illustrate a similar relationship dynamic from one of our stories. Bible stories and God stories… there is so much to teach and to learn!
Thank you for joining us! We will continue to introduce the topic through Jesus’ own example in January. Then, February, our well-established prayer month, will continue the Bible stories and God stories, especially in our relationships and communication with God.