Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Make disciples, baptize them in the faith and teach them.

If you attended a church service this past Easter Sunday, you were in good company. Churches all across the land were packed as Americans partook in an annual rite of passage: hopping into church once a year in a bid to appease their consciences.

Now don’t get me wrong: I think that Resurrection Sunday is the perfect time to go to church because on that day preachers are given the opportunity to reach more people with the message of God becoming a man, taking our sins and nailing them to the cross.

By rising from the dead—the redemptive Easter message–He has shown us that death isn’t an end game, rather a passage to eternal life with Him.

Given that Easter messages (when properly taught) carry a profound and life-changing truth, some people’s hearts were pricked by the Holy Spirit, convicted of their sins and recognized their need for a Savior. Indeed, reports I’ve heard from some churches is that many responded to the salvation message, surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ.

My own fellowship says that more than 100 people committed their lives to the Lord at a massive united service held at a nearby arena, numbers far beyond what I’ve heard of on any given Sunday.

No doubt, many people this past weekend were touched. No doubt, some of those who responded truly wanted forgiveness for their sins and have passed from death to life.

But forgive me if my personal feelings of unease seem to make me appear to doubt what happened. Truly, I believe that God moves in mighty and mysterious ways, saving all those who call upon Him.

What concerns me is what should always come later: did people in your church talk with each person after the service to make sure they understood their commitment to God? Were they given a Bible and additional instructions on how to seek God and fellowship with His saints? Did someone copy down a phone number, obtain an e-mail address or come up with some other way to reconnect afterward?

The challenging part is the discipling—helping new believers walk out their faith by offering instruction and guidance. That passage in Matthew is clear: make disciples, baptize them in the faith and teach them.

To do anything less is to fail at fulfilling Jesus’ command to the church—an altar call lays the foundation while the discipling builds the house (or church). If we aren’t actively following up with people the cults and those who teach a watered down gospel will. Making disciples is hard work, but it is work that must be done.

If you recently decided to follow Jesus, you need to do your part by praying to God, reading your Bible and seeking out a fellowship where God’s word is preeminent. Even if a church failed to follow up with you, you can still follow up with God. Ask Him to direct your steps. Psalm 37:23 says that the “steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord.”

Whether you are a man or woman, God is already leading and wants you to follow Him. It is up to the rest of us to help you grow in your faith.

See Also — GotQuestions.org: Why is making disciples important?

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

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