“The Great Commission” as usually adopted falls short of the requirements inherent within this Commission. The Great Commission is not to produce “converts” but to produce “Disciples.” The Great Commission includes what this means: 1) “Preach the Gospel” 2) “Teach them to obey all” the Gospel says. There can be no question that Christ taught that to “make disciples” was to “bear fruit.” He is also clear that this Fruit is the Image in which we were Created – God’s Image, God’s Character, God’s Nature recreated in and reflected by us. As all “Good Fruit” does, this Fruit must produce seeds which “multiply after its kind” in order to spread His Image.
This is The Great Commission we at Pursuit of Character pursue. We are not merely chalking up victories measured by those who proclaim, “I believe.” We stick around to help them understand what “believe” actually means and what it looks like to “walk in it,” to have Faith. The following are some of the ways we intend to Pursue this Mission and to Raise The Church!
The Hope Series – The Bible teaches that there is only One true Instructor, the teacher of “all things,” The Holy Spirit. It also states clearly that the only true obstacle to Instruction is “unbelief,” which the Old Testament calls “Infidelity.” All kinds of myths have been perpetuated about the Bible: it’s too complicated, it’s contradictory, it’s just stories, etc. The Truth Is, the Bible was written by the Instructor as a Manual without contradiction for use by every person who chooses to “see” and “hear.” The Hope Series demonstrates just that, as it simply breaks down what is already there and applies it to today. In addition, because it is packed with Instructions from The Manual, it reveals a lot of the places man and his churches have gotten it wrong… messed it up, and in so doing, reveals the Truth Christ’s Church is to stand on.
Worship Through Song – is not a “music ministry;” it is an invitation to join us in Worship, which Scripture defines as to “Fall down, Humbly beseech, Prostrate oneself in homage, Revere, Adore, Serve.” Webster’s 1828 uses descriptions like “reverence with supreme respect” and “honor with extravagant love and extreme submission.” It is an invitation to join us in the Sanctuary, the Hebrew for which is “Miqdâsh,” meaning “a house consecrated to the Worship of God.” Scripture also says that this Sanctuary is created when “two or more are gathered in His Name.” So, Worship Through Song is us knocking on doors asking to be let in to talk about and Worship the Great Hope.
The COM (Character of Ministry) – We are all called to be ministers of Christ’s Character to the world around us. The COM operates under the commitment that we are to do everything “to the Glory of God,” that we are to be reflections of Christ’s Character in all we do. With this understanding, we train people in what has been dubbed “Professional Development” or “Soft Skills” essential to achieving the standard just stated. Among these are Communication, Time/Task Management, Personal Responsibility, Leadership, Teaching, Team Tactics, etc. As true skill development requires both knowledge and experience, training is designed to provide both information and opportunities for application with constructive feedback of efforts over time.