by Dave Miller
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All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations… - Jesus
Jonathon slowly picked himself up off the cold grass on the side of an I-40 entrance ramp. On that cold winter evening in 2014 he had taken a direct hit by a Tahoe traveling 60 mph. His Harley Davidson was nowhere around and it wasn’t long before lights and sirens filled the night.
Jonathon recalled the moment to me in our garage just three days later. He had a split second to move, but chose to stay in the path of the oncoming SUV. His life could end and he wouldn’t be the one to blame. His eyes filled with tears. He wanted life to just be over. For the better part of 10 years the thoughts had crossed his mind.
He walked away with only a cut on the back of his calf muscle. His bike took the brunt of the impact. Over the next couple of days the miracle seemed more like a curse. The life he despised kept coming. He plunged further into his reckless path caring little for himself or anyone else. But somewhere in the midst he heard the Holy Spirit calling. “Maybe just maybe,” he thought. “I survived for a reason.” God brought multiple voices into my cousin's life in those first few days to speak God's word into his life. One of those happened to be me. A couple of weeks after our #3Circles garage conversation, Jonathon repented of the life he despised and trusted Jesus. He was baptized soon after.
If you have made it this far into the book, then you, like me, long to hear stories like this repeated over and over again. You want to be a part of one person after another finding their purpose in life and accepting the message and ministry of Jesus as their own. You want to jump in the flow of the mission of God until there is #NoPlaceLeft. Jonathon did just that and you will too.
We trained him to follow Jesus and challenged him to take the identity as an image-bearing ambassador. Within days he was sharing his faith and looking for someone to disciple. Four months after believing Jon, who is terrified of public speaking, helped train decades old believers and church planters to engage others with the gospel, while he turned a pencil paintless in his hand. Within six months of his baptism he had shared the gospel with well over 100 people.
Jonathon began enduring persecution for his faith. He walked week after week in a crazy fast transformation spurred on by his obedience to Jesus. He has stood with me sharing his story, the miracle of his survival, and calling others to follow Jesus. His past tells one story, but the words coming out of his mouth from his heart declare a different story, The Story.
We are overjoyed as Jonathon’s obedience to Jesus erupts into a bold and tenacious faith of incredible maturity and action. Stories like these do not come easy. Gospel transformation stories require we get into the dirtiness of lives, role up our sleeves, and pour out kingdom sweat day in and day out. Do you want to partner with God to find and empower the Jonathans the Spirit has ready? Then learn the fundamentals. God will use you to make disciples who make disciples all around the world. With the right tools, you can make disciples the way Jesus expects.
Let’s get to work. Monday morning starts now.
Up Next: Three Thirds
Until there's #NoPlaceLeft...
Sentergy: When Jesus, People, Practice and Theology Collide
Chapter 1: The Glory of God
Chapter 2: The Glory of God in Jesus
Chapter 3: The Glory of God in the Gospel
Chapter 4: The Glory of God in Disciple Making
Chapter 5: If You Love Me You Will Obey What I Command
Chapter 6: Monday Morning Disciple Making
Chapter 7: Monday Morning Disciple Making Part 2
Interlude: The Father's Heart
Chapter 8: All Scripture All People All Places by Carter Cox
Conclusion: The Lump In Your Throat
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