One Step Closer to Christ

“Go and make disciples of all nations.” Jesus also commands His followers to “love one another” as He has loved us. Paul reminds us that one person plants and another waters, “but God has been making it grow.”

Rev. Dr. Gordon Barrows opened his message with a question worth carrying into every part of our lives: “Whose life is one step closer to Jesus because God placed you in it?”

The answer is not measured only by how often we attend church, how many Bible verses we know, or how many ministry activities fill our calendars. Those things have value, but discipleship reaches deeper. The real question is whether anyone is growing closer to Christ because of the way we pray, love, speak, serve, and live.

Matthew 28 gives every believer a mission to make disciples. Jesus did not call us to create spectators or occasional church attendees. He called us to help people follow Him. That work often happens through ordinary relationships, not from a pulpit. Our mission field may be a kitchen table, a workplace, a hospital room, a front porch, or a conversation over coffee.

We do not need to have every answer. We need to know Jesus, love people, and be willing to walk alongside them. A practical place to begin is by choosing one person. Write down that person’s name and pray regularly for opportunities to listen, serve, and share what Christ has done in your life.

John 13 shows us how to carry out that mission. Jesus said people would recognize His disciples by their love. That love is patient, sacrificial, forgiving, and sincere. It does not treat another person like a project or turn every conversation into an argument.

Sometimes sharing Christ begins by speaking less and listening more. We can ask thoughtful questions about a person’s experiences, struggles, or beliefs. We can also ask, “Is there anything you would like me to pray about?” Then we must listen with genuine care.

“The greatest sermon that you will ever preach may never be delivered from a pulpit.” It may be lived at home through patience, humility, kindness, forgiveness, and consistency. Someone may take a step closer to Christ because they saw His love reflected in the way we responded during difficulty.

First Corinthians 3 reminds us that the results belong to God. Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God produced the growth. We cannot force another person to believe, change a heart, or save someone we love. Only Jesus saves.

Still, trusting God does not mean putting down the watering can. We keep praying, loving, inviting, encouraging, and walking with people, even when growth is not immediately visible. “Faithfulness is never wasted in the hands of God.”

The main point is simple: our mission is to make disciples, our method is Christlike love, and our confidence is that God gives the growth. This week, choose one person, pray for them daily by name, listen to them, perform one intentional act of love, and offer a gentle next step toward Jesus. Keep walking with them and trust God with the outcome.