2. The Mission of HOME
The Mission: To Make and Mature Disciples
An Introduction
The mission of HOME Church is rooted in the commission of Jesus to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18–20) and in Paul’s desire for every Christian to grow in maturity (Ephesians 4:13).
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:18–20)
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine,
by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
(Ephesians 4:11–14)
The Nature of Discipleship
Strong trees are formed over long periods and in adverse conditions. Likewise, strong metal is forged under extreme heat and intense pressure. In the same way, strong disciples are made through a long and often difficult process. Jesus was very clear that “the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:14).
No one becomes a disciple alone. A disciple cannot endure the challenges of formation in isolation. It would be a paradox for discipleship to occur apart from community, because discipleship is about being shaped in the pressures of relationships and through long-term commitment to others.
Maturity requires time. There is no shortcut to maturity without adverse consequences. Discipleship unfolds over many seasons, situations, and settings, each one shaping the believer toward Christlikeness.
The Model of Discipleship Jesus Gave Us
Consider the disciple-making methods of Jesus:
Jesus didn’t train just one person—He trained twelve at a time. The twelve watched and learned together.
Jesus focused on three of His disciples, training them as His core leaders.
Jesus lived with His disciples for three years, leaving them only for short periods of personal prayer.
Jesus recruited disciples from various trades, creating a diverse group of followers.
His disciples required more than three years of training—their discipleship continued through the work of the Holy Spirit, who would counsel and guide them for the rest of their lives.
All of Jesus’ disciples (except Judas) died for what they believed. They either gave their lives for a lie or truly believed that Jesus was the Son of God.
The Way of Discipleship Today
Discipleship is all about growing to be more like our Lord Jesus. The way we pursue discipleship today is not so different from how the first disciples were trained:
We join a community of believers called the Church, with the shared aim of following Jesus together.
We form various pairs and small groups throughout our lives, walking closely with others—much like Peter, James, and John.
We recognise that there are seasons of discipleship, and that no season lasts forever. We make the most of the time we have with others, taking comfort that nothing in this life is permanent.
We intentionally surround ourselves with people we trust—yet who are also different from us—knowing that diversity sharpens and strengthens us.
We embrace failure and marry humility. We expect to make mistakes and are not surprised when others fall. We learn, receive grace anew, and rise again in the power of the Holy Spirit. We stay low, but we never stay still.
We learn that discipleship is about commitment and consistency. We work out our faith “with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), practicing and living out our faith until we reach the joy He promised: “that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).