阅读经文 

圣经以很多种方式描述过耶稣的跟随者。我们被称为蒙恩的罪人，被接纳的儿女，以及基督身体中蒙爱的肢体。这些都是我们在基督里身份的重要标志。

但是，我们所拥有的另一个最重要的身份是“蒙差遣的人”。正如神差遣耶稣来到世上显明神的爱，现在耶稣也同样地差遣了我们。

在耶稣复活以后，跟随祂的人受了圣灵，获得能力投入事工。今天的我们作为跟随耶稣的人，乃是蒙召以我们的话语和行为分享耶稣的福音，邀请人们和我们一同来信靠耶稣。

很多时候，地方教会只忙于关心自己的事。基督徒花大量时间搞项目策划，处理内部冲突，使得他们很难有精力去和教会外部的人建立关系。难怪我们的许多教会都在缩水，许多教会所谓的“增长”，只不过是基督徒从一个教会换到另一个教会的结果。

然而，耶稣的教导清楚表明，跟随祂的人应该与神同工，参与到拯救失丧人群的使命中。只是谈论与人分享信仰是远远不够的——作为被神所呼召的人，这是我们身份的一部分标志。

The Bible describes Jesus' followers in a number of ways. We are called forgiven sinners, adopted sons and daughters, and beloved members of the body of Christ. All of these are key aspects of who we are in Christ.

But one of the most important identities we have is as “sent people.” Just as Jesus was sent into the world to show God's love, so he now sends us to do the same.

After Jesus' resurrection, his followers received the Holy Spirit to empower them for mission. As Jesus' followers today, we are called to share the good news of Jesus in our words and actions, inviting people to place their faith in Jesus just as we have done.

Too often, local churches become wrapped up in their own concerns. Christians spend so much time running programs and dealing with internal conflicts that they have little energy to build relationships with people outside the church. It's not surprising that many of our churches are shrinking and that a lot of church “growth” is just a result of Christians transferring from one congregation to another.

Jesus' teaching makes clear, however, that his followers are partners in God's mission of saving people who are lost in sin. It's not enough to simply talk about sharing our faith—it's part of our identity in being the people God calls us to be.