"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me," Jesus announced. "Go, therefore, and make disciples." This commission concerning discipleship stems directly from who Jesus is - Lord of all. We are commanded to make people his disciples.

Not 'make converts' - though conversion is integral to the task.

Not 'make decisions' - though life-changing decisions are involved in the task.

Not 'make church members' - though incorporation in the church is essential to the task.

But 'make disciples'.

Jesus' disciples are to make disciples from all people groups - ethna - from all ethnic groups - from all nations. They are his disciples, baptised into him, and obedient to him. Jesus' discipleship commission does not focus on information but on formation; not on teaching knowledge but on teaching obedience: "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

Naturally that involves knowing what he taught them - but the great commission, the final command, is to obey. That's breath taking!

What did he command them to do? Love God totally. Love others. Repent. Forgive. Serve. Pray. Believe. Heal the sick. Cast out demons. Proclaim the astounding good news of the kingdom of God. The reign of God has broken into this world, shaking everything, transforming everything.

The Great Commission is the strongest evidence against a cessationist theory - a theory which says that what Jesus did and what his disciples did was only for the establishment of the church or only for the first century. Jesus' final instruction to his disciples is that what he did and what they did must not cease, but must be passed on to all generations - to the end of the age.

Impossible? Certainly it is impossible through our own resources: "Without me you can do nothing." Hence, the incredible final promise - "Lo! I am with you always - to the end of the age."

That involves evangelism, mission, and equipping those new disciples for obedient mission. This issue of the Renewal Journal looks at a few of those issues - evangelism - mission - making disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus.

Brian Medway applies lessons learned from revival in Argentina to the Australian scene. Australian reports indicate some widening obedience to the implications of the great commission across the land.

Rodney Howard-Browne talks about God doing what he said he would do. Lindell Cooley describes the impact of revival on his own discipleship and that of others. Robert McQuillan surveys fresh moves of God's Spirit across England.

Peter Earle examines mentoring as it relates to dsicipleship, and Charles Taylor gives reflection on the meaning of discipleship.

Paula Sandford reports on a gathering from among the nations - the ethnic groups - seeking to obey the Spirit on one body. Stephen Milstead provides an overview of John Dawson's approach to discipling cities, an approach well illustrated in Argentina today as indicated in the first article in this issue.

Nothing is so radical as making disciples of Jesus. Jesus and his early disciples proclaimed and demonstrated the reign of God in all of life. The kingdom of God has broken into this fallen world through Jesus, God's Son, the Anointed One. His life, death, and resurrection totally change everything. The first are last and the last are first. The least are the greatest and the greatest are the servants of all.

This issue of the Renewal Journal only begins to comment on such radical changes. The great commission still confronts us all with the implications of Jesus' authority in heaven and on earth - his total Lordship.

As you read, pray with us the prayer Jesus taught us, including, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." What can be more radical than that?