Superintendent's Focus

Dr. Pegi Flynt

Last week our team of talented teachers met at Madison Academy for our annual teacher inservice and launch of the 2022-2023 school year. This year’s theme is Motivated for Mission and the mission is to fulfill the Great Commission. Pastor Don MacLafferty led us in Spirit filled, reflective, and active learning sessions for discipling our children.

Just before he ascended to Heaven, Jesus said to his disciples: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Pastor MacLafferty has dedicated his ministry to supporting parents, teachers, and pastors “in discipling our own children to Jesus Christ, to intentionally grow children as disciples of Christ”. As our sessions began, Pastor Don asked us to personally answer the following key questions:

• Are you ready for Jesus to come TODAY?

• Do you have daily meaningful time in the word? Unrushed study time?

• Do you have UNRUSHED prayer time daily?

• Do you ask for and receive a fresh filling (the Baptism) of the Holy Spirit Daily?

• Are you free from anything that would make you a slave?

The resulting data of our collective responses demonstrated a number of “No” answers, but Pastor Don reminded us that “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:7). Our brokenness, as teachers, as parents, as pastors, is what “recommends” us to Jesus, the specialist, the Great Physician. The spirit of God knows how to break slavery! In Romans 6:15-23, Apostle Paul challenged us to be “slaves to righteousness”. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36).

When Jesus gave the command, he didn’t say, “in between your work and church schedule do your best to help me out and share the gospel message with others.” He didn’t say, “I get it, you have MAP scores to worry about and board meetings to prepare for; so, in between math and science, try to fit me in.” No, he was quite clear. As Christ’s followers these are our marching orders. “Go. Do this. Teach your students all I have commanded you.” We are to fulfill the Great Commission; the Great Co-Mission. Pastor MacLafferty challenged us to be “People of the Book” to know His precepts.

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9

We don’t do the work of discipling alone. Jesus said “Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). I encourage you to reflect on and memorize Psalms 119 with your students. The Holy Spirit is eager to partner with you in the Co-Mission of discipling our own.