The ubiquitous target is designed to move our aim toward the center: the bullseye. Whether we are throwing darts, shooting arrows, or firing a rifle, the challenge is not simply to hit the target but to hit the bullseye. Every serious marksman knows that it takes continual practice to consistently hit the center.
The Kingdom Target
Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10).
If we step back and take a long look at God’s purposes, the above familiar prayer establishes the target. God is expanding his kingdom; it’s the family business. When we are united with Christ by faith, we inherit the family blessings and the family business. Jesus said, “as the Father has sent me, so send I you” (John 20:21). When Jesus recruited the early disciples, he said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Peter and the boys knew about a family fishing business. They knew that as members of their family, they inherited their father’s fishing business. Jesus tapped into that expectation by saying that if they followed him, they would inherit a spiritual fishing business.
As members of God’s family, our family business is to expand God’s kingdom. But within that target are many specific objectives that can help us reach our target’s bullseye. Each concentric circle gets closer to the heart of the Great Commission. Each is an expression of kingdom expansion but the center is the ultimate goal and as expected, more difficult to hit. As the disciples followed Jesus over the three-plus years, they were trained to not only hit the target but to aim at the bullseye of making disciples who make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
Circle 1: Serve others
Let’s let the outer circle of our target represent the broadest expression of kingdom expansion: acts of service. In the Sermon on the Mt., Jesus said, “Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Mother Teresa is the icon of this expression of kingdom expansion. She is world-renowned for modeling sacrificial service for the sake of others. This is not unusual as Christianity has been responsible for some of the most effective humanitarian movements in history. Early first-century Christians, medieval monastic movements, the Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, and Doctors without Borders are just a few examples. From the international to the local, people of faith are expanding God’s kingdom influence by sacrificially serving their communities.
Circle 2: Gospel proclamation
The gospel is not a concept that can be deduced from nature or acts of kindness. It is a message that must be told. “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher” (Romans 10:14). God commissioned his family to verbally declare the message of Jesus and serve as his ambassadors to this broken world (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Circle 3: Make disciples
Paul modeled not only the importance of taking the message of Jesus into the Gentile world but of conserving its fruit. The Epistles are “follow-up” letters to new converts who were asking, “So, now what?” Helping develop new believers to become mature image bearers of Christ, is our third circle on our target. Using a physical metaphor, it is the development of mature spiritual adults. Spiritual maturity is not sudden or simple. Regardless of the strategy or effectiveness, developing disciples as mature followers of Christ has been the desire of most local churches and para-church ministries.
Based on the lack of authentic Christ-like image bears, we could call into question the effectiveness of hitting this circle of our target. The failure, however, is not due to a lack of desire or effort. Nor is the problem restricted to our current age. The early apostles and church had their shots miss this target circle also. “You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes” (2 Timothy 1:15).
Circle 4 (The bullseye): Disciples who make disciples
When Jesus gave those initial disciples the mission to make disciples, he was launching a generational, missional strategy. This strategy not only stresses circles 1 to 3, but it establishes the basis from which to hit the bullseye which includes making not only mature, healthy, spiritual adults but also producing effective spiritual parents.
We could all give testimony regarding the personal growth that results from having children. It is hard, for example, to be a parent and remain self-focused. It is even hard to maintain the illusion we have all the answers. Parenting is a pathway for maturity developing qualities like perseverance, courage, and at times, humble authenticity.
There is something beautiful about the dynamics of a healthy, three-generational family: Grandparents, parents, and grandkids. Each generation needs the other and provides God’s design for healthy communities. The same dynamic occurs with a three-generational spiritual family. It doesn’t always happen, but it is healthier if it does.
Leadership guru Stephen Covey made popular the phrase: “Begin with the end in mind.” What a difference it would make if our ministry activities were designed with the “end” of developing three-generational family lineages.
Tightening our shot pattern
Poor aim is not the only reason we miss the bullseye. Every accomplished marksman knows that the longer the shot, the more chance there is for drift. Gravity and wind are two of the more common causes of a shot that misses the target. Aiming to make disciples that make disciples is not without the opposition of spiritual gravity and winds that can take our shot off center. Sometimes the drift forces are within us like discouragement, at other times it can come from those we are trying to help. Sometimes it is the complexity of living life in a broken world that takes our shot off target. So, we need to factor in the drift forces and keep our aim on the bullseye.
While personalizing the bullseye for my own life, I remember a message by Lorne Sanny (past president of The Navigators) gave on 1 Corinthians 15:58. “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” I have returned to this admonition and promise many times over the years as I keep aiming for the bullseye.
For reflection
1. What are some other forces that cause our shot to drift off target?
2. How many generations are there in your spiritual family?