Show Someone Their New Day!

Good Morning! It is so great to be back with you guys. I had a few weeks off to spend time with my son and wife as we introduced him to this world. He is doing great, they will be joining us in a few weeks once the doctor has cleared him to have outside human interactions beyond close relatives. We have just started last week our new series called Find Your New Day. And I don’t know if anyone explained but this is a great series because we are running through the core values of New Day Church. Last week was 1.) Bold Gospel and this week will be 2.) Deep Discipleship. And it doesn’t get any better to understand this as we peek into the final commission of Jesus to the disciples, but really to the world as we know it.

So because of Jesus, we now have hope in this life and the next. It is important to know that just because the Gospel has been fullfilled with Jesus life and death, we cannot dismiss this final commision from him. I don’t want us to think of these two things Gospel and Commision as seperate. Although they are 2 different things, they work together so importantly in the christian life. And I will say, you cannot have 1 without the other. The commsioning part of our duty as chrisitans is not something we should hod in the balance lower than the Gospel. Some people have a mindset where this part isnt as important. They are like, Colby, I got saved. I believed in Jesus. Done! And I would say amazing, you are saved by grace, but I would not say you are done. LOL and here is why. Flip with me to Matthew 28:16-20

So lets explore this as we read in Matthew 28: 16-20

Matt 28:16-20 | 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

PART I | Verse 16-18 | A Great Response to a Great King

Matthew 28:16–18

ESV

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

This section can sometimes be overlooked because people just drop straight down to the main part or the commission of this passage. But we see here that God’s ultimate plan for the entire world for the increase of his Kingdom is for Disciples of Jesus to go and make more Disciples of Jesus. But in order to live this plan out in the reality of our lives, we need to understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus first.

It would be not very smart to send someone out to sell something without knowing what it is. Although, I feel like a lot of telemarketers pretty much do this LOL How many of us get random calls from telemarketers each week? I swear I have had 20 different people call me to sell me life insurance in just this week alone. Im like I just told Randy 2 hrs ago that I didn’t want anything and now Karen on the phone is like “whose Randy?” Im just done with the telemarketing thing. But could you imagine if that was what Jesus did. Like say he didnt disciple the disciples and show them who he was but instead on the first day was like “go get them, have fun”. NO! He showed them who he was in order for them to see what a disciple was. You cannot show someone something that you have not seen yet. You cannot tell someone what you have not heard yet. But why go in the first place?

Because the power of the gospel..the power of the resurrection of Jesus demands a response. You cannot take in this incredible news and do absolutely nothing with it. Its blasphemy! Could you imagine having the cure for sickness but not sharing it with someone else? The gospel of Jesus has so much power that it demands a response from us. We see this type of response from both the Marys when they heard of the resurrection and where told to go get the disciples and bring them to Gallilee and what did they do? They went! It demanded a response from them in that moment. And we know because of the redeeming power of the blood of Jesus adopts us into the family of God. So disciples are first and foremost member of this family not dictated by their bloodline but dictated by their faith in the Son of God, Jesus.

As a family identified by Jesus, they gather around Jesus. The eleven disciples go to Galilee to meet the risen savior on a familiar mountain top. This is going to be a significant time, it is the last words of Jesus in Matthew. They see the risen Jesus and worship him as God. “but some doubted,” I love this because it shows us that even disciples who knew, served, followed Jesus still struggled with doubt. This should be incredibly encouraging for us that our faith doesn’t have to be in questioned merely because we have moments of doubt or questioning.

I believe the answer for doubt is the greatness of God through his son, Jesus. Jesus meets worshipers and doubters and answers them both with All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Jesus is no longer the suffering servant, the man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Jesus is now the victorious King, given all authority imaginable, who will return in glory one day for us. Because of Jesus Identity, Disciples of Jesus are worshipers of Jesus’ divinity. Knowing all of this should compel us to go!

PART II | Verse 19-20 | A Great Commission

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

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.”

Jesus is no longer limited to his human form, he has told his disciple he has all authority over the entire universe, and yet he doesn’t then tell his disciples what He is going to do, he tell them what they are going to do because of it!! We are here because of the great commission. We are here for the great commission, and he is saying to the disciples, now go and actively live out the mission of Jesus. And I bet at first the disciples where like what?? How?? Where do we go?? What do we say?? This is a lot!! But Jesus last words were confident and bold because he knows, he will empower and equip us to fulfill the mission in which he has called us in too.

We are a sent people. But what exactly does that mean? “We used to have shirts that said send me and people would ask us all the time what it meant.”

It means we are called to regularly go from our places of comfort to the places that challenge us. It means we cross lines that make us uncomfortable in order to be ambassadors of Christ’s kingdom and pointing other people to Jesus.

And this has to be said Because we can easily forget this, Mission is never something that can be assumed! As now followers of Jesus and made into disciples, we have to be constantly reminded that only believing is the first step in this process; however, if it ends there our mission given to us by Jesus is incomplete. Jesus commands us to GO on faithful outward missions, meaning beyond ourselves, because he knows our unfortunate default is to an inward focus. Could you imagine what the world would look like if the disciples just took this information and never spread the gospel? It’s hard to think about honestly. The reason it is a scary thought is because I think we all know how easy that could of happened because we are so inward focus constantly.

Why are we like that? because we like staying! We like familiar, we like comfortable, and we like settling. How tempting is it to be in places and with people that only encourage and never challenge or push us. We get so comfortable not doing anything that Netflix is literally wired to ask you after 4 episodes if you want to continue watching? Why? Because even netflix knows we like to do nothing and be comfortable.

I remember before taking a step of faith into ministry, I remember those last few months leading up to them and how they felt. I was working as an assistant manager at a local gym while going to college. And I had felt God moving me to serve him with my life but it took so long? Why? Because I was comfortable. I had a routine. It was easier to just do nothing. Life wasn’t challenging when I put my God given priorities to the side and said well Im busy with my comfortable life. But one day I realized that I need to move. I needed to go. And I never looked back. I wonder how many people in here have gotten comfortable in their life and in their faith? If so, I want you to see right here that Jesus is speaking directly to you, to go!

But I think need to have both a broader view of what it means to “go”. Some are so excited about cross cultural missions, or some believe the mission field is only far away and out.

I had a friend in ministry one time who didn’t like our community that much. Always wanted to move away to a different town. Then one day decided he was going to go to another country to be a missionary. Like what?? If you can’t love your own neighborhood and community then what makes you think you will way over there in a different culture with more barriers.

and I say all of this because Im sure some people when they hear the word missionary or missions they automatically assumed, not me. That is for special kind of people that want to do some hard crazy work for the lord across seas. That is the narrow point of view of missionaries. The broader view is this: You are a missionary for Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20

ESV

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Some are called to go to all nations, some are called to stay and make disciples of this nation…this neighborhood. If you are a disciple, you are also a missionay for christ! you are an ambassoder for christ.

But I know a lot of us here today are like, IDK if I can do that. IDK if I can change in order to be a missionary for christ. IDK if I can be this disciple that you are saying we have to be. But I heard these words:

Discipleship is a lot like growing up. One day you will be 18. It’s inevitable. You will be a quote unquote adult. From 11:59pm when you are 17 to 12:00am when you are 18. Not a lot changed. But so much changed at the same time. Meaning you look in the mirror and don’t see much has changed. You still look outwardly a lot like you did at 17. But there are now some legal things that come with the territory of becoming an adult and being 18. But you are one day wiser. Then you become 25, then 35, then 45 then 55. And day by day and week by week you have slowly but surely changed and wisened up. Decisions you make at 45 are drastically different then at 25. Doesn’t mean what you are doing at 25 was wrong, you just grew and got better. In the same way that is our approach to discipleship. One day at a time to learn and grow. And when we approach it just like that then we will start to understand, hey I can do this. I can live this out. Why? Because Jesus is with me every step of the way.

I am a different man then who I was 20 days ago. When i became a parent, everything changed. I stand here before you and I may look the same, but I promise that everything is different. And I know I am not the perfect dad and I will make many mistakes a long the way. But I am willing to try everyday to become the best dad I could ever be. I can’t be perfect but thats okay because

Disciples display progress, not perfection.

Remember that as you go out to serve and lead your families in discipleship. It is all about the progress and not about perfection. God has already cleansed us and perfected us with his son Jesus on the cross.

But where do I start? We are all called to make disciples but we are not all called to do it in the same way. So where are the places of which you are called to make disciples at?

Maybe it starts in your own home? Maybe this is a season for you to deepen your relationship with God for you and your family. Maybe this a season to love and lead your family and disciple your own in order to make great disciple leaders for others? Maybe you need to serve and be apart of the life of the church in order to effectively lead and grow your family in the ways of Jesus?

Maybe your family members? or friends? Maybe it starts out with getting comfortable about fulffilling Gods mission but fullfilling the great commision in your close circle. Getting your friends and family members to church to grow in their disciplship?

Maybe serving. Maybe outreach. It all looks different but now that you understand “I know what a disciple is now and I know that I need to go and do the work of Jesus.” THink about where that work for Jesus is at in your life.

PART III| Verse 20 | A Great Comfort

Matthew 28:20

ESV

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Know this you are not alone. We have each other, yes but more than that we have Jesus who doesn’t promise to be with us but tells us he IS with us. All of the sudden all the doubt and hesitation and overwhelming nature of this commission to go tell others is settled when we consider Jesus with us saying simply, take my hand, follow me.

We think we’re on some race were Jesus will meet us at the end but until then it’s up to us and that’s just not it. He doesn’t say “ok just do your best and I’ll check in with you later.” Hope you figure it out. That is why we have, God’s truth, prayer, the Holy Spirit and community to encourage us with the presence of Christ. We are so individualistic we read a command and commission like this and we easily get overwhelmed and discouraged, and forget it is a communal charge. Jesus doesn’t pull PHIL aside and say it’s on you buddy, all of it. He doesnt say its you or nothing. He tells all eleven. You have a community and we do this together. Thats why as a Pastor i didnt get overwhelmed anymore because its not only up to me to make sure New Day happens. Yea i got a heavy responsability but I know I have y’all with me. But more importantly I know Jesus is with me. He says,

My grace is sufficient for you; I will never leave you or forsake you.

So lastly, we can comforted in going out to disciple and reach people because we know that we are not alone in this. We have Jesus and we have eachother.

Conclusion

So as we draw to a close this morning, I want to leave you with the application for todays message on the great commission and how you can transform your faith into action.

If you are wondering, what can I do for the kingdom to show others Jesus. here is how.

1.) Consistency- Make sure you are consistent. We have a tendancy to get excited and go full throttle after a message like this, which is great, but make sure to stay within your power to stay consistent. In order for you to truly be a beacon of light and a shining example of who God has called you to be for others, it takes consistency. Start with loving your family to the best of your ability everyday. Coming and being consistent at church. Having a consistent prayer life. Being consistent in serving. Start then consistently loving everyone else everyday. Say hello to strangers. Smile. Do you feel the deep affectionate love that God has for you? Let it show! It is okay to go to walmart and not look angry! LOL Trust me, I hate going to public places with a lot of people, I a lot of times look mad at the world even when Im not and actually having a great day. Let people see the joy that Jesus has shown you. Let people witness the blessings that God has given you and your family. People will see that. People will notice that. You are taking steps in your discipleship and taking steps in fulfilling the great commission without saying a word.

2.) Know your people. Who can you affectively reach this week? Friends and Family. Think about 3 people that you know would love coming with you to church. Invite them. Have lunch with them afterwards. Everyday you wake up, you enter the mission field. You encounter so many people every day, whether it be your work, your family, running errands. How are you making a difference for Jesus in those areas? It doesn’t have to be weird. You don’t have to dress up and go door to door. One of my many success as a Pastor is I’m normal. I am just a normal everyday 28 year old guy. Nothing special. Nothing crazy. I go to the gym. i go to work. I hangout with friends. I hangout with family. And I learned that those are my people that I can affectively change and love. Start with those people in your life first. Those may be the people God is wanting to use you to reach.

3.) Show someone their new day!- You have tasted and seen the glory of God. You have a church family. You are loved. And you will continue to be loved here. But now that you have found your new day, show someone theirs. We have many opportunities to serve including kids ministry and even greet team. You make a difference. A lot of people show up to church and think, man I don’t make that much of a difference. That is the wrong mind set. You are the difference. Not because of you or how great you are, but because God can work through you for his glory. And that work is through serving and loving others. Imagine if we all had a mindset that we will serve every person who walks through those doors. We will serve every living breathing person in our community. What difference we have already made with outreach events. How much more can we impact this community for Jesus? Let’s all agree to be on mission today to grow in disciplship, but more importantly helping to grow others in disciplship as well.

lets pray.