The Great Commission

Scripture Passage

Matthew 28:16–20 (NLT)

16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Focus Statement

Amidst our own experiences with evangelism and the many doubts that we carry,

Christ inspires and calls us to a life of faith-sharing with the assurance that when we go,

he goes with us.

Point of Relation

I hope you have had the chance to read the Newsletter article I wrote in this month’s Newsletter which came out toward the end of this past week.

If not, this will be a bit of a spoiler as to what is is talking about;

however, you should still read it because it has a lot to offer in regard to what this new Worship Series is about:

and that is EVANGELISM.

In it, I share about how Theology on Tap came to be about...

and it really started with me looking for a “third place” to exist...

You know...

Your first place is your home. Your second place is your job. Your third place is a place where you can just be you FOR YOU.

We had just gotten out of the pandemic and finding community was something I was longing for.

That and I like beer…especially craft beer...

and so I decided to go back to this place I had been to before the pandemic called Angry Erik Brewing.

So I don’t steal all of my thunder in the article, let me just say that while I went there to find a “third place”, I am also an honest person and have nothing to hide...

And so, I knew that I would engage with people about my profession and that, over time,

that could produce good fruit for the Kingdom of God.

Over time, that is in fact what happened.

People know me as a pastor there…and I have even been lovingly nicknamed The ToddFather! I joke you not! LOL!

Not everyone I talk to is religious…not everyone ends up on the same page with me...

But we are all friends…and we all respect each other…and truly care for one another.

When I was sick and not around for awhile, people actually checked up on me.’

It’s almost like CHURCH…amen?

So, let me sum this up quickly…in simple terms

I went to find a third place…but I remained open to share my faith with people...

And God took care of the rest.

That’s how what I call natural or organic evangelism works. Nothing forced…it happens naturally/organically.

It’s who we are…not what we do.

Things to Consider

We as the church can sometimes shy away from “evangelism” because of some of the ways it has been used in history.

If we redefine it for the modern context,

we face a new and unique challenge of not only evangelizing to those who have never heard the name of Jesus Christ;

but also, to authentically share good news with those

for whom the Gospel has been misused

and against whom it has been weaponized to cause harm.

What Scripture Says

Let’s look at some words, for instance: “Go” and “going.”

There are scholars who argue that translating this text to the imperative,

“Go…” (verse 19) is not quite accurate.

Instead, it can be argued that the word is more accurately translated as a participle like,

“while you are going…”.

This shift in understanding can actually change the sense of the passage.

Instead of evangelism being a task we are commanded to complete,

we are instead being asked to live our very lives as a witness to the Gospel in all that we do,

meeting others where they are along the way.

Go even amidst doubt.

The church has long found its marching orders in the Great Commission (verses 19-20), w

ithout paying much attention to the rest of the passage.

For instance, let’s consider the impact and importance of verse 17, where even in the physical presence of the resurrected Christ,

the disciples both worshiped and doubted.

Let me note that while most English translations say (“some doubted,”)

the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition just says,

“they worshiped him, but they doubted,”

following the Greek text more literally.

Perhaps this indicates that doubt, \

alongside worship, was more common.)

And yet, even in the face of that doubt, Jesus still said,

“Go…” or “As you are going…”.

Sometimes we find sharing faith a challenge because the world is doubtful of a higher power,

of the teachings of the Bible,

or of faith in one they cannot see.

Let me lift up some of the doubts we are struggling with:

Just in March we announced that we were going part-time as a church...

Meaning that I was probably going to have to move and a part-time pastor was going to be appoingted.

That didn’t happen, obviously, but still we have only a half year or less before that could become the reality again...

We are not sure if the people MIA will start attending again…let alone give...

and the future seems uncertain at best.

We are trying new things, but that may not change things...

and we only have a handful of leaders to move the church forward during very trying times.

Does that sum it up pretty well?

Friends, I want you to hear these liberating words:

We do not have to be doubtless and perfect to start sharing the Good News.

Through our witness,

our experiences in relationship with Jesus,

and the stories of our faith –

however imperfect -

God will inspire people to believe in the reality of Jesus Christ.

Next…on to the words “in” and “into.”

So often, when we talk about evangelism,

there is a focus on “getting everyone baptized” INTO the church

and doing as the text says, “baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

But theologian R. T. France describes how the more literal translation here would be,

“baptizing them into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

While the call is clear to go, tell, make disciples, and baptize,

one of the things that people often lack and are longing for is the relationship with God.

It is not just about becoming a part of the church as an organization or institution.

Baptizing them into,

as in France’s translation,

calls people into allegiance with the Trinity

and therefore into a lifelong relationship.

What This Means for You

Let me share an experience I had with you

When I was at Vernon United Methodist Church, I would often lead children’s messages during the service.

I used to love preparing messages for the kids and see how they interact.

Go figure right…I was honing my “Kid’s Rock” skills!

Anyway, one week…

and who knows if this makes its way here someday…

I brought in a pebble and talked about how we can drop a pebble into water,

no matter how big or small, and it will cause ripples to sweep across the water.

A pebble, no matter how insignificant, can cause quite a bit of change in the lake around it.

The same is true for us people.

We are like pebbles…and we cause ripples too.

Sometimes positive ones…other times not...

Anyway, I need not do the whole message here…you get the point.

Afterward…like weeks later.

One of the church members came up to me and said...

When you did that children’s message the other week…about the pebble and the ripple effects...

That just inspired me so. I could see a light glowing around you and I just new it was Jesus.

Here, I wrote this poem inspired by your message.

I looked at the poem and almost cried...

There it was, captured poetically. How beautiful...

and the glow…I have no clue what that was about.

I Know I certainly didn’t see light coming off me that day.

All I can say is that she saw the presence of God around me and the children that day.

She saw Jesus there in our midst…and I unknowingly played a part in that.

And so, I simply thank her and gave credit to Jesus.

This can be the way that each of us approach sharing Christ’s kindness in the world.

Sometimes the first step is showing love and kindness to all we encounter…

whether to children or adults or animals or God’s creation in general

The next step is not being afraid to say that

the source of that light shining within us is Jesus.

And I want to stress that the light that the woman saw in me is not EXCLUSIVE TO ME. AMEN?

People can see that “Light” in you too...

And if they mention it, question it...

You can point them to the source of that light…Jesus Christ.

All you need to do is be authentically you and passionate about what you are doing.

You also have to be open to people…and allow them into your life. COMMUNITY IS A REQUIREMENT.

And this is all true no matter whether you are new to the faith or seasoned.

Christ’s light is within all who believe in and follow him.

The key is to be authentic and to live into “being evangelism” rather than “doing evangelism”.

Doing something is a chore…or a process at the very least that can vary in the results it produces...

Being something, on the other hand, is tied to one’s identity.

It is who they are…it is what they embody.

It is what brings them life-giving joy.

What This Means for Us

What would it look like if we, as the church,

were to see our call to evangelize not as one task among many

but as an overall approach, structuring our days from morning to night.

Imagine being that daily witness who brings others into a Christ-filled life.

Our lives become shaped by the call to “euangelizo”.

Our evangelism or witness becomes an announcement,

a telling, not just with words, but with our actions and behaviors too.

A culture shift like this for our church

begins to generate the same kind of excitement as invitations to a big celebration, where it’s not just another thing we do.

The Great Commission also becomes the Great Invitation -

one that all of us can rally around and help share this amazing Good News.

So let us INVITE people to this awesome family of ours...

Where Christ is our Lord and we need not fear anything…not sin…not evil…and certainly not death! Amen? Amen!