Mandate to The Nations

Understanding the Mandate

· Introduction – Question over pancakes… Why did God save you?

· 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 New Identity New Mission… His Mission is my mission…

Jesus’ Mission – Launch a Global Mission to Establish his kingdom. Redeem creation…

· John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

o Isaiah 2:2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,

o Daniel 7:13-14 (also 2:43-44) ““I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

o Malachi 1:11 “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among te nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lordof hosts.

· Jesus 1st Sermon in Luke 4:16-30 Quotes Isaiah 61 and then gives two examples of God’s love for the nations. Crowd is not pleased… Man is nationalistic.

Jesus Method – How does he plan to accomplish this? (Discipleship: Seed -> Mountain)

· Calls the Disciples: Mathew 4:19 Follow me and I will make you fishers of men…

· John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you…

· Trains the Disciples. Lives life with them, teaches, corrects, empowers, sends, evaluates…

o To the Jew first – Matthew 10:6-7 (but what about the nations?)

o Israel is Beachhead - Romans 1:16 to the Jew first…. Served as training…

o Disciples Slow to Learn Scope

§ Disciples’ Hope Luke 24:19-21 We thought he was the one to redeem Israel

§ Correction Luke 24:45–47 The nations

§ Disciples Hope Acts 1:4–6 Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?

§ Correction Acts 1:7-8 Ends of the Earth

Jesus Mandate – Go and Make Disciples (as I have done, now you do…) Matthew 28:16–20

· All nations (every ethne) – Goal world evangelization

· All that I command

o Baptizing in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – Identity…

o Teaching to Obey all that I command – Action…

· And behold, I am with you always (save for part 2)

Questions during break.

1. What potential motives are there for obeying the Great Commission?

2. What hinders people from obeying the Great Commission?

Session 2

Mandate for the Nations – Part 2

Questions during break.

1. What potential motives are there for obeying the Great Commission?

2. What hinders people from obeying the Great Commission?

Part 2 – Question of Obedience… The Great Omission

· Barna Graph 1 - Only ½ all born again Christians shared their faith in the last year…

· Barna Graph 2 - Christians don’t even believe its their responsibility…

· What is the reason for this omission? Two of many reasons.

1. Failure to understand the gospel and the uniqueness of Jesus.

2. Failure to understand the motive for obedience…

Dealing with Pluralism - Gospel and the uniqueness of Jesus

· John 14:6 Sermon 1995 – Deacon’s Reaction... Ryan’s Prof – “Christians and Muslims worship the same God)

· John 3 – you can’t see nor enter the kingdom.

· John 4 – you worship what you do not know…

o The Father is seeking worshippers who worship in Spirit and in Truth

o John Piper “Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more”

· John 14-5-7 Why is this offensive???

o Head Problem – God accepts good people and I know non-Christians who are good

o Heart Problem - God should allow for multiple ways! How many would be enough?

o Whom does that offend? Those who think they are good.

o Whom doesn’t Jesus offend? The marginalized, sinners, poor, outcast.

o Only requirement – that you feel your need. Jesus has paid it all… The Inclusive Exclusivity of the Gospel

Dealing with Motives for Missions

· False Motive #1 – If I don’t obey the Great Commission is doomed.

· False Motive #2 – If I don’t obey the Great Commission God will not love me.

· Correct Motive #1 – I am deeply loved therefor I obey…

· Correct Motive #2 – My greatest joy is walking WITH my king on his mission… (John 15:10)

Dealing with Motive - Matthew 28:20 Behold I am with you always… Missions as a means of Joy.

· John 14:15-17 Sending the Helper… He is with you, will be in you.

· John 14:21 If you love me you will obey me and I will manifest myself to you.

· John 15:10-11 Obedience as a means of joy…

· John 15:15-16 You are my friends… I choose you and point you to bear fruit…