Mission

Intro

We are continuing our series, Better Together. We have been looking at all the different relationships we have as believers and the reminder that God has a plan for each of those relationships. God’s desire is that each and every one of them would be healthy.

So we’ve been looking at the different scriptures that define what the relationship looks like and our role in it. This morning we are actually wrapping up our series and looking at this idea of mission. We have often reduced the idea of mission to what the Mexico team is going to do in February, and though that is part of it, the reality is that each of us is on a mission. My hope is that as we dive into this idea of mission, it will challenge the way we see the relationships around us.

So to give us the scope of what it means to be on mission, let’s go to Matthew 28 to unpack what exactly we as the church are supposed to be doing.

Matthew 28:18–20 NLT

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 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.”

So let’s unpack everything that has just happened in this little passage.

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Jesus has been given all authority

because of His death and resurrection, Jesus now has authority over all creation. Only the Father is outside of the Jesus’ authority and power.

the reason this is significant is because of how Jesus ends this passage. Remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

So now, not only does Jesus have all the authority, but we have access to His power and authority because He is going to be with us always.

How is Jesus with us

Acts 1:8 NLT

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

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Jesus is with us because at the moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells within us. The same Spirit that hovered over the waters at creation, the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead, that Spirit dwells within us, and by extension everything we need to be effective in the mission God has given us dwells within us.

We are sent by Jesus

Jesus said, “Therfore, go...”

John 17:18 NLT

Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.

John 20:21 NLT

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

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You have been chosen by God for such a time as this, to do reach people only you can reach, to have an impact only you can have.

Jesus tells each and every one of us to go. To go where?

Make Disciples of all nations

this is where international missions comes in. The apostles weren’t supposed to just stay in Jerusalem and make disciples of just the Jews. They were to go into ALL the world.

but missions isn’t just international. If you have ever been on the trip that goes to Mexico, what is one thing that almost always comes up in at the sharing time? We should really do this back home!

Why? Because all nations includes the one we call home. I don’t know if anyone noticed, but not all of Carlyle, Arcola, Manor, and Kenosee show up to church here on a regular basis. There are a lot of people out there that aren’t disciples. That means the mission is needed hear just as much as it is needed in Mexico.

The big reminder, and I wil reiterate this to the team before they go, is that we don’t go to Mexico to make them more Canadian. We go to make disciples. Why? Because we believe that being a disciple of Christ is the best thing you can do with your life! Because we believe that those who are not disciples of Christ are going to face the condemnation of God and the guilty verdict is already passed on their life.

We make disciples because no matter how much you dislike someone, the idea of someone you know spending eternity separated from God in the fires of Hell should give you goosebumps.

Those are the options. Eternity or judgment.

Baptizing them

I said this back in June but I think it worth repeating, mostly because Jesus says it in Mark

Mark 16:15–16 NLT

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.

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the biblical authors didn’t understand the idea of being a disciple and not being baptized. They went hand in hand.

We’ve got the tank now, we can do baptism all year round. Just saying

Teach them to obey all

we aren’t told to teach the parts that we like or make us feel good. We are to teach these new disciples ALL the commands of Christ

in order to teach someone something, we need to know it ourselves, and we should probably be living it out to some extent.

If you ever needed a reason to be regularly reading and studying your bible, this would be a good one. Not because if you aren’t following all the commands you are disqualified. It is because we are all on this journey of sanctification. We are all working out our faith. Even Paul told Timothy to work out a genuine faith, not a perfect one.

But as you are working out your own salvation, you have the opportunity to invite someone along for the journey. Nothing motivates you to learn and grow in an area then when you have to pass it on to someone else.

The big reminder is that Jesus is going to complete the good work in you. He is the one that sanctifies you.

We are all missionaries.

each of us is a missionary. Think of the people that you have the privilege to to interact with on a regular basis that no one else gets to. You have the opportunity to represent Christ in that situation, not on your own, but with the Holy Spirit that dwells within you.

1. Discuss the implications of each of the following for your life:

a. You are chosen by God. b. You are sent by Jesus. c. You are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

2. What does it mean to make disciples?

3. Take some time and pray for someone you feel God is calling you to share your faith with.