What Is Hindering Us From Being Missional?

Introduction

Charles Spurgeon said, “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”

Can this be said to be the attitude towards your family, friends, neighbors, your community?

Penn of Penn and Teller sees the importance of evangelism, and he is a hardcore athiest. He says he has no respect for a Christian who will not evangelize to him.

If we truly believe in the words of this Book, then why do we not let it be more evident in our lives

With that being said I want to talk on the Great Commission this morning

READ Matthew 28:16-20

Hinderance 1: Not listening to the Directions of God

“Disciples went” “Jesus had directed”

The disciples were able to get mission direction for their lives because they went where Jesus had directed

Isolation

Think Elijah in mountains and heard the small voice of God

We are directed to eat from his words

Jesus is Matthew 4:4 says:

Matthew 4:4 ESV

But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

If we are to be missional in a godly manner we must eat from the word

the Spirit helps us digest

John 14:26 ESV

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

What habits do you have in place to spend time with the Lord?

“Here, then, is the real problem of our negligence. We fail in our duty to study God's Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy. ― R. C. Sproul

We have to wrestle with the text

We have to ask how does this apply to my life?

How often are we having scripture conversations in the home?

kids are not loosing interest in the Bible, they are not having it instilled in them

When we listen to God we realize their is sacrifices to be made

What sacrifices do you make?

What stumbling blocks are present in your life?

How do you change your schedule to allow opportunities for God to move?

How do you respond to persecution?

Hindrance 2: Doubt/Anxiety/Fear

“they worshiped Him, but some doubted”

this is one of the most mind blowing statements in Matthew to me. Three years of walking with him and had seen him crucified now they see him resurrected

So the excuse my faith would be deeper if I could have walked with Jesus, is a poor excuse. Some disciples walked with him and still had struggles in their faith

Lack of faith is not a sight issue but a heart issue

What would have happened if they had let fear keep them away from the mountain?

Now we know this doubt/hesitation did not last, all the disciples go on to do great things for the kingdom

And they showed up at the mountain, they had a lot thrown at them

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

God is moving, God is speaking, God wants to use his people to make a difference in Marengo County

but believers are letting fear to keep them from listening and pursuing

Fear of:

Sacrifice

Rejection

Politically Incorrect

Financial

offending

Let go of fear and see God give you a spirit of:

Power

Love

Self-control

Hindrance 3: Opinions

“Jesus came and said to them”

Focus on Jesus said not your opinions and preferences

Often we read of what God has commanded but then let our preferences and opinions dictate our reading and direction more

Our opinions don’t save people, our opinions wreck people

The Gospel Facts Saves people

Reason we so often don’t have Gospel conversations is because we don’t know what Jesus said

Too often our spiritual conversations are dictated more about how you feel rather that what the word says

Hindrance 4: Not Seeing Beyond Our Circle

“Make disciples of all nations”

nations = ethnos

Called to be a witness to people of all walks of life

Samaritans- Were biracial. Race with tension

How often has a racial stereotype kept you from ministering?

How often does skin color affect conversations

Tax collectors- traitors who worked for the enemy

Are you willing to converse with a Muslim?

How often has political views hindered gospel conversations?

demon possessed- the dangerous

How often has what will people think if they see me talking to so and so stopped you from ministering?

How often has we cannot have those type of people in our churches hindered ministry?

Pharisees- self righteous, church discipline

We must address our issues to be an effective witness

Church discipline must happen

Jews- “his” people

Are Wesley Chapel members the only ones you have gospel conversations with?

Hinderance 5: Not Trusting the Authority of Jesus

“All authority…given to me”

The authority we go on is not our own, but that of Jesus’

We must fight the warfare in the name of Jesus

Acts 19:15–16 ESV

But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

We go by any other power we will walk around in shame

Outro

“Go”

Go is a verb, verb is an action

he did not say stay where I have met with you and wait for them to come to you, he says go to the ethnos

Talk of scripture is not limited to these walls or the walls of your house

Two-Step Process

Share the Gospel

Can you walk people through the Bible?

Discipline in the Word

Are you deep enough in your faith you can help others?