Reaching Others Matt 28:16-20

Introduction

These last few weeks we have looked at the purpose of our church and summed it up into three pillars

We love God - Loving God properly requires an all out kind of love which holds nothing back! Mark 12:30 “30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

We grow together - As we see the day of the Lord approaching, we should hold fast to our faith, encourage each other to love and good works, assemble together, and exhort one another. Hebrews 10:24–25 “24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

We reach others- Reaching others was not a suggestion from Christ, but rather a command to the church. Matthew 28:18–20.

All Worshiped Some Doubted vs. 16-17

As we come to the end of the book of Matthew, we see that the chief priest met with a council and gave a large sum of money to the soldiers to say that Jesus’ disciples had taken him in the middle of the night.

At the writing of the Gospel according to Matthew this was still a common lie being told by the Jews to try and explain Jesus.

Instead of playing into that narrative the eleven disciples that were left went away to Galilee

They went to a mountain

Before Jesus was crucified he told his disciples when he has risen he would go to Galilee

Matthew 26:32 “32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.”

After He was risen He told Mary Magdalene to tell the disciple to go to Galilee

Matthew 28:10 “10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.”

When they saw Jesus, they worshipped Him.

The worshipped Jesus for who he was and most saw him as he really is but there were some that weren't fully bought in yet.

But some doubted

Johns gospel says this about one of the disciples doubting.

John 20:24–29 “24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

Will we worship Christ or doubt him?

The Commission Given vs. 18-20

Christ dispels all doubt by telling us the power we have. vs. 18

All Power, all authority is given in heaven and in the earth.

This power means all the right of absolute authority and all the resources of absolute power.

We have the same authority and power that Jesus has, because Jesus is our power source.

John Phillips said this “Principalities and powers, rulers of the world’s darkness, wicked spirits in high places, fallen angels, demon bands, Satan himself — all are circumvented, held in check by Christ.”

As long as Jesus is on the throne, we have every bit of power and every bit of authority to share the Gospel with the world, and Jesus will never lose his throne!

Spurgeon said this Never lose heart in the power of the gospel. Do not believe that there exists any man, much less any race of men, for whom the gospel is not fitted."

Christ Commands us to Go vs. 19a

Go ye therefore

The therefore here links the power that Jesus has with us

It could be summed up like this Because of the power Jesus has, Go!

This was the commission of the first church and it still is our commission today

Mark 16:15 “15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Acts 1:8 “8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

It wasn’t just a command for one or two, it was for the church.

We must get out of the habit of thinking that only missionaries/ evangelists/ pastors are called to go and realize that Jesus has called all of us to go reach others.

As members of Washington Street Baptist Church this commandment is for all of us.

Christ commands us to share the Gospel vs. 19b

The Gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ.

Oswald J. Smith said this “Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice, before everyone has heard it once?”

Robert Moffat said this about his time as a missionary in Africa “I have sometimes seen, in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages where no one has ever heard the name of Christ.”

We could go on and on about lands across the sea who have never heard the Gospel, but we must not forget our home.

I think its safe to say that even in Stephenville, TX there are people who have never heard the gospel.

Romans 10:14 “14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

All of us are called to share the good news of the Gospel with our community. We have a mission field right here, are we planting seed, watering seed, or harvesting?

It doesn’t stop there, Christ also commands once they have been reached they get baptized.

Christ commands us to baptize vs. 19c

Baptism isn’t necessary for salvation, no matter what any one tries to tell you.

Baptism is a picture

It pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It pictures us dying to our old self and becoming alive in Christ.

Baptism is an identifier

When we get baptized we are identifying with Christ

It is an outward profession of an inward possession

Romans 6:3–5 “3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”

Christ commands us to make disciples vs. 20a

One of the saddest things that has happened over the last 100 years are people who have been led to Christ and never discipled.

Discipleship is a part of the great commission and it is a great way to reach others, but sadly I think its the most forgotten part of the great commission.

Disciples are committed followers of Christ, who have been changed by Jesus and are committed to the mission of Jesus.

How do we get disciples?

We teach them the word of God.

We teach them about God.

Everything that Christ has commanded us is what we teach them.

Christ is always with us

One more reason not to doubt is because Jesus has promised to always be with us.

Whether we are on an island in the pacific, in the bush of Africa, reaching an unreached tribe in the Amazon or going door to door in our city, Christ has promised to be with us. Christ cannot break a promise

Conclusion

We reach others as we find a place of ministry in the local body. We also reach out by sharing the Gospel with those who need the Lord—through witnessing to friends, coworkers, neighbors, and loved ones, as well as in participating in church outreach and giving to our missionaries.

As a church, our mission is to reach the world with the Gospel of Christ. We want to utilize every available biblical means, and we want to disciple and train every member to participate in accomplishing our church’s purpose.