Going To the Wolrd (Matthew 28:16-20)
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16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus has all power and authority and he send us with that power and authority
Just like in Matthew ch.10 he sends the disciples to Galilee,
Now he sends them to the WORLD.
Disciples of Jesus are on a worldwide mission!
Notice, Jesus does not say to make "converts"
There is a difference between a convert and a disciples
A convert states they believe Jesus
A disciples is obedient and diligent to learn from Jesus and other disciples about Jesus
Converts claim they know Jesus
Disciples desire to know the heart of Jesus
Converts say the right things
Disciples are concerned with being like Jesus
Converts claim they believe, but their life is marked by evil attitudes, habits, profane language, detestable thoughts...
Disciples, well, they continue to follow Jesus and allow his Spirit to work in them to change their attitudes, habits, language, and thoughts. They are perfect, but they seek to be more and more like Christ everyday.
It's not about saying a prayer of forgiveness and belief, it's about desiring Jesus to change us into being like him as we participate in God's unfolding Kingdom
Converts coerce others to believe
Disciples invite others into the journey as they lead others to be like Jesus AND as they, themselves are discipled by someone to be like Jesus.
Making Disciples is a LIFESTYLE….
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
It looks like 2 commands 1= Go 2= Make Disciples
But, it is not...
“Going, making disciples...”
“As you go, making disciples”
An assumed action based upon our lifestyle
That as we live as disciples of Jesus we will make more disciples. NOT through programs or campaigns, but simply through living as salt and light as Jesus instructed us to!
The great commission is NOT a program but the lifestyle of disciples of Jesus!
As a child I would sing this song
Do you know Oh Christian you’re a sermon in shoes
Do you know Oh Christian you’re a sermon in shoes
Jesus calls upon you to spread the Gospel News
So walk it, and talk it,
(Live it and Give it)
(Teach it and Preach it)
(Know it and show it)
A sermon in shoes
Do you know the world is watching all that you do
Do you know the world is watching all that you do
Jesus calls upon you to spread the Gospel News
So know it, and show it, and teach it, and preach it, and live it, and give it, and walk it and talk it
A sermon in shoes
Many of us have heard the quote, that many CLAIM was stated first by St. Francis of Assisi (although there is no evidence of that) “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.”
This is why I GO to various places.
Jesus NEVER said to wait for people to come to you. He ALWAYS sent the disciples OUT into the world. Were there times people came to Jesus? Yes. However, the command is always to GO OUT INTO THE WORLD... the people who come are exceptions and happen when people follow the command to live as disciples of Jesus wherever they go.
HOWEVER, SOMETIMES you have to use words
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
In context has to do with our HOPE for the return of Christ (probably seen in how we live our lives in allegiance to the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ) and when we give our reason for this hope we are to do so with gentleness and respect...
BUT these words come AFTER being salt and light and people wondering about you and ASKING about your hope…
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus promises his presence while we do this...
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
These verses contain the promise of Emmanuel, God with us
Jesus declares that he is with us always (I wonder if he intends this to be conditional that AS WE LIVE the commission he is with us).
We in the church of the Nazarene believe in the grace of God that is extended to all people through the Holy Spirit. We call this PREVENIENT GRACE. It is the grace that goes before salvation and the grace that goes before us as we encounter our world.
This is important because IF we believe this, then we believe that there is not place, community, or people that are God forsaken.
God is already in those places by the power of the Holy Spirit.
So when God send us to our communities, or far away communities, God is NOT sending us to places where He is not already there.
In other words, we do not go to places to bring God with us, we go to places to highlight the TRUE LIGHT that is already at work.
There is NO PLACE we can god that God isn't already there!!!
And some may ask, if we're always going, then why are people NOT coming to church?
The goal of the great commission is NOT Church Growth - it is KINGDOM GROWTH...
Notice... Jesus NEVER said to go and invite people to church...
The idea of church as we understand it was probably NOT in Jesus frame of mind. Jesus want his KINGDOM to grow, not individual churches (but yes, Kingdom growth does transfer to church growth).
Our gathering for worship is IMPORTANT. But, it is MOST likely never intended to be for the sole purpose of evangelism. It is, however, a tool for discipleship.
Our weekly worship services are, to borrow the idea from Leslie Newbigin, to allow us to be breathed in by God’s Spirit, encouraged and instructed, so that we can be breathed out into God’s world.
Our worship services should ENCOURAGE us to go into our world and live our lives in such a way that people in our world are compelled to follow Jesus.
Even in our text this morning, the disciples gathered and worshiped Jesus and THEN they were sent into the world. That should be the same pattern. We gather to worship and then are SENT into our world!
They gathered for worship, received Christ’s power and were sent to live lives that make disciples…
But, the goal is NEVER the individual church.
IF churches TRULY want to grow they MUST stop thinking about themselves and MUST start thinking about Jesus' Kingdom! Church growth is a bi-product of Kingdom Growth. Church growth is a bi-product of the GREAT Commission - NOT the reason for it!!
I FIRMLY believe that our church (or churches in general) will NOT grow until we seek GOD'S Kingdom above our own; until we become disciples who make disciples ANYWHERE, AND WHEREVER, AND EVERYWHERE God places us.
Obstacles Vs. Opportunities
Too many times we see OBSTACLES where God has given us OPPORTUNITIES!! Remember the spies? Numbers 13-14
Many saw OBSTACLES while some saw OPPORTUNITIES. Yes, the obstacles were still there, but they knew the obstacles would mean nothing if they went in with God's call, promise, and power...
Often we refuse to go where God has called us because the obstacles appear to big. Yet, we forget that God is already there calling us to join Him there. And,if that is true, there are no obstacles that can stop us.
But on the other hand there was the Samaritan woman at the well.
She encountered Jesus and went to her community that KNEW her story, her past, her shame and she said I've met Jesus, come meet him with me. And MANY people came to believe.
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
So it is with us... we read the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few...
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
WE ARE THE LABORERS we are praying to be sent out!!
We need to awaken our lives to HEAR again the call of God to GO WHEREVER God is sending us and to live our lives in such a way that people are compelled to know more about Christ because of our witness!!!
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Let us be willing to live as disciples who make disciples WHEREVER we go!
BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION
May we accept our role in the commission to GO wherever God sends us.
May we live our lives in such a way that disciples are being made
May we focus on the growth of Jesus’ Kingdom and not our own
May we see OBSTACLES become OPPORTUNITIES as we recognize the presence of Christ that is with us and the power that presence gives to us as we go to our world
And may we remember that God is already present in those places, working in hearts and lives to be receptive to OUR COMING as verification of Christ’s light
There are INDEED no God forsaken places!
THEREFORE GO!!!