Bigger Than Life

Discipleship Takes all of Us.

The mission of the global Church of the Nazarene is to make Christlike disciples, in the nations. Today A people of grace explains how fulfilling the mission of the church takes all of us. Fulfilling the great commission takes all of us.

The Apostle Paul, over the last 2000 years of church history, is regarded as one of the main movers of the church. He has an extensive resume. He planted churches everywhere he went. He wrote 17 books of our New Testament. He took the gospel, Jesus Christ to the gentiles. He fought the good fight and finished the race and died a martyrs death.

If it wasn’t for the faithfulness of Barnabas and later Silas, the list of people in Romans 16 would look different. If wasn’t for Timothy’s faithfulness, the list would look different. Bottom line in today’s sermon is discipleship is a all hands on deck job. God calls every disciple to go make disciples just as Paul did.

How do we do that? Just as Paul did. He followed Christ example. He invested in fellow believers, and he welcomed everyone who showed an interest in God’s Kingdom.

Christ Example

Paul follows Christ’s example. Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church tells them to follow me as I follow Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT

1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

Jesus invested personally in his disciples. Nothing could show this more than sharing a meal in the house of Matthew the Tax Collector. Sharing a meal together signaled a personal close relationship. This is why the Pharisees got so upset.

Matthew 9:9–13 NRSV

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

Within his 12 disciples Jesus has the inner 3, he takes with him seemingly everywhere. Peter, James, and John. We can find them present when Jesus is transfigured in Matthew 17. We can find them again sleeping in the Gethsemane at Jesus deepest hour of need. Despite their short comings, Jesus had the grace necessary to invest in them.

Jesus also invests in the 12, despite one being his betrayer. We see this through out his ministry but again we see it around the table of the last supper. Jesus Personally washes his disciples feet.

In Luke 10 Jesus sends out 72 other disciples, who he also personally invested time. Perhaps some of these were the people around Matthew’s table who aren’t numbered with the 12.

Jesus invested in the lives of others. Jesus wasn’t a lone wolf he had the inner 3, the whole 12, and the 72 he sent out. Making disciples isn’t a lone wolf opperation. The same is true about Paul. Paul, like Christ, had a lengthy list of people to help accomplish the mission to make disciples.

Invest in Fellow Believers

Characteristic of the end of Paul’s letters is a lengthy list of tell them I said hi. This speaks to the level Paul followed Christ in investing in others. Romans 16:1-15 is evidence of this work.

In Romans 16 we get the names of a few of the ordinary disciples who assisted Paul to accomplish the mission.

The early church didn’t meet in nice facilities like this one. Many met in peoples homes often around the dinner table. Paul send greetings to them here Romans 16:3-5

Romans 16:3–5 NRSV

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, 4 and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ.

Priscilla and Aquila are named as co-workers in the ministry of Christ, who risked their lives for him.

Some of this cast of people suffered along side Paul in prison like Andronicus and Junia. Romans 16:7

Romans 16:7 NRSV

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

Some befriended Paul. Romans 16:8-9

Romans 16:8–9 NRSV

8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.

This list of people is extensive and speaks to the level of cooperation it took to accomplish the mission of God. The ministry flourished in the local communities because Paul invested in them and they in turn invested in him. This lengthy list speaks to how Paul like Christ welcomed anyone who showed an interest in God’s Kingdom work.

Welcoming Community

Jesus welcomed a tax collector, his eventual betrayer, Peter who would deny him 3 times around his table. He entered the homes of tax collectors and other scum, sat down and shared a meal with them. Jesus welcomed those the temple and society wouldn’t. This is what it means to be a people of grace.

Paul on his way to stop the followers of Christ, while he was breathing threats against the church and approved of the stoning of Stephen. Was welcome to become the one who would bring the gospel to the gentiles.

As the church we must follow Paul as he followed Christ and be a place where anybody curious about the Kingdom of God is welcome. Every guest and visitor that comes through the doors or even watches on line must feel welcome without conditions.

We must trust the Holy Spirit to draw people to the Kingdom through the prevenient grace of God. You didn’t walk through the doors today by accident. God brought you here for a reason. You didn’t stumble over the live stream by accident, God brought you here. God brought you here because the gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ can change your life. You are welcome here.

As a people of grace where ever we are in the journey we must encourage one another to grow in grace. Until the work of grace is complete. To become Christ like disciples isn’t a lone effort it takes all of us.

Conclusion

Matthew 28:18–20 NRSV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus told all his disciples to go make disciples, not just the Paul’s or those called to full time ministry. He addressed it to every believer. Jesus helps us to carry out the mission in two ways: he gives us a nurturing church community to serve, and he gives us his presence to guide us. So lets go make disciples together.