The Mission of the Local Church

Introduction

Good morning, beloved! It is a great joy and privilege to once again gather and open God’s life-giving Word together. If you have a Bible, please open with me to Matthew 28. We are concluding our sermon series on the local church this morning. This series has been intended to help sharpen our understanding of the local church’s identity, purpose, and priorities. We conclude this morning by considering the last of our priorities––a commitment to gospel proclamation.

Though we are considering it last, that does not make it the least important by any means. In fact, this last priority is really an answer to the question––“What is the mission of the church?” With your Bible open to Matthew 28:16-20, I’m going to read verses 16 to 20 for us. So please follow along as I do that. Then we will pray and ask the Lord to help us understand and apply His Word to our life and ministry together, for His glory.

READ Matthew 28:16-20

[Matthew 4:4 Responsive Reading - “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”]

PRAY

Over the last couple of months we’ve considered several aspects of the local church. There are undoubtedly many more things we could cover in a series on the local church. Many things that we’ll just have to be content to leave for another time. My hope is that it has served us in understanding that our life and ministry together as a particular church matters. In a day and age where the local church is often relegated to insignificance, I hope we’ve grown together in our understanding and appreciation of the local church.

We’ve considered the identity of the local church. It is a gathering, or assembly. A family purchased with the shed blood of Jesus. A peculiar family of Christ followers brought together for the great purpose of glorifying God together in all that we do. We’ve repeatedly noted many things about what the early church prioritized in their life and ministry together––a commitment to the gathering, to the life-giving Word of God, to corporate prayer, and to one another. But there is one more priority, one more commitment, that cannot be overlooked.

In fact, I want to suggest to you this morning that everything we’ve considered to this point really culminates in, or builds up to this point. Everything about who we are, why we exist, and what we prioritize and commit ourselves to should serve to fulfill the mission that we’ve been given from the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything we do should align with and serve the mission.

Think of it all like a well crafted arrow. Every part, every component, should be pieced together in such a way that the arrow is enabled to fly true and straight to its intended target. If anything is disjointed, or out of alignment, the arrow will not fly true and will likely miss the mark. It loses its effectiveness. So it is with the church and its God-given mission. Understanding everything about who we are and why we exist and what our priorities ought to be should line up to serve the glorious mission that God has given us. And, by God’s grace, aid our effectiveness in it.

Our text this morning provides us with a straight forward answer to the question “What is the mission of the church.” Our main point this morning is this…

MAIN POINT–– In light of Jesus’ universal authority, let us commit ourselves to proclaiming Christ as King wherever the Lord takes us for His glory.

The Mission of the Church

Our passage this morning comes on the heels of Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus was crucified. He died. He was placed in the tomb. Then, just as he said he would, he rose again from the grave three days later. Word reached the disciples that he had risen from the dead and they went to Galilee, “to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.” Verse 17 is interesting to me. We won’t spend too much time taking a deep dive on it. But I don’t want to entirely skip over it.

Matthew, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives us an interesting detail once the disciples get to Jesus. Verse 17–– “And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.” Jesus is standing before them, raised from the dead, having accomplished all that he said he would accomplish. And rightly, they worship him. They discern and believe rightly that Jesus is God and worthy of worship as the Savior-King who conquered sin, death, and the grave. Yet, even as they worshiped him, the text tells us “some doubted.”

Some of us might be tempted to read that and scoff at the disciples for this. But, with a dose of humility, knowing ourselves, we must read that and find it to some degree breathtaking and refreshingly honest. After all, who among us does not struggle with doubt from time to time as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ? If I asked for a show of hands, I would expect that almost every hand in this room would go up if I asked who has doubts from time to time.

But here’s the glorious and encouraging thing I want us to take away from this. Jesus doesn’t rebuke them for their doubt. He knows. He knows it all. He can see right through them. He knows their weak, fickle, doubting hearts. And yet, he still gives them this glorious mission that we’ll unpack together this morning. Beloved, our weakness and frailty does not cause our Lord and Savior to cast us aside. In fact, I would suggest to you that it is our weakness and frailty that endears him all the more to us––especially when we acknowledge it.

Jesus loves to use what is weak in the world to shame the strong and wise of the world. It is in our weakness that he is pleased to demonstrate his power and glory. Oh, beloved, weak and doubting ones, Jesus is not looking at you with a frown on his face. We need to be reminded of that from time to time. In our weakness and in our doubting, let us hear these words, this commission, afresh and be encouraged together.

Knowing their doubting hearts and minds, Jesus reminds them first of all who he is. Look at verse 18–– “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Not just some authority. Not a little authority. Not most authority. Nor does he say that all authority will one day later on be given to him. He says, all authority has been given to him. Jesus is in total and absolute sovereign control of all things right now. He is the matchless and unrivaled King right now. There is quite literally nothing outside of the scope of His power and authority.

He is the promised Seed who came into the world and crushed the head of the Serpent in fulfillment of Genesis 3:15. He is the promised Son of David who will rule and reign forever. He is, even more explicitly, the very one Daniel spoke of in Daniel 7:13-14:

Dan. 7:13 “I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven

there came one like a son of man,

and he came to the Ancient of Days

and was presented before him.

Dan. 7:14 And to him was given dominion

and glory and a kingdom,

that all peoples, nations, and languages

should serve him;

his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

which shall not pass away,

and his kingdom one

that shall not be destroyed.

He is the high and exalted one. The King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the One before whom every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that he is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Beloved, as those who have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of Jesus, this ought to be a great comfort to us. We need to remember afresh this reality that Jesus has all authority. We do not serve a powerless or inferior Savior.

While this is a comfort, it is so much more than that. The authority of the King compels the King's people to carry out the mission He’s given us. That’s where Jesus goes next in verse 19. In light of His absolute, total, sovereign authority over all the universe he gives a command–– “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Now, here we need to make sure we’re clear on what the command is. We want to make sure we’re emphasizing the right thing.

The main verb is not go, or baptize, or teach. Those things are certainly part of the mission we’ve been given. We’ll look at those in a moment. But let’s be clear on what the imperative, the command, is first. The main verb is one word in the Greek translated “make disciples.” That’s the command. That’s our mission. As disciples of Jesus, we are commanded to make more disciples of Jesus. What is a disciple? What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?

A disciple is a follower of Jesus. It is someone who has turned from living for themselves and according to their own wisdom to live for Jesus and under the authority of Jesus’ teachings. It is someone who believes that living for themselves and according to their own wisdom is foolishness. That living for and under the authoritative teaching of Jesus is far better. We believe in Him and believe His Word is true and good and right. As those redeemed by his shed blood, we live for Him and His glory.

Beloved, does that describe you this morning? Are you a disciple? A follower of the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you come to the end of yourself and your own ways of thinking and living? Have you turned from living for yourself and according to your own understanding and submitted yourself to the Lordship of King Jesus? Have you believed what He says about Himself? Who he is and what He accomplished in His perfect life, sacrificial death, and resurrection? Have you bowed your knee in glad submission to the King? If so, you are a disciple, a follower, of Jesus.

As disciples of Jesus, we are to make more disciples, more followers, of Jesus. As those whose citizenship is in heaven, living under the rule and reign of King Jesus, we are to make more kingdom citizens. Now, Jesus gives three modifiers that bring clarity to how we fulfill this command to make disciples. Three things that go hand in hand with and inform our disciple-making mandate. We are to go. We are to baptize. We are to teach. Let’s unpack each of those in turn.

First, let’s understand what it means that we are to “go.” In thinking through this, we need to avoid two extremes. On the one hand, if we only understand “go” to exclusively mean leaving our current place to go to another, then we’ll neglect our responsibility to make disciples in the place God currently has us. On the other hand, if we interpret the “go” in the way some have said––“as you go”––then we may be lulled into complacency where we are and never consider that God may have some of us actually go to another place.

Often we read this “go” and this entire passage and think exclusively of missions and world evangelization. We think of unreached people groups. That is certainly the big picture aim. Please don’t hear me dismiss that by any means. The command is to make disciples of all nations. That certainly entails the reality that some will have to cross cultural boundaries. This is a necessity. It must happen. In fact, it is my hope and prayer that some of us will do exactly that in the Lord’s good and perfect timing.

However, we cannot read this “go” and divorce it from day-in and day-out ordinary faithfulness for the advance of the gospel among those closest to us. Our friends. Our family. Our neighbors. Our coworkers. Our classmates. Our community. Obedience to the great commission is not just obedience to God’s call to do big things “out there.” It also entails ordinary faithful obedience in all the little ways each and every day as citizens of the kingdom of heaven. It is to be our persistent way of life and ministry together as a local church.

Certainly that is what is demonstrated for us in the book of Acts, is it not? When you read through the book of Acts you see the Lord building His church through the spread of the gospel in several ways. Some stayed put where the Lord had placed them. That’s where it started, right? After the Lord ascended, the disciples didn’t immediately run to the ends of the earth. They knew that’s what would have to happen eventually. But the great commission began with daily faithfulness as a local church in Jerusalem.

Together they devoted themselves to gathering together regularly. They devoted themselves to the life-giving Word of God together. They devoted themselves to prayer together. They devoted themselves to one another––loving and caring for one another. They grew together into this compelling community assembled together under the banner of King Jesus––an embassy and outpost of the kingdom of heaven this side of eternity.

Guess what happened as a result? We don’t have to guess. You can look at what flowed from all of this in the last half of Acts 2:47. The text there says, “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Obedience to the Great Commission. Right there. They hadn’t even left Jerusalem yet. In fact it wasn’t until Acts 8 that we see them get beyond Jerusalem as they were scattered due to persecution following the martyrdom of Stephen.

Acts 8:1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Then, a few verses later…

Acts 8:4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

Now, by God’s grace, it doesn’t seem that we’re in danger of being scattered by persecution any time soon. The day could come. But for now we enjoy great security in gathering together to worship the Lord. Nevertheless, you may experience suffering that prevents you from gathering. Sickness may overtake you and you have to go stay in the hospital. But there, you have a captive audience of doctors and nurses among others that get to hear you talk about Jesus and share His gospel with them. Obedience to the Great Commission.

Some were sent out by the Church as missionaries. That’s what we see with Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13 and the church at Antioch. Acts 13:2––“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” They were sent out and through the rest of Acts we see the gospel spread throughout the rest of Asia and even into Europe. Obedience to the Great Commission. God will see to the advance of His kingdom through the spread of the gospel in a variety of ways.

For some “go” will mean faithfulness where we are now. Others, where the Lord takes us or sends us. This ought to be very freeing for us. Some of you have expressed a willingness, even a desire, to go somewhere and make Christ known for the glory of God. But the Lord––according to his good and wise providence––has prevented you from being able to do that. And you need to know that is okay. In fact, it's more than okay. It’s good. God’s plans and purposes are never bad. Be faithful where he has you for now.

Many of us will stay where the Lord has us. Making Christ known in all the areas of influence he has sovereignly placed us. Husbands loving their wives and leading with the Word. Dad’s leading their families in devotions and pointing their little ones to Christ. Mom’s modeling and teaching humility and Christlikeness to their little ones––loving and caring for them; disciplining and nurturing them in the Lord. Perhaps a few of us, Lord willing, will go to the nations. All of this, beloved, is what it means to “go.” Obedience to the Great Commission.

We go. We are to make disciples, Jesus says, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” As we make disciples, we are to baptize them. This is an integral part of Jesus’ command for us to make disciples. We cannot ignore it or allow ourselves to be indifferent to it. It is not what makes us citizens. Faith in the Lord Jesus does that. Nevertheless, it is how disciples identify themselves with their King and all of the King’s people. It is how followers of Jesus publicly declare their allegiance to King Jesus.

Like a passport marks out a U.S. citizen traveling abroad, baptism is the outward means by which we know who is a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. It is how the church collectively says about a person “here is a certified Jesus representative.” It marks us out and serves to remind us perpetually of our identity in Christ as His people because of our union with Him. We go under the water, declaring that we have died to ourselves and our old way of living. We come up out of the water, proclaiming that we have been raised with Christ to live for Him and His glory.

Lastly, we are to make disciples, Jesus says, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Conversion is not an end in and of itself. Conversion leads to a lifelong process of discipleship––teaching and instruction in the Word of God. Being a disciple of Jesus is a lifelong journey of following Jesus and growing as a follower of Jesus according to His Word. None of us has arrived yet. None of us is perfected. Nor will any of us be perfected this side of eternity. Each and every one of us still has a lot to learn. We all need instruction together.

A Persistent Way of Life and Ministry Together

Where does this leave us as we conclude our study of the local church together––its identity and purpose and priorities? We spent over a year in the book of Acts. We’ve spent the last couple of months dwelling on the glorious picture of the church given to us in Acts 2:41-47. I want to close our time this morning and our study of this subject by quickly tying it all together as best I can with the time we have left.

We’ve seen what the Scriptures say about the identity and the purpose of the local church. As a local church we are a family of Christ followers that exists to glorify God. We’ve also seen what priorities make up the life and ministry of the local church. From the Scriptures we’ve identified our shared commitments as a local church. We are…

.

Committed to the gathering

Committed to the life-giving Word of God

Committed to Prayer

Committed to One Another

Committed to Gospel Proclamation

All of these shared commitments serve our purpose of glorifying God and our mission of making disciples. In all of this, through every facet of our life and ministry together, we proclaim Christ as King.

We are citizens of the kingdom of heaven assembled/gathered under the banner of King Jesus. Earthly kingdoms and nations have clearly defined borders and a clearly defined citizenry. Even our embassies in foreign land are considered our own sovereign soil. Likewise, the local church, as an outpost and embassy of the Kingdom of heaven, has a clearly defined citizenry that assembles together as representatives of the King.

As we gather together in this regular assembly we listen to and heed the Word of the King, ordering our lives according to His Word. Earthly kingdoms and nations have laws that govern their conduct as good citizens for the preservation of good order and conduct for the common good and human flourishing. We listen to the King of heaven and grow together in Christlike maturity for His glory and our joy together in Him.

We pray together, calling on the King to fulfill His promises while we long and wait for His return. Not a perfect illustration (though none are) –– citizens often petition their leaders.

Ours, however, is a perfect King who delights in and is glorified when we petition Him to fulfill the things that only He can fulfill. Where worldly citizenship petitions with wishful hope, our petition to the King of kings is a confident hope of assurance knowing that He will fulfill His promises.

We commit to one another, loving and caring for our fellow citizens just as the King gave Himself for us. We love a community where citizens are engaged and care for the good of the community. From what I’ve experienced in just a few years, Fosston is a great example of this. Our community cares well for one another. How much more should this be true of the church in relation to our heavenly citizenship that will last forever!

Finally, we are ambassadors (or emissaries), proclaiming the good news of the King to a world still living in rebellion and under judgment of the King. In ancient days when one nation invaded another they would set up a siege against the fortified cities. Emissaries would proclaim terms of surrender for people in which they might be spared and brought under the new regime.

Beloved, the King has come and conquered sin, death, and the grave. He offers forgiveness and mercy to all who will lay down the arms of their rebellion and come to Him in repentance and faith. But, one day, He will come again in judgment against all those who persist in defiant rebellion against Him. Until that day, as His ambassadors and citizens of His heavenly kingdom, we proclaim the good news of His pardoning mercy to all. Urging, commanding them to come to Him before the final Day has come.

Conclusion

In light of Jesus’ universal authority, let us commit ourselves to proclaiming Christ as King wherever the Lord takes us for His glory.