Rooted in Christ: Our Mission

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Well, we’ve made it to a whole new year! Isn’t it refreshing to have that feeling of starting over? Of course, we’re not truly starting from scratch, but the new year gives us a mental reset—a chance to reflect and adjust what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. One way we’re embracing this fresh start is through our new Bible reading plan. I hope you’re already feeling blessed by it! This is a plan we’ve done before, but they’ve added more explanation videos this year, giving us even more opportunities to grow in our understanding of God’s Word.

Many of you have committed to reading at least four days a week—what a great goal! But why stop there? Why not make it seven days and read through the entire Bible this year? Those of you who’ve done this before can testify to how rewarding it is. The Lord will use this time to challenge you, encourage you, and reveal things in Scripture that you’ve never noticed before. If you haven’t joined yet, it’s not too late! Pick up a copy of the reading plan in the back or join us online. Let’s dive into God’s Word together and make this a year of spiritual growth!

Now, as far as Sunday goes, I’m really excited about this new series! Every January, we take time as a church to reset, refocus, and seek God’s direction for the year ahead. This series is part of that tradition. In a few weeks, we’ll have our quarterly meeting, where we’ll dig even deeper into what the Lord is leading us to do. But for now, we get to focus on the exciting part—diving into Scripture to learn God’s plan for us. There’s nothing more powerful than aligning ourselves with His Word and His will for the coming year.

As we enter this new year, many are thinking about resolutions and personal goals. But what if our greatest goal was what we could accomplish for God’s kingdom? We are part of a church—not a building or organization, but a people united by Christ’s mission. This same mission led Adoniram Judson in the 1800s to take the Gospel to Burma.

Judson was one of the first American missionaries, and with his wife, he shared the Gospel with the Burmese. When he died in 1850, there were 7,000 baptized believers, 63 churches, and 163 missionaries in Burma. Nearly 175 years later, the Bible he translated is still used to spread the Gospel in Burma.

When Jesus gave His final instructions to His disciples, He left them with a mission that has endured through the centuries—one that Judson lived out in Burma. The question for us today is: How are we living out that mission? What is that mission? Before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave us clear instructions—His words to us.

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

As we look at this passage, the very first word Jesus uses to commission His disciples is a call to action: ‘Go.’ This isn’t a passive suggestion but an intentional charge to step out and take the Gospel to the world. Let’s start off by exploring what it means to answer this call to go.

The Call to Go:

You know the first thing I think we have to do here when we look at this call, is to

Define the call:

This call isn’t based on personal interpretation or opinions; it’s grounded in Scripture. The first thing we see in this passage is the command to go. But let’s take a step back and look further at what this call truly entails., let’s look at

Matthew 28:18 (ESV)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

This call comes from Jesus—these are His words. Jesus didn’t call His disciples to wait for people to come to them; Jesus gave a command to “go.” This requires an intentional, active effort in fulfilling the mission.

The command to "go" applies both near and far—whether on mission trips abroad, engaging in local events like Leaf River Daze or the Christmas festivities, or simply wearing your church shirt to spark conversations. Every time we step out in faith, we are fulfilling the mission. We see this in...

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

We are called to go and be Jesus’ witness to every aspect of life, and to every part of the world, both near and far.

What does it mean for us to "go" in our everyday lives? Is it a physical journey, or stepping out of our comfort zones to share Jesus right where we are? Where is God calling you to go this year—at work, in your neighborhood, with your friends, or even your family? Take out your commitment card and think about how you will live on mission, both personally and as part of our church. Answer the question on the screen: "How will I live on mission?" This might involve stepping outside your personal preferences, starting conversations, inviting others to church, or supporting missions in a new way.

What ever it is, remember, we aren’t called just to move…we’re called to make disciples, which brings us to the next part of the mission

The Call to Disciple

We have called to make disciples by proclaiming the truth concerning Jesus. I guess the first thing we should do then, is

Define Discipleship

Well, discipleship is more than a conversation. Discipleship is about nurturing the faith of another person, guiding them to become more like Christ through relationship, teaching, and mutual growth. It’s about teaching obedience to Scripture and encouraging growth in Christ.

You don’t have to wait for someone to make a decision for Christ to start discipling. I remember when I was around 11 years old, a man named Mark Maulding entered my life. He taught a teen Bible study that I accidentally joined, but the Lord knew it was where I needed to be. Mark poured into me, teaching Scripture and how to study it for myself. At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate it, but years later, when I surrendered to Christ, much of what he taught came back to me.

Discipleship happens in many ways and at different times. Since surrendering to Christ, I’ve always had a mentor, and I still do today. He holds me accountable, and I submit to him, because we are always being discipled and should always disciple others. This pattern is evident throughout Scripture—consider Paul and Timothy, Barnabas and Paul, or even David and the prophet Nathan in the Old Testament.

Now, there are a couple of elements in this particular call that I feel like we need to discuss. First is

Baptism:

The first part of discipleship is evangelism. So, as they were being evangelized and enlisted as Jesus’ followers. Those who believed were to be baptized in water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Such an act would associate a believer with the person of Jesus Christ and with the Triune God.

Baptism is a public declaration of faith, and the first step in a lifelong journey of following Christ. We see in Scripture how Baptism is a physical picture of a spiritual reality. Let’s take a look at that real quick.

Romans 6:4 (ESV)

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Then we have

Teaching:

The God whom they served is one God and yet is three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Those who responded were also taught the truths Jesus had been teaching. Specifically this one command, “Make disciples,” which is accompanied by three participles in the Greek: “going,” baptizing, and teaching

Teaching is guiding others to understand and apply God’s Word, much like discipleship and mentoring. Teaching is about equipping others for good works. Scripture is meant to teach and rebuke, helping us grow more Christlike. Let’s take a look at…

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Think about how you are equipping others with God's Word. Discipleship is about relationship, not a one-time transaction. It’s a long-term process. Jesus spent three years discipling His followers, teaching through real-life situations.

Who are you discipling, and who is discipling you? Discipleship isn’t just for pastors or leaders; it’s the responsibility of every believer. It happens in small groups, one-on-one, through ministry service, and in Christian friendships.

So, who are you discipling, and who is discipling you? Grab your commitment card and reflect on who you’re actively discipling right now and who is discipling you. Then, answer the following questions.

1. Am I being discipled? this includes all aspects of discipleship.

2. Am I discipling?

3. Will I commit to discipleship this year?

You see, discipleship is at the heart of the Great Commission—it’s how we pass on the faith and grow the God’s Kingdom. As we make disciples, Jesus also calls us to model obedience in every area of our lives, which leads us to our next point.”

The Call to Obedience:

Again, just as we have looked at every call, we need to define

Define Obedience:

This might be the hardest section, not because it’s hard to understand, but because it’s so simple. Jesus said, “…teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” So, I guess…Obedience is submitting to God’s authority by following His commands with trust and love.The key here is that this command was never meant to burden us. It’s given out of love. Let’s look at this in more detail in…

John 14:15 (ESV)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Jesus says that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. See, Jesus is concerned with our hearts more than our actions. Let me show you this with an example. During His ministry, Jesus often clashed with the Pharisees—essentially the "big bosses" of the time. Here's one example of that tension.

Matthew 15:8 (ESV)

“ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;

Jesus cares about your heart—whether you're moving closer to Him or further away. But what exactly are we supposed to obey? What’s the scope of this obedience?

Scope of Obedience:

Jesus didn’t call us to obey just part of what He commanded; He said to obey all of it. Obedience means obeying everything Jesus taught, and we see that all His teachings are summed up in this passage.

Matthew 22:37–39 (ESV)

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

So everything we need to do should accomplish one of these two things. We should be either loving God, or loving others…it’s that simple folks.

Let’s be honest for a moment—none of us can obey perfectly, can we? If we could, we wouldn’t need a Savior. We’ll mess up, but God’s grace covers those times. We don’t obey Scripture to earn Heaven; We obey because of the grace we’ve received—in other words, we have a heart of gratitude.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

You can’t obey Scripture if you’re not reading it. That’s why we emphasize daily Scripture reading—it’s essential for growing and aligning your life with Christ’s teachings. Ask yourself, "What steps can I take this week to align more fully with Christ?" Now, take out your cards and answer the following questions.

Will I commit before God and my friends to reading Scripture?

Will I strive to have a heart focused on obedience to the Lord and not to self?

Now, share your commitments with friends and family to help hold you accountable. When you turn in this card later, consider it your commitment to the Lord. Remember, obedience is the fruit of discipleship and shows our devotion to Him. I know obedience can feel overwhelming at times, but Jesus didn’t send us out alone. He promised to be with us as we strive to grow each day. That leads us to the final piece of the Great Commission. Let’s briefly look at

The Promise of His Presence:

Remember, Jesus left us with the most important part of the mission: His promise to be with us until the end of the age. We’ve discussed before how we can always trust His promises, and here Jesus promises to stay with you. This promise means that He will be with each of us, strengthening us to choose obedience. He will offer grace when we fall short and provide correction to bring us back into alignment with His mission.

Imagine you have a child who obeys you because they love you, but occasionally misbehaves. You don’t disown them; instead, you lovingly guide them back to obedience. Sometimes, it’s a simple conversation; other times, it may require more discipline, like a swat with a switch. Similarly, our Heavenly Father lovingly brings us back in line when we stray. Sometimes it’s through a sermon or a song that convicts us; other times, it may take more drastic events to bring us back. But through it all, Jesus has promised to stay with us. He will never leave us or forsake us, no matter what we’ve done.

Jesus’ presence is experienced through the Holy Spirit, who continues His work and mission in us. This should give you confidence, knowing that you can obey because Jesus is with you through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit empowers you to do things you never thought possible—like a high school dropout earning a graduate degree, an addict breaking free from addiction, or a vengeful person becoming a kind and gentle soul. You’ve seen people like this, and it’s only through the Holy Spirit’s power that transformation happens. So, what about you? Look at what Jesus says here.

John 14:16–17 (ESV)

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

What about way back in

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

That’s the promise that comes along with that obedience…Thats the promise that is there at all times, both struggles and victories…

You are never alone. This should give you the courage to step forward and say, “I’m all in,” whether it’s about what God is calling you to or what He’s leading us to as a church. We don’t need to know all the details because we trust the One who’s working them out, and He’s promised to be with us every step of the way.

We do know some of what God is leading us to though…don’t we? God is calling us to GO…God is calling to MAKE DISCIPLES, by both baptizing and teaching…God is calling us to OBEDIENCE…and he’s not going to leave us alone in the process. JESUS WILL BE HERE the whole time!

Here’s the deal…With Christ’s constant presence, we can go confidently into the world, making disciples and living in obedience to His Word, Amen? Do you guys agree with that?

So…how is God calling you to respond today? Where is God leading you to go? Who can you disciple? What areas of your life requires renewed obedience? Grab your cards folks cause we’re gonna finish out strong here, ok. I want you to write down how God is calling you to respond today…whatever that is.

How is God calling me to respond?

Now, while you're writing that down, let me share something really exciting with you… I want to tell you about the church I see. I see a church that is passionately focused on God’s will because that’s what we all want. I see a church that is intentionally seeking unity, a church that’s excited about the future God is leading us into. We're not forgetting the past, but we're filled with excitement and purpose for the mission God is placing before us. I see a church where discipleship is happening on both personal and corporate levels—where mentorship and friendships are deepening, and small groups and classes are multiplying. I see a church where a significant number of people are actively engaging with the Word of God daily, making Bible reading a priority in their lives. I see a church that is fully embracing the unique identity God has shaped us to have, and passionately walking in that calling.

Let me just be bold for a moment and if you want to see that same church, let’s get a hefty “AMEN” together on the count of three…1.2.3…Amen

Now, let’s add something else to this commitment card this morning. I want you to flip over your card and finish the following sentence

My vision for LRBC is_________

This is important because I & the Elders, as well as the Purpose Team actually wants to hear from you and what you think and feel about the church and how God is moving within our family. So just fill that out and then you will drop it in the basket during communion in a moment like we have done before. Lastly, I would like to ask every one to memorize with me, Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Let’s pray:

Pray for the congregation to embrace the Great Commission personally and corporately, relying on Christ’s power and presence to guide them.

Matthew 26:26–28 ESV

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.