Your Christian Assignment

Your Christian Assignment

Matthew 28:16-20

LaFayette Baptist Church

02/02/2024

By: Jacob Winters

Introduction

Scripture

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can more like You, and more made into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much, that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all to often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possible can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

16 The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them.7 

When they saw him, they worshiped,

[d]

 but some doubted. 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of[e] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,[f] I am with you always,[g] to the end of the age.”

Context

We continue in our Know the Gospel, share The Gospel sermon series this week, looking at one of the most important verses of the entire Bible. These few verses, particularly the last 2, are what is often referred to as “The Great Commission.” That is, Jesus gave His disciples a commission, a command with which they have the authority to see it through, to go and make disciples (students/follower) in the name of the Father/Son/Holy Spirit. These disciples are to observe everything that I (Jesus) have commanded you, including taking on this commission to go make more disciples. 

This commission was one of (if not the last lessons and commands) He gave to His disciples before He ascended back up to Heaven, 40 days after He rose from the grave. Some 43 days after His death on the cross. At this point, he had already visited all 11 of his hand chosen disciples and had told them to meet him at a mountain in Galilee, so our text today describes what happened and what He said when they got there. 

This commission that Jesus gave, goes well past words or commands that were given to just those 11 disciples who would go on to be the apostles. No, if you notice what Jesus says here, if you look closely at the words, you will notice that it is a command that continue to all of His disciples (that is everyone who is a Christian) until He returns one day, which has not yet happened, we are waiting for Him to return to earth in glory still and we wait anxiously with great hope. What’s clear in this text to you, me, us, today is that Your sovereign God calls you to make disciples of Him. This is not a call for just mature believers, pastors, elders, or church leaders. No, this is a call and commission to ALL believers. So, let’s look at Jesus' words and dive into your bible where, From the text, I want you to see and understand your part of Your Christian Assignment. 

Message

The first part of your Christian Assignment is to: Follow Jesus’ instructions 16-17

16 The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped,[d] but some doubted.

From the very start of these verses, we see the disciples doing exactly what Jesus had told them, had directed them to do. That is, they were to go to a mountain in Galilee to meet Jesus there. While today we are unsure of which mountain in Galilee it was, there is little doubt that the disciples knew. As you will recall all these 11 were Galileean’s (a region in the nation of Israel what we might call a state or county) themselves. They were called by Jesus in Galilee, and spent much of their time their being taught by Him their before they went on their missionary trips. So, it stands to reason that the mountain in Galilee they were going to was a common and familiar meeting place for them. If you take your finger in your bible, and move it up from verse 16 to verse 10, you will see Jesus giving this instruction to the women, to go find the men and tell them to go meet me Galilee. So, here we see a quick and intentional following of Jesus' instructions. When they were about to Him, from a distance some of them recognized Him and went straight to worshiping Him, the text tells us that others doubted. Now, there are a lot of theories about why some would doubt, but the most likely reason seems to be that at first some of them were unsure if it was Jesus they saw or that they did see Him but hesitated with their worship because they were unsure of what to do right then.

What’s important to take away from these verses here, is that the 11 were quick to follow Jesus’ instructions. Doing so, following instructions quickly is a key to success for any student (which if you are a Christian then you are also a student of Jesus). This is a lesson that Emily taught me when leading a classroom, in fact with her years of experience and continued experience today (leading 6 different classes every work day), she helped me develop what I call “Mr. Winters 3 big rules.” This is the first thing a go over with any classroom, as following the rules and directions are the key to the kids success that day. Number 1, is to stay in your seat (so they can give me their undivided attention). Number 2, is to raise your hand (that way I am not frequently interrupted, so I can do what? Give them instructions and direction. Which leads to number 3, to Follow direction quickly. The student that does these instructions will have success. The ones that don’t, will not. And what do all these rules lead up to? The student knowing what to do and then doing it.

You are also a student, no matter how old or young you are. You too must follow Jesus’ instructions so that we can do your assignments. Which ultimately leads to a so that “We, LaFayette Baptist Church” can do our assignments. Each member of our church body is a very important part. No one is more or less important than the other, though every one of them will have different functions and applications. Your sovereign God calls you to make disciples of Him. This is true both in your private faith life and your corporate faith life. To do this, you and we must follow Jesus’ Instructions. For them here it was to go to galilee and meet them. For you, I can’t tell you exactly what your instruction from God is right now, but I can tell you without a doubt that if you are follower of Jesus, then He has called you make a disciple of Jesus out of at least one person in your life right now, and more over your whole faith life. So, if you don’t know who that person is, ask God to make it clear to you, if you know who that is, pray for their salvation and begin sharing your testimony and The Gospel with them, and if you can’t find yourself able to do that, find a way to make it so that another believer can.

The next part of Your Christian Assignment is to: Understand Jesus’ Authority 18

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

If any of them had any doubts that the person standing in front of them was Jesus before, He took that doubt away from them now, addressing them so they would know it was Him. Jesus tells them something that to us would seem like, “yeah, of course.” But to them, would have been pretty significant. You see, these people had seen Jesus in a way that will never get to see Him. They saw His humanely body get tired, they saw Him grow hungry. They saw Him weak. They saw Him frustrated all while He came to earth and lived with mankind for 33 years, stepping down from His throne in heaven to dwell with mankind and know mankind's bodily restrictions and pain. Jesus tells them here how I am now and forever is different than how you observed me. I have and will always be fully man and fully God, but now I don’t have the flesh restions I did before. I have authority. I have ALL The authority. I (Jesus) am the sovereign God of everything, which includes you. 

The word Sovereign means supreme authority. Nothing and noone outranks and can override a sovereign. A sovereign's authority is absolute and cannot be contested. This is what Jesus is telling them He is, supreme in authority, nothing and noone can outrank what He says to do, where He says to go, and how He says to think. So, why do you think He is telling them this? Because He is telling them how important what He is about to say is, as He is about to give them the great commission.

 So, He is saying to every Christian, the great commission I am giving you should be the deciding factor everywhere in your life. In how you spend and make your money, in where you go and why, in who you talk to and don’t talk to, in what time you go to bed and wake, in every decision you make through your entire life. Your sovereign God calls you to make disciples of Him. So, as you now understand His authority, that it is absolute and nothing is over it, ask yourself, what is keeping me from submitting to His authority? And do I see how not doing so keeps me from receiving His instructions which are given for your success in bringing Him glory.  Let’s keep going and see what is instruction and command is for us as believers and as a church body.

Let’s see our third point,  the next part of your Christian assignment which is to: Fulfill Jesus’ Commission 19-20

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of[e] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,[f] I am with you always,[g] to the end of the age.”

Jesus tells them here, here are your instructions that you are to fulfill in my authority and in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, until I return. You are to go and make more disciples who observe and do everything I have I have taught and commanded you to do. Do this, knowing that I am always with you. 

So, what then does it mean to make disciples? Well, it certainly means to go and make new believers, new followers Christ, new Christians/converts. But, to be a disciple is not a one and done thing, no. To be a disciple is continuous action. Yes, you become a disciple when you receive Christ as your Lord and savior, then your next step is to publicly confirm and affirm your faith through baptism; but it doesn’t end there. One continues being a disciple by being taught, trained, and putting what you have been taught/trained in into action. Example, a child can become a student at south Christian elementary school by attending one day, but if soon you stop attending or move away, you would no longer be  a student there. So, a disciple is someone who is converted, yes, but also a disciple learns and then puts what they have learned into action. Notice, never does Jesus call us to make converts who then go on to do nothing. No, He calls us to make disciples! Who do what!? Observe everything that He has commands, which includes going and making more disciples!

 Another thing to note here, is the word go. This word go does not mean that everyone is called to go far away. It means where you are going and where you are called. Yes some are called far away, but others will be called to stay, and some will be called to go a little ways. Some may be called to all the categories, but at different times in your life.  No matter where the “go” is to or at, still you are to be intentional in that you are purposefully making disciples. 

Your sovereign God calls you to make disciples of Him. So Fulfill Jesus’ commission in your life to go and make disciples. This is true in both your private faith and action and our combined/corporate/church faith and actions. As a church, we have several ways that we make disciples. A few of these examples include: teaching children about Jesus at VBS, our regular Wednesday lessons for both children and adults, our Sunday School Hour, and the various teachings that happen in word, song, and prayer during our worship service. Each and every believer in our church body  has a spiritual gift that is to be used in support of these combined efforts in some way. But, you are also commissioned to go make disciples outside of these church walls and our regular ministries we participate in together. Each of us are called to share our testimonies with non believing family and friends, and people we come into contact with,  to tell them The Gospel and make them disciples who then covenant with a bible believing church so that they can be discipled into disciples who make more disciples.  

Conclusion

Beloved, it’s between God and you about where you are called to, but it is certainly clear that He has called you make disciples wherever it is you are in whatever life stage you are in. Just look at the early Christians we have read about in our series through Acts, even brand new Christians were going out and making new disciples. You can do so as well, as you walk with the authority and presence of the sovereign of everything (Jesus) when you do so. So, you have nothing to fear. Even what you might think of as a great massive failure in your eyes, is a great win in Jesus’ eyes because you were obedient. After all, it’s not us that does the saving, Jesus does that and the Holy Spirit calls the person’s soul. We are just the instrument that God chooses to work through, because He loves and trusts us so much as His children.

 So, start making disciples. Begin by first looking around you, who do you most the influence and access to? Parents and grandparents, this is most likely your children and grandchildren. Spouses of non believers, Paul made it very clear in his 1st letter to the corinthians that your spouse is a priority. Do you have coworkers you often see who don’t know Jesus? It is them as well. What am I saying? The whole world needs to know Jesus, so if you’re having trouble finding a place to start, start with those closest to you. Tell them your testimony, pray that we would be saved, and tell them the gospel. How everyone is born a sinner, but through the free gift of God through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross we can be saved by simply confessing Him as savior and submitting to His Lordship! Now that you know, go, go and make disciples! And do exactly as our wednesday night kid’s memory verse goes in Psalm 96:3 Declare His glory among the nations, His wondrous works among all peoples. 

With all of that being said, I would be remised if I didn’t share the Gospel (or the Good News) of Jesus Christ with you today, for the benefit of both believer and non-believer in the room. This begins all the way back at the beginning, God created everything, and he created all things good. He gave His most treasured creation (us, mankind) the ability of free will, the ability to choose Him or rebellion. Man was deceived by Satan and desired to be like God and sinned (or rebelled against God). This brought the curse of sin and death into the world and it remains with us to this day; which separates us from God. God though, loved His creation (mankind) so much that He worked through history to redeem all mankind that would turn to Him from sin so that we can experience a full and perfect relationship with Him again. This was through the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the pay for sins. Accepting this free gift from God, makes you new and forgiven. All you have to do accept this free gift by repenting and believing in the Lord Jesus and you will get to experience the good side of God’s justice forever. So, now that you know this, you can no longer plead ignorance. I invite and urge you to respond today non-believer and apply this to every part of your life believers in the audience today.

With that, Let’s conclude. Brothers and Sisters, I love you all. During our last song together, if you need prayer, or want to talk more about Jesus, or have something you want to talk about, I’ll be here, don’t be afraid to come on down. Let’s pray. Father God, we thank You for who You are and what You are doing to us here in this place. May whatever it is that You are doing in each of heart here, continue as we leave go out into the world this week. Change us, mold us, make us, re-arrange us, that we can be both better lovers of You and better showers of You. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.