The Great Commission
A Mission-Minded Church
Progression of Sermon
Questions for a Mission-Minded Church
Imperatives of a Mission-Minded Church
Where to be Mission-Minded
Encouragement over Discouragement
Once more, what Jesus says here about loving God, and loving one another, only makes sense when we set it within Matthew’s larger gospel picture, of Jesus dying for the sins of the world, and rising again with the message of new life. That’s when these commandments begin to come into their own: when they are seen not as orders to be obeyed in our own strength, but as invitations and promises to a new way of life in which, bit by bit, hatred and pride can be left behind and love can become a reality.
Illustrations & Quotes
J. Hudson Taylor (1932-1905)
In the early days of Wycliffe Bible Translators in Mexico, Cameron Townsend, the founder, tried to get permission from the Mexican government to translate the Scriptures into the languages of the Indian tribes. But the government was adamantly opposed to it. The official to whom he had to appeal told him, “As long as I am in this office the Bible will never be translated into the Indian languages—it would only upset them.” Townsend did everything he could think of, went to every official he could find, and had all his Christian friends praying that God would open this door. But it seemed to remain totally closed.
Finally, Townsend decided to give up pressing the issue. He and his wife went to live in a little, obscure Indian village, learned the language, ministered to the people as best they could, and waited for God to move. It was not very long before Townsend noticed that the fountain in the center of the village plaza produced beautiful, clear spring water, but that it ran off down the hill and was wasted. He suggested that the Indians plant crops in an area to which the water could easily be diverted and thus make use of it. Soon they were growing twice as much food as before, and their economy blossomed as a result. The Indians were grateful. Townsend wrote this up in a little article and sent it to a Mexican paper he thought might be interested.
Unknown to him, that article found its way into the hands of the President of Mexico, Lazaro Cardenas. The President was amazed that a gringo would come to live in and help a poor Indian village where he couldn’t even get many of his own people to live. The President wanted to meet Townsend, so he, his limousine, and his attendants drove to that little Indian village and parked in the plaza.
Cameron Townsend is not one to miss an opportunity. He went up to the car and introduced himself and, to his amazement, heard the President say, “You’re the man I’ve come here to see! Tell me more about your work.” When he heard what it was, he said, “Of course you can translate the Scriptures into the Indian languages!” That began a friendship that continued throughout the lifetime of President Cardenas. His power and authority were used of God all those years to open doors to Wycliffe Translators throughout Mexico.895
“The Choice”
Themes: Commitment; Mission; Obedience and Disobedience
I said: “Let me walk in the fields”;
God said: “Nay, walk in the town”;
I said: “There are no flowers there”;
He said: “No flowers, but a crown.”
I said: “But the sky is black,
There is nothing but noise and din”;
But He wept as He sent me back
“There is more” He said, “there is sin” …
I cast one look at the fields,
Then set my face to the town
He said: “My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?” …
SOURCE: George Macdonald, quoted in East Asia Missions (April 1969).
Jesus’ Commands to Come and Go
Themes: Discipleship; Evangelism; Mission
[The] first command of Jesus to which we must respond is “Come!” But as soon as we have come to him, we hear his second command, “Go! Go home to your friends and tell them.… Go and make all nations my disciples.” Thus the Christian life is always one of “coming and going”—coming to him for salvation, for refreshment, for direction, and then going for him into the world as his representative or ambassador.
Max Warren quotes from Elizabeth Goudge’s autobiography entitled The Joy of the Snow: “If we go home like the Prodigal Son, we must go out again as the Good Samaritan.”
SOURCE: Max Warren, I Believe in the Great Commission (Hodder and Stoughton, 1976), 185.
