Go Be Disciples

Bottom line

As disciples of Jesus, we are to go out into the world and have an impact.

Opening Line

Have you ever used a compass before?

Introduction

Even if you’ve never actually held a compass, the premise of the compass is probably fairly familiar to you. Bascially a good compass will also point North. With that information, it is designed to help you with navigation. It is an incredibly simple concept, and even with the advancements in technology and gps, the compass has remained a hallmark of navigation throughout the centuries.

But what is a key dynamic in order for a compass to work? If you get lost, but you remember that you need to head South in order to be found, is it enough to know which direction South is? No, once you find South, you need to start heading South. The compass only really serves its purpose once you get moving.

Now on the flip side, do you need to know the ins and outs of how the compass works in order for it to work? Do you need to know why it always points North in order for it to point North? No. It is going to work regardless of your knowledge of magnetism and the North Pole.

Main Point

I believe that this is often the problem that arises in church. The concepts like mission and vision are so prominent in the world that the church often feels like it needs to get on board. What often happens is churches will come up with complex mission statements that sound great but are hard to put into practice. Or there is no concept of mission, and when the church doesn’t know where it is supposed to go, it ends up going nowhere. So over the last 6 years, I have really wrestled with the idea of mission and vision, trying to capture where I believe God is leading OneChurch.

Then it dawned on me. I don’t have to come up with a mission statement. Jesus already gave us one.

Matthew 28:18–20 NLT

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

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What are we supposed to do?

Go. Make. Baptize. Teach.

These are the four points of our compass.

Compass picture

These are the things that we are going to focus on. I was going to say you should get used to seeing this picture this month, but I think you should probably get used to it period.

Why it matters

So over the next month, I’m going to unpack the complexity that is hidden within the simplicity of this picture. On Sunday at prayer I revealed the six key roles I want to fill in order to accomplish our goal of 150 people at OneChurch, and over the month of February I want to show how each role fits into the compass. I want to show how the initiatives we are starting this year fit into each point of the compass.

I don’t expect you to remember every detail, but I want you to see that this is intentionally simple so that you can remember it, so that it becomes the filter for you. This is the mission of OneChurch: Go, Make, Baptize, and Teach Disciples. And this morning, we are going to start in the same place Jesus did. We are starting with GO.

Scripture

This would have been a significant shift in thinking for the disciples. See if you rewind the tape back to the first five books of the Bible, the plan for the world was to bless Israel so much that the world would want what they have. It was a come and see kind of mentality. But come and see didn’t work because Israel refused to remain faithful and missed out on the blessing. So the plan changes, and Jesus starts by telling the disciples to go.

This is an important reminder for you as the church. Though the odd person may happen to wonder in one day, the vast majority of people are only going to come to church if they are invited, and in order for you to invite someone, you actually have to go out to do that. Jesus actually said the same thing to the disciples.

Go Be Disciples of Jesus

Matthew 10:7 NLT

Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

But this wasn’t a new message that the disciples had never heard before. It says in Matthew 4, right after Jesus’ temptation,

Matthew 4:17 NLT

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Jesus didn’t send the disciples to do something new; he simply sent them out to do what he had already been doing.

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Here is where I want to pause and unpack what a disciple is, especially within the realm of Christianity. See when you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you become a disciple of Jesus. But what does that mean? How do I make disciples, since that is what Jesus told me to do?

In the New Testament era, discipleship was simply a commitment to learn from and become like another person. A disciple would submit themselves to the teaching and discipline of a leader. So, as a disciple of Jesus, you are committing to learn from Jesus and become more and more like him. It means you do the things that he does, you say the things that he would say. Thus the classic Christian acronym WWJD? What would Jesus do?

1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT

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

So the first aspect of you going is simply to go be a disciple, and do what Jesus would do.

Tied to the idea of doing what Jesus would do is the second element of Go

1) Go Tell the World

Matthew 10:7 NLT

Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

Mark 16:15 NLT

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

Acts 1:8 NLT

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Romans 10:14–15 NLT

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

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There was a time in our country where the church could operate with the assumption that everyone had an idea of what church was about and who Jesus was because most people had at least gone to church at some point in their life. Those days are gone. They say that our nation is a pre-Christian, where the majority of population really have no idea what goes on at church or why we give up our Sundays to come together. Which makes Paul’s words all the more paramount. How can they believe unless someone tells them?

I’m not saying that everyone needs to grab a stool and stand on a street corner with a microphone. I am saying that you need to be willing to share the hope that is in Christ when the opportunity presents itself. You need be looking for those opportunities, praying for those opportunities. Even if the way you share is, “Hey, you should come to church with me. I think it might help with what you’re going through.” Before you think that is a big deviation from what we’re talking about, it is a starting place.

Can I ask. How many people have invited a friend or family member to church in the last month? We’re past Christmas so that doesn’t count. See I think the tension that arises within church when we point out the overwhelming amount of scripture that directs you to share the good news with people is the fact that many are uncomfortable with the invitation to church, let alone the invitation to saving faith.

I have good news for you. You don’t have to go tell the world about Jesus with your own strength and wisdom.

2) Go and Show the Love of Christ

Matthew 5:14–16 NLT

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Matthew 25:34–40 NLT

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

James 1:27 NLT

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

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Go and do good to others. Get involved with the community. Volunteer for something and simply help out where you can. Go show the love of Jesus, the same way someone showed you the love of Christ.

3) Go in the power of the Holy Spirit

Matthew 28:18 NLT

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

Mark 16:17–18 NLT

These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

Luke 24:49 NLT

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

Luke 12:11–12 NLT

“And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

James 1:5 NLT

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

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Not only does Jesus tell you to go, he tells you to go with the power of the Holy Spirit. We just finished 2 Corinthians, and Paul repeatedly talked about how when you are weak, his power is made perfect in weakness.

When you go, you do not go alone and you don’t go in your own strength. You go in the power of the Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus to be your source. You don’t have to be afraid or intimidated. The same power that rose Jesus from the dead now resides in you.

The more you go, the more you share about the love of Christ. The more you show the love of Christ in your serving and doing, it will create opportunities for the fifth point.

4) Go and Make Disciples

When Jesus has a life changing impact on your life, and as you become more and more like him in the way you live and speak, it will naturally create opportunities for you to invite others onto the journey. The intimidating factor of making disciiples is that you often jump straight to that point, and miss the richness of the going. Go, and allow the love and person of Jesus in you to create the opportunities to share, whether it is through your testimony or through a simple invitation to come to church.

Transition to Application

See if OneChurch is going to reach our growth goals, the majority of the leg work will be done in our going. It will be in going out and inviting people to come to church. It will be in going out and serving. If you want to build up the church, it starts by adding people, and people only come if you invite them.

Main To Do

At prayer on Sunday, I talked about the Dream Team, these 7 or more individuals who will take ownership of different roles to help us reach our goal. The two that fall under the GO part of the compass are

Outreach and Social Media

I’m looking for 2 or more people who are willing to get out into the community, spend time in the coffee shops, and see where the needs are. Then go do something about it. It doesn’t need to be a church wide event, just something small yet impactful. Something that could be accomplished with 2 or 3 people. A couple of people who are willing serve in some capacity.

The other one is Social Media. I have always thought of the app as our way of communicating to those within the church, and the website and social media are the windows into the church. Is there one or two people who are willing to just post things that are encouraging and shareable? I’ve got Kevin already managing our podcast and posting the shorts regularly. But is there someone who sees the ministry that Facebook and Instagram can be in getting people to know the hope of Jesus?

Why it matters

At the end of the day, as much as I would love to hit our growth goals this year, it is so much bigger than that. Your willingness to go is reflection of your willingness to obey. Jesus clearly taught his disciples to go, because he modeled a ministry that was always going, always meeting people where they are at. I’ve said it a lot, time is short. How will they believe in the one they have never heard of?

Closing Line

Are you willing to go, be disciples of Jesus, and show his love in a way that your community is in desperate need of?

Discussion Questions

What stood out from the message?

In what specific ways can you rely on the Holy Spirit's power as you go out into your community?

What steps can you take to actively show the love of Christ in your interactions with others?

How does the message challenge your understanding of discipleship and your role as a disciple?

What does it mean for you to 'Go' in your school or friend group?

Can you identify one way you can invite a friend to church or share your faith this week?

How can you seek opportunities to share the hope that is in Christ with your peers?