The Comissioned

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INTRODUCTION:

We’ve spent the last few weeks talking about Easter and walking down the Road to Redemption—about We’ve heard The Promise (week 1), we saw The Cross (week 2), and we’re affected by The Resurrection (last week).

As we begin, let me ask you a question. If Jesus really rose from the dead, why do so many of us live like He’s still in it? Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus and how we’re called to live in light of that truth.

Easter doesn’t just change how we’re saved. It changes how we live.

Tonight, Jesus answers the question, “How should I live because of the resurrection.

Stand and read Matthew 28:16-20 together

MESSAGE:

This passage can show us 3 truths about what the life of the believer should be marked by in light of Jesus Christ's resurrection. Jesus shares with us the mission that we are called to co-labor with him and gives us the next steps for every single believer.

Understand that these are commands for the one that we claim to follow and give our life to, and anytime God gives us instructions or imperatives, we are commanded to obey immediately.

Commissioned to Serve

Making disciples is a part of being a disciple. Being a disciple is about following and doing what Jesus has commanded. At Central, we believe that God has called us to multiply and mature disciples of Jesus Christ – that’s you - you are the disciple that we’re called to mature and multiply!

Illus. After big event ministry wins - taking the team out after a big win and events…we all participated.

Being a Christian is about getting in the game and using the gifts that God has given you to not be wasted. 

Look at 1 Peter 4:10-11 teaches disciples to serve one another: “As each has received a gift (that’s each of you. You should be thinking ‘what gift has God given me to serve my church’?), use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything (here is the reason why) God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

We see here that one way to steward the gift God has given you is to serve in and through the local church.  

At Central, we have various ministries that would be blessed because of the need that God has brought. Jesus said to the disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few…” I think if Jesus saw the church today, it may look something like “the laborers are in their groups” or “the laborers are too busy having a life”. Jesus saw then what is still true now. The need is there, but where are the people?

When you serve in any ministry, you are taking your next steps in the discipleship process. The serving is not the destination but a part of the process. Being a disciple is a process that will make you into the image of Jesus Christ. 

When you serve, you are being sanctified and learning to be a part of something bigger than yourself, and joining the godly forces for the benefit of others. 

Serving looks more like biblical discipleship than sitting around the table and having a Bible study. The disciples went with Jesus as he went about his ministry. That’s the model! 

Illus. Sam at Lakepointe - I walked around with Sam at Lakepointe, and he showed me and taught me. It was way better than sitting around the table just talking shop.

Each time we serve and give, it’s a form of discipleship and a way to live out God’s mission for His church through YOU!

This is what I want you to know, write this down. Those who live in light of the resurrection are those who are compelled to serve His people.

Compelled to Worship

Look with me at Matthew 28:17 “And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.” Notice here that when they went up the mountain and saw Jesus their natural response was to worship Jesus. Really what we’re seeing here is should be the natural response when we see Jesus. To really see Jesus is to be compelled to worship him.

Illus. - Catechism that was started at Trinity - “Worship is a life of complete devotion to God.”

Today, when we view worship we think of Pastor Michael and his flowing hair singing songs in front of us. even though he’s great it, playing songs on a stage is not inherently worship. (SHOW QUTOE) “Worship is a internal heart posture that results in a devoted life.”

This is how in Romans 12:1 Paul can say “…to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” We worship God when we…

honor our parents

share our faith

humble ourselves over the authority God has placed over us

say no to temporary spending habits and yes to delayed gratification

Worshipping God is the heart posture that should fuel all of our lives.

What’s interesting is that from this heart posture of worship we see make up of the lives that Jesus calls all of us disciples to - which is to obey!

—————

Jesus says to baptize them. We see a couple of things here, but one in particular that should stand out for you tonight. 

What is baptism? Baptism is an outward expression of an inward previous decision to follow Jesus. Simply put only those who have trusted in Jesus are commanded to be baptized.

In the scriptures and in Jesus time it was no easy task to be baptized because it identified you with Jesus and placed a literal target on your back that could result in death. Yet, Jesus commands, in The Bible for every single believer to be baptized as soon as biblically and humanly possible after their conversion. 

Take a look with me at a few key verses about baptism for New Testament believers. 

Acts 2:38 – “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:12 – But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women

Acts 22:16 – And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.

The scriptures declare that all believers are to be baptized after their conversion from sinner to saint and from death to life. 

While all Christians are to seek immediate baptism as soon as possible, we should not assume that baptism saves. There is ONLY 1 THING that saves and that is believing of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness if sin.

However, baptism is the FIRST obedient step in following Jesus, which means that to insist on not being baptized for any other reason than rejecting Christ is being disobedient to Christ. 

When we follow Jesus in believers baptism, we get the joy of sharing the gospel with those who are believers and who are not yet believers in that we declare that if Jesus can save someone like you he can save anyone. 

Baptism shares with all that we know that we belong to Jesus and we are alive in Him. I love it when people invite their saved friends and especially their unsaved friends to watch them be baptized because it provides an opportunity for the gospel to be shared with your unsaved friends in what you say and it also allows them a literal picture and symbols of what salvation is.

Here is the point - Your faith is personal but NEVER PRIVATE!

Some of you now have already committed your life to Jesus and have made a decision to follow Jesus but you have neglected the very first step in your faith in following Jesus in baptism. 

There is only 1 requirement for baptism and that is your acceptance of the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. If you’ve made that decision then ought to be jumping at the chance to work out your faith. 

Commanded to Obey

The last truth we see if that we are called to “teach disciples to observe” or obey the teachings of scripture. This is the really where we see the heart of people and there true profession of faith. It’s in obeying the teachings of Jesus. 

We all know that many today treat being a Christian as a fashion statement, because when you say you’re Christian, it’s almost like we believe that we are or should be perceived as a good moral and upstanding citizen. The reason why is because when we follow Jesus we see that it can result in doing good to others. 

How you live is the test of your faith. James says it like this “14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[b] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

The point here is that obeying Jesus is the most significant part in your faith. Jesus says to his disciples that “if you love me, you’ll obey me”

Jesus says in our passage that we are to teach others to observe that Jesus has commanded us and the primary way that you can teach someone to do something is by you doing it yourself.

This is discipleship – that people who love and follow Jesus would live out what it means to follow Jesus and bring others along to do the same. 

Jesus did this in going to the cross. Jesus, sacrificed himself as an innocent man to die for guilty people and says go and do that same. When we obey Jesus, we are laying aside what hinders us and pushing towards the mark that Jesus has laid before us. 

This means when we are fearful – we obey

When we’re anxious – we obey

When we’re unsure – we obey

When we’re frustrated – we obey

When we’re undecided – we obey. 

There’s never a time or excuse not to obey Jesus. 

Your obedience to the commands of scripture could be the beginning of life for someone else. Many of you were invited to church because of the obedience of someone else. Many of you heard the gospel shared and believed because of the obedience of someone else. 

God uses your obedience to accomplish His mission. Paul says “14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[a] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent?

What Paul communicates here is a matter of obedience the God’s word and a living out of the teaching of Jesus. 

CONCLUSION: 

As the band comes up let me ask you a question.

What do we do now that we’ve walked this road to redemption? We’ve heard The Promise (week 1), we saw The Cross (week 2), we’re affected by The Resurrection (last week). What ought we to do now?

We serve — not because we have to, but because Jesus served us first.

We go public in our faith — not to look spiritual, but to show the world who saved us.

And we obey — not because it’s easy, but because it’s worth it.

The resurrection isn’t just a story to believe. It’s a life to live. Jesus didn’t rise from the dead to be a weekend hobby but to be your King.

When dating, my wife use to say “The ball is in your court now”. That same truth is for you. Jesus has paid the price and now the ball is in your court: HOW WILL YOU RESPOND?

RESPONSE

Tonight, here is how you can response

Get plugged into the serve team

Decision Cards

Take your next step of baptism

Decide to follow Jesus

As you respond tonight, we’re going to sing a song of response.