Discipleship: Disciple-Making
Discipleship • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
Intro
Discipleship: Disciple-Making. 6th and final category.
Main Idea: We are all disciple-makers
If you are a disciple of Jesus, you are a disciple maker. You cannot be one without the other. Jesus does not separate the two.
Need: We have only authorized disciple-making to pastors or ministry leaders, but that’s not what a disciple is. If a disciple is someone following Jesus to look more like him, then making disciples is a natural product because Jesus is ultimate disciple maker. Beyond that, this is what we are called to.
Read Matthew 28:18-20
Command #1: Rely on his authority (18)
Exp. To be disciple makers we must rely on Christ’s authority. Verse 18. All authority. Not some authority. In heaven and on earth = everywhere. Jesus is not just Lord of our lives, he’s Lord over everything.
You and I don’t decide to make Jesus Lord; He is Lord regardless of what we think of him. - David Platt
Exp. Everything else in this text stems from this. He has authority over the earth and then he will send us into the far reaches of the earth. Even in those far reaches he is Lord.
Ill. Like home ownership. Harsh realities is that you are in charge of keeping the dust out of the living room as well as the mold in the crawlspace. Or leaks on the roof. Every part of the house is under your care. Jesus has full authority over all creation.
Arg. This is a fulfillment of prophecy given in Daniel.
14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Christ - Jesus authority fulfills the prophecy in Daniel 7:14. He has complete authority over all the earth, and that should reassure us. Why? Because that’s where he’s sending us. His authority covers all creation and that’s where the gospel is going. There’s nowhere that is outside of the bounds of his authority.
App. What do we do?
Humbly relinquish our authority. God gives man dominion over the earth. We are stewards of his creation. Jesus holds authority. It is not ours to wield, but his to steward.
Acknowledge him as Lord. He is Lord!
Command #2: Respond to his instructions (19-20)
Exp. We get to the command that most of us are familiar with. Verse 19-20a. Where? All nations. Naming the place where his authority lies. The whole world. He is sending his disciples into a place that is under his control and sovereignty. How are we to make disciples? He spells it out:
Go. This call is not a comfortable call. Intentional. Opposite of being a consumer. Called to move.
Baptize. This is the first step after profession of faith. Symbolizing being brought from death to life. Name of Father, Son, and HS. Recognizing all three persons of the Godhead. The Trinity.
Teach. We have been accidentally taught that baptism is the finish line of your work as a disciple-maker. No. We must teach all that was commanded by Jesus. New believers have become spiritual infants, and they need to grow into maturity.
Ill. Imagine laying a newborn down and saying “go ahead and drink this milk.” Nothing would happen. Why? Because it doesn’t know how. It is not strong enough nor knows what to do. In the same way, you cannot expect a new believer to just know what to do. You can’t give them a Bible and say, figure it out. No, teach diligently.
Arg. Paul says this to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 3:1-2
1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it.
Christ - All of these instructions point to Christ. The baptism represents what Christ has done for us and the teaching is what Jesus did for his disciples. Every bit of this plan is resembling Christ. Jesus is instructing his disciples to continue what he has done for them! Christ’s baptism in death purchased for us our salvation.
Command #3: Rest in his presence (20)
Exp. Jesus gives their commission and then he reminds them of something: he is with them always. Notice what Jesus says, not “I will be with you,” but “I am with you.” Present tense is emphatic. For how long? Until the end of the age. Even now.
Ill. God’s presence is a place of rest for us. Remember during the hurricane, things were so loud. Power was out. Christian came and laid in the bed with me. Why? He was scared. My presence brought him peace so he could sleep. Now, I couldn’t do anything, but it was enough for him. How much more will the presence of God be for us???
Arg. It is very biblical for God to send someone and remind them that he is with them. Exodus 3:11-12
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”
Christ - Like God was with the leaders in the OT, Jesus is with us through the HS. Jesus leaving earth did not leave us alone. He sent the HS to dwell within us and to provide sanctification in each of us. Uniting us in the spirit of the bond of peace.
Final application
Trust in God’s plan of disciple-making.
Open your life to those you’re discipling. Let them see everything.
Disciple-Making Questions:
To make disciples, what do you need to start doing?
To make disciples, what do you need to stop doing?
