Fulfilling the Mission

Open: Old TV show Mission Impossible The tag line was, “your mission, should you choose to accept it, is . . .” What followed was a highly improbable task that could only be pulled off by secrecy, misdirection, highly skilled agents equipped with the latest tech toys, and always a bit of luck

Transition: Watching the show as a kid was exciting. I wondered what it would be like to have a secret mission along with all those cool gadgets. Well, life isn’t a TV show, and I grew up and realized the plots were fabricated and the gadgets weren’t real.

But as a Believer, I came to realize that I have been given a Mission that is real, not fake; I came to understand that I am to live this Mission in the full light of day, instead of operating in the shadows; in the Bible I am able to read the Mission Objectives repeatedly because they are permanent and Eternal, they don’t self-destruct 5 seconds after viewing. I also came to realize I am equipped for the Mission through the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and that I don’t need special skills or tech gadgets. And, most importantly, I came to realize that regardless of any mistakes I may make, I will never, ever be disavowed by the One who called me

True Worshipers Exalt the Risen Christ by accepting His mission ()

Explanation: Last words are generally important ones. These are some of the final words the Risen Christ spoke to His Disciples prior to His Ascension back to Glory, and they are very important. A new chapter is opening in God’s dealing with the world: The Risen Christ, the One with all Authority and Power is in the process of birthing His Church. 40 days after this encounter on the mountain, the Disciples will witness this event with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Mandate Jesus gives the 11 are the marching orders for this new group of believers. In the 2,000 years of the history of the Church, Jesus has never revoked or changed His orders.

Illustrate: How many of you enjoyed breakfast this morning? Breakfast is one of my favorite meals, and I had plenty. I did not, however, have the full package. I passed on the livermush, did not take a biscuit (trying to watch carbs), but I did have a pancake. I chose from a selection

Argument: We often label the passage The Great Commission. Sadly, for many Believers it is The Great Omission. Jesus’ mandate to make disciples is something we just leave out of our Christian lives just like I left out the livermush and the biscuit. Big Problem: Choosing food items from a selection is a matter of preference; skipping a Mandated Responsibility is Disobedience.

Argument: We often label the passage The Great Commission. Sadly, for many Believers it is The Great Omission. Jesus’ mandate to make disciples is something we just leave out

If we truly seek to honor God, if it is our desire to worship Him as He demands, it is paramount for us to become intentional in our Obedience to the Great Commission. Obedience begins when you realize it is your mission. The GC was given to all believers, not just the leaders of the Church

Application: Accept the challenge. Get off the pew and engage your faith with others. Older, established believers are to invest in discipling younger believers. Do life together, but do it intentionally.

And, for those who would say, “I want to be involved, but I am not sure where to start;” this leads to the next point.

True Worshipers UNDERSTAND and EMBRACE their calling as Disciples of the Risen Christ

Explanation: Once you accept the reality that this Mission has been given to you personally as a Christ-follower, it is necessary to know what is involved. The main phrase in the GC is to make disciples. The verb go is in the present tense and can actually be translated as you go. This means that as we live our lives as Believers we are to be involved in the process of making disciples. We have not been called to gain converts, but to share the life-changing message of the Gospel, and then to come alongside new believers and help them grow in their faith. This is not just about transferring information - it is about life change

Illustrate: If we go to a production line in Detroit and ask the workers what they make, their answer will be cars or trucks or SUVs. If we go to a production line in Silicon Valley and ask the workers what they make, their answer will be microchips, cell phones, or laptops. Go to the average Baptist Church and ask the members, “What is the purpose of this Church?” and you may get puzzled looks

Argument: So, what does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?

This point highlights the need for full disclosure when sharing the Gospel. We are under obligation to present lost people with the full counsel of God, not a truncated version of “easy-believism.” We must not reduce the call to discipleship as simply a mental acceptance of Jesus as an “add-on” who smooths and dissolves our problems in this life and is the key who opens the gates of glory for us when we die.

A Disciple of Jesus is a person who no longer lives for self. He or she is living the crucified life () and has denied self for the glory of Jesus (). A disciple realizes it is not about them - It is about Him!

A Disciple of Jesus is unashamed of being identified with His Master () How ridiculous for a professing disciple of Carl Max to own his own business, trade on the stock market, refuse to join the Party, and never participate in any commy protests.

A Disciple of Jesus engages in regular spiritual communion with Him for the purpose of bringing Him glory. The disciple brings glory to the Master by being productive (bearing fruit)

True Worshipers are ENGAGED in Disciple Making to impact lostness for the Glory of the Risen Christ

True Worshipers are ENGAGED in the Discipleship Process for the Risen Christ

Explanation: The span of Jesus’ earthly ministry was three years. In that time period He invested in His followers. Of those, Jesus chose 12 men for an intensified time of training for the purpose of carrying on the Mission when He returned to Heaven. This group shared life together in such a way that the 12 heard the heart of Jesus, they learned His teaching, and they saw His compassion for others.

After His Resurrection, Jesus met with them and other believers (but not to unbelievers) and He prepared them to take on the mission of the Church at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit empowered them ( ). The 11 Apostles and the other believers were obedient, and God used them to spread the message and Christianity flourished and grew

Argument: This is the method that God gave the Apostles, and it is the method that is still in force. Actually, this is the only method God gave to the Church to fulfill its mission. We may not understand it; we may not fully comprehend the reasoning behind it; but we are to engage in it.

A fully formed Disciple of Jesus is one who makes other disciples. Paul commanded his disciple Timothy, “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” () We are not faithful and mature disciples of Jesus unless we are reproducing ourselves in the lives of others.

Application: Who are you intentionally investing with your faith heritage? And, if that person reproduces what they see in your life, will the outcome glorify God?