The Mission of Jesus

“The Mission of Fishkill Baptist” #2 Sept. 22, 2019 GWB “The Mission of Jesus” – Mark 1:14-18; 6:6b-13 – Eighty per cent of churches in America are plateaued or declining. (A recent study said it was only 65%.) In fact, the majority of churches in our country are staying the same or are losing ground. So often, churches are not focused outward, on mission to those outside the church. And if anything, it may be more difficult in the Northeast. The Northeast is known as hard ground, resistant to the gospel. One of my seminary professors said, “There is but one Christian mission—and that is the mission of Jesus Christ. We participate in mission to the extent that we participate in the mission of Jesus Christ.” There is a lot of wisdom in his words. So let us think about the mission of Christ. The story of the gospels is the story of Jesus on mission, seeking the lost. I. Jesus’ mission: to bring the kingdom Mark 1:14-18, 38-39 1. After John was arrested and imprisoned (v. 14), Jesus knew it was time. He began his ministry in Galilee. a. He began to preach: “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news of God!” (1:14-15) b. His message echoed OT prophets’ call for repentance. What was unique was Jesus’ electric proclamation that God’s kingdom had arrived. “God has visited us!” c. Jesus trudged from village to village in Galilee—teaching, preaching, healing, and driving out demons (38-39), demonstrating kingdom power. This is why he had come—to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). His renown spread like wildfire (45). 2. Jesus called disciples: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (17). Jesus says the same thing to us—I will make you fish for people! a. “Wait!” you say, “I’m no fisherman, and I certainly can’t fish for people—to net them for the kingdom! I am no evangelist!” b. But before we dismiss it as impossible, we should remember who is doing the “making.” The Lord Jesus, the Creator of the universe, will make us into what he desires us to be! He is quite able to do it. c. He is patient. His method: he calls us to be with him, and then he sends us out (Mark 3:13-14). Being with him means allowing him to live in us as King. His love, his grace, his vision for the lost take hold. We become like him. Then his love takes us to others. 3. We are called to know Christ, and to make him known—to be with him, then to seek out others who need him. As a church of Christ, we are to be a training center and a sending center. Christ lives in his church, and he continues his work through us. II. Our mission: to expand his kingdom Mark 6:6b-13; Luke 10:1-3 1. After they had been with Jesus for a time, and his love filled their hearts (chs. 1:18-6:6a), he sent them out two by two (6:7). (Each needed a kingdom partner for the work of spreading the kingdom.) a. They were to take nothing with them, except a walking staff (8-9). They would have to depend on hospitality (10). - Mission agencies are right not to send out penniless missionaries today—but to require them to raise support before they start. - These circumstances were local, within Galilee—and the Lord wanted to teach them to depend on his presence and his power (a lesson very important for us to learn today as well). b. They preached Jesus’ message—calling for repentance—and miraculous kingdom power was with them (12-13). c. Jesus later sent out a second wave of 72 disciples, two by two, (Luke 10:1-3)—to represent him and his kingdom (16). What a privilege! 2. And Jesus concluded his ministry sending out all his disciples. Now his mission continues through us (Luke 24:44-49). a. The good news of Jesus fulfills all the OT predictions (44). b. This is the measure of his love for the lost: Christ has suffered and is risen from the dead, and now repentance and forgiveness of sins—salvation!—will be preached in his name to all the world (47). Responding to God This is where we come in: The mission of this church is to partner with Jesus in his search for the lost. 1. Jesus loves people and is still searching. His love lives in us. We must be with him—and then go out to share his love. We gather for worship; we scatter for witness. And each prompts the other: worship inspires witness. Witness drives us back to worship, to trust God. 2. So where is our mission field? “The field is the world,” Jesus said (Matt. 13:38). We walk out the door and we enter the mission field. At school and at work we represent Jesus. He sends us to love people, serve people, get to know them, and to speak to them of Jesus. 3. We need a KP—a kingdom partner. (We are no stronger than Jesus’ first disciples!) Find your KP and start asking each other these four questions: - Am I numb or neutral to people outside the church? - Do I intercede daily for people outside the church? - Who am I praying for now who is not yet a Christian? - When’s the last time I had coffee or dinner or went to a movie or just hung out with someone who is not a Christian? [Dan Kimball] Let’s help each other reach out. Ask God to use you as a representative of Jesus and his kingdom. Pray that you would love them, serve them, understand them, and speak to them about Jesus. “The Mission of Fishkill Baptist” #2 Sept. 22, 2019 GWB “The Mission of Jesus” – Mark 1:14-18; 6:6b-13 – Eighty per cent of churches in America are plateaued or declining. (A recent study said it was only 65%.) In fact, the majority of churches in our country are staying the same or are losing ground. So often, churches are not focused outward, on mission to those outside the church. And if anything, it may be more difficult in the Northeast. The Northeast is known as hard ground, resistant to the gospel. One of my seminary professors said, “There is but one Christian mission—and that is the mission of Jesus Christ. We participate in mission to the extent that we participate in the mission of Jesus Christ.” There is a lot of wisdom in his words. So let us think about the mission of Christ. The story of the gospels is the story of Jesus on mission, seeking the lost. I. Jesus’ mission: to bring the kingdom Mark 1:14-18, 38-39 1. After John was arrested and imprisoned (v. 14), Jesus knew it was time. He began his ministry in Galilee. a. He began to preach: “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news of God!” (1:14-15) b. His message echoed OT prophets’ call for repentance. What was unique was Jesus’ electric proclamation that God’s kingdom had arrived. “God has visited us!” c. Jesus trudged from village to village in Galilee—teaching, preaching, healing, and driving out demons (38-39), demonstrating kingdom power. This is why he had come—to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). His renown spread like wildfire (45). 2. Jesus called disciples: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (17). Jesus says the same thing to us—I will make you fish for people! a. “Wait!” you say, “I’m no fisherman, and I certainly can’t fish for people—to net them for the kingdom! I am no evangelist!” b. But before we dismiss it as impossible, we should remember who is doing the “making.” The Lord Jesus, the Creator of the universe, will make us into what he desires us to be! He is quite able to do it. c. He is patient. His method: he calls us to be with him, and then he sends us out (Mark 3:13-14). Being with him means allowing him to live in us as King. His love, his grace, his vision for the lost take hold. We become like him. Then his love takes us to others. 3. We are called to know Christ, and to make him known—to be with him, then to seek out others who need him. As a church of Christ, we are to be a training center and a sending center. Christ lives in his church, and he continues his work through us. II. Our mission: to expand his kingdom Mark 6:6b-13; Luke 10:1-3 1. After they had been with Jesus for a time, and his love filled their hearts (chs. 1:18-6:6a), he sent them out two by two (6:7). (Each needed a kingdom partner for the work of spreading the kingdom.) a. They were to take nothing with them, except a walking staff (8-9). They would have to depend on hospitality (10). - Mission agencies are right not to send out penniless missionaries today—but to require them to raise support before they start. - These circumstances were local, within Galilee—and the Lord wanted to teach them to depend on his presence and his power (a lesson very important for us to learn today as well). b. They preached Jesus’ message—calling for repentance—and miraculous kingdom power was with them (12-13). c. Jesus later sent out a second wave of 72 disciples, two by two, (Luke 10:1-3)—to represent him and his kingdom (16). What a privilege! 2. And Jesus concluded his ministry sending out all his disciples. Now his mission continues through us (Luke 24:44-49). a. The good news of Jesus fulfills all the OT predictions (44). b. This is the measure of his love for the lost: Christ has suffered and is risen from the dead, and now repentance and forgiveness of sins—salvation!—will be preached in his name to all the world (47). Responding to God This is where we come in: The mission of this church is to partner with Jesus in his search for the lost. 1. Jesus loves people and is still searching. His love lives in us. We must be with him—and then go out to share his love. We gather for worship; we scatter for witness. And each prompts the other: worship inspires witness. Witness drives us back to worship, to trust God. 2. So where is our mission field? “The field is the world,” Jesus said (Matt. 13:38). We walk out the door and we enter the mission field. At school and at work we represent Jesus. He sends us to love people, serve people, get to know them, and to speak to them of Jesus. 3. We need a KP—a kingdom partner. (We are no stronger than Jesus’ first disciples!) Find your KP and start asking each other these four questions: - Am I numb or neutral to people outside the church? - Do I intercede daily for people outside the church? - Who am I praying for now who is not yet a Christian? - When’s the last time I had coffee or dinner or went to a movie or just hung out with someone who is not a Christian? [Dan Kimball] Let’s help each other reach out. Ask God to use you as a representative of Jesus and his kingdom. Pray that you would love them, serve them, understand them, and speak to them about Jesus.