Go Team Go

It is hockey Season

Hockey Season is upon us to which many of you would let out a collective who cares. But for a lot of people this is a really exciting time of year.

With just the preseason behind us every team in the NHL is tied for the number one spot. For most teams this will be the only time they get to hold that spot. Every team is on level footing as far as opportunity. Granted some teams have more talent than others history has shown that talent does not ensure victory, as many talented teams squander their opportunities.

So as of right now every team in the NHL has the same opportunity to win the Stanley Cup, all they need to do is win enough games to make it to the playoffs and then not be eliminated in round one by Boston, and essentially be the last team standing.

That means all those rivalries are back. Habs and Leafs, Calgery and Endmonton, everyone and Boston.

So this morning I thought I would don my favourite jersey of my favourite team So I can cheer them on this morning. I bet you can’t guess who my favourite team is. I’ll give you a hint their primary colour is blue.

When I put this jersey on I have to admit it is hard for me to keep my pride in check, but I will do my best this morning. Because this mourning all I want to do is cheer on my favourite team.

And that team is....

You!

You are my favourite team, and this mourning my goal is to serve as a coach. This morning I want to do three things, because I love this team.

This mourning I want to

Encourage

Empower

Equip

To do the work Our father and owner of the team has for us to do.

Let me start by reminding us all what it is Our Father wants us to do.

Be disciples who make disciples

Now what does that mean? Simply put it means follow Jesus as a student and imitate Him and live by His teachings. It also means to go and Help others to do likewise. From guiding the lost to Jesus, to teaching them His ways and offering accountability as they grow in Him.

We refer to this as the great commission and it this morning that is what we are going to look at for a passage.

Matthew 28:16–20 NLT

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 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.”

If you remember a few weeks ago we introduced a new focus for the year. That focus was to

Become more effective in all we do.

So this morning what we are doing is starting a new series on

Effective Disciple Making

So the question this morning is...

How can we increase our effectiveness when it comes to Making Disciples?

Be Active Not Passive!

Me: We started by talking hockey let’s continue. To win the Stanley cup means playing hard for 82 regular season games and playing really hard for 16-28 postseason games. Many of these players will half kill themselves in pursuit of having their name added to a silver nickel alloy trophy, they will get to carry around for 1 day, oh and I think they get a ring and a hat.

When I say they will half kill themselves I am not exaggerating. The number of head injuries alone is astounding. Concussions are one of the leading injuries plaguing the NHL. Not to mention broken bones in legs arms noses, hands jaws ankles. A few years back E. Karelson had his Achilles tendon severed as a hockey skate from another play slid down behind his skate.

All of this they endure as they skate faster, check harder, and shot better so they can lift a 30+ lbs cup over their head.

This means playing hard for 82 regular season games and playing really hard for 16-28 postseason games. Many of these players will half kill themselves in pursuit of having their name added to a silver nickel alloy trophy they will get to carry around for 1 day, oh and I think they get a ring and a hat.

We: Let me ask this they play for a cup. Why do we do what we do? To see our loved ones and friends saved from Hell. That they may enjoy the best relationship they will ever have and finally find satisfaction. We do it so that as many as possible might be delivered from sin and be adopted into the family of God as His children and thus inherit eternal life.

To do this Christians tend to fall into two camps.

1. Active Disciple making

2. Passive Disciple making

Define active

Define Passive

Both have a certain level of effectiveness but statistics show that much like hockey players who are active on the ice are more effective likewise Christians who are active in their efforts of making disciples are more effective.

So

Moreover an active approach seems to be more in line with What Jesus told us to do...

God: In the passage we read the word Go Which means… This is a very active word not passive. Jesus did not tell them to wait till people came to them but challenged them to God into all the world. And His apostles took this very seriously.

So seriously in fact that we are here today. They endured prison and death in their active efforts to make disciples. And no one can question their effectiveness.

You: I know you want to see your loved ones saved. I know you want all to be saved and none to perish which is the heart of our God. So to increase your effectiveness, you need to increase your activeness.

We: So here is what we are going to do. Our

Next Step: No more passive, we are going to be intentional. I want you to write down a name on a small piece of paper of someone whom you will actively pursue, not just to make a convert but to make a disciple. To introduce them to God and then actively guide them on their journey of faith. Then I want you to come and place it here on the cross.

Our Next Step: No more passive, we are going to be intentional. I want you to write down a name on a small piece of paper of someone whom you will actively pursue, not just to make a convert but to make a disciple. To introduce them to God and then actively guide them on their journey of faith. Then I want you to come and place it here on the cross.

This week I will actively pray for you and this person. And as you actively take advantage of every opportunity, I want you to journal.

Then for your own accountability of activity, Write down every time you actively engage with disciple making. Whether telling someone about Jesus for the first time or the 101st time or giving guidance or accountability to an already existing believer. Because Discipleship never ends.

In this you will be able to track your activeness, as well as track your effectiveness.

If through your efforts a new believer is born again, come to church and tell us. We are a team and want to celebrate together. If someone shown an interest in baptism we will make that happen as we celebrate together.

If you see a Christian receive a spiritual brake through let us celebrate that together.

And