Discipleship

Good evening folks. I am so honored to get to be here and preach at this great church. Thank you Pastor Lon for this opportunity. I will call into question why you saved me for last…

My wife and I sat down for this great meal at a nice steakhouse (one of those date night places… We had a gift card). They brought out some hot bread and some of that pesto stuff! I could’ve eaten three loaves! Then they brought our meal out and it was incredible. Everything was perfectly cooked and seasoned. And because it was date night, we ordered a dessert too. (Again… We had a gift card…) And it just didn’t do it for me. You know? It was alright. Nothing to write home about.

So far, you guys have had an awesome appetizer, an incredible meal… I am here to close out this great revival as the close to average dessert! Alright?

Jesus said many things during his ministry that are recorded in the Bible. He talked about having compassion on the “least of these.” He talked about living sacrificial lives when he told folks to “take up your cross daily.” He talked about financially supporting the things of God. He talked about what it means to be “born again.” He taught his disciples how to pray.

He also did many things. He healed the blind, sick, diseased. He cast out demons. And he hosted a couple of miraculous dinners that would make any Baptist potluck look bad.

With all the things that he said and all the things that he did, what did He use his final breaths on earth to tell his disciples?

He talked about having compassion on the “least of these.” He talked about living sacrificial lives when he told folks to “take up your cross daily.” He talked about financially supporting the things of God. He talked about what it means to be “born again.” Jesus covered a great deal of topics in his ministry, but one recurring theme appeared… “Follow me.”

Go on and turn to the end of the book of Matthew.

Jesus was killed, then buried, but then he was raised up not like Lazarus to die again, but with a physical, yet eternal body. This was pretty cool stuff!

He spent 40 days popping up places and freaking people out, just like you and I would do if everyone thought we were dead! But he also spent that time reminding his disciples of what he had taught them. And right at the end of his time with them, before he ascends to be seated at God’s right hand, Matthew records these words...

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 28

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Let’s pray together.

I recognize that you probably hear this verse in a sermon at least 10 times per year. Many of you (hopefully) have it memorized. Heath, what could we possibly learn from this?

Listen my goal is not to teach you anything new, but to remind you of the simplicity of that which Christ has called us to do as believers here in the Great Commission. A task so simple that we can’t seem to be obedient to do it! My prayer is that God uses this as a wake up call to us as believers to focus on the right things in our church.

I am going to show you 4 simple words in this passage that are crucial to grasping the challenge of discipleship.

The first...

1. AUTHORITY

Jesus covered a great deal of topics in his ministry, but one recurring theme appeared… “Follow me.”

As the disciples heard these words from Jesus, they would not have been uncommon to these young Hebrew guys. Discipleship was built into the Jewish religious culture. The older men who were considered rabbis would say to the brightest of the bright from the schools, “Follow me!” Then they would take them under their wing and teach them. They would literally (not figuratively) walk in the footsteps of their rabbi as they followed them around.

As mostly gentile 21st century believers, we don’t understand this cultural idea. And the natural (yet sinful) response is to read Jesus’ ministry through the lens of our culture, and totally blow it! In that light, Jesus appears to us more as a brash, boat-rockin’ celebrity pastor with a cult following than he does a Jewish rabbi. When we view him that way, we misunderstand his ministry and commands. We want to learn from Jesus the way we would a celebrity pastor: by what he says.

This was not the culture of the day, however. What a rabbi DID was observed and followed by his disciples.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 28

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

AUTHORITY

Jesus spent a lot of time talking about life with people. He talked about having compassion on the “least of these.” He talked about living sacrificial lives when he told folks to “take up your cross daily.” He talked about financially supporting the things of God. He talked about what it means to be “born again.” Jesus covered a great deal of topics in his ministry, but one recurring theme appeared… “Follow me.”

When I was a kid, I was challenged to memorize only verses 19-20 of this chapter. Many people will say that the Great Commission begins in verse 19. But they are heretics! Ok. That’s extreme. But they are WRONG! Verses 19-20 lose their power without verse 18! Let me read it again!

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Matthew 28:18 CSB

Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Jesus was saying, I AM IN CHARGE.

Jesus was saying, I AM IN CHARGE.

I hate going to unorganized events or get togethers. Some of you hate it because you are a strange type A person who organizes their socks and underwear by color. That’s not why I do.

I hate it because I have the gift of leadership. I wasn’t born with it. I didn’t inherit it from my mom and dad. God has given it to me and sharpened it through the years in Christ. And it can be a great thing for a church!

We were without a senior pastor at the first church I served in for 14 months or so. I was told by pastor friends, “Be careful. Just stay in your lane. Stick to your youth ministry.” I did… for a couple weeks. They had told me I could preach as often as I wanted to. So I did. 35 times that year! I also tried to implement a new process of discipleship and push initiatives. Because when their is a leadership vacancy, I can’t stand it! I will step in if no one else will!

So, circle back to what I said, I hate going to unorganized events. And the reason is that I will wind up trying to organize the whole thing before it’s over. The problem with that is that no one sees me as the leader. I have no authority in that situation, right? I can bark out orders all I want, but if I have no authority, then no one will listen.

BUT, if I show up with a name badge, a clipboard, and a whistle… Immediate respect. So, that’s why I carry those things in my wife’s purse, just in case I need them when we go out.

Verse 18 is Jesus pulling out his name badge, clipboard, and whistle. He states that he has ALL AUTHORITY!

This should bring two emotions to the hearer…

a. REVERENCE

You know what the Greek word that gets translated “all” meant to the disciples? ALL. Jesus was saying LISTEN TO WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY.

Sometimes when my children aren’t listening well, I remind them… “Who is in charge of this family… you or me and mommy?” As soon as I establish that authority, I then bring tell them one more time to do what I have said.

That’s what Jesus is doing. But it also brings this emotion to them...

b. CONFIDENCE

When Jesus says that he has all authority, it should also bring confidence to the disciples to know that results should come to what he is commanding because he is in charge! He is the sovereign Lord of the universe! He gets stuff done, right?

The forgotten verse of the Great Commission, verse 18, is so important because of the second word I want us to look at tonight...

2. THEREFORE

Peter had said that he believed Jesus was the “Christ” (the Greek word for Messiah), the Son of God! Yet, when it came down to it, he wasn’t willing to stand for Jesus when he was being beaten and unjustly tried.

But Peter would later lead thousands to faith in Christ and serve as the chief leader responsible for the Jesus movement, eventually giving his life for the sake of Christ.

What changed?

It was the resurrection! That changed the way these guys viewed everything! Especially the teachings and ministry of Jesus.

So, when Jesus says here, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me...” That is somewhat new knowledge. They have seen some evidence that this could be true as he has done great miracles and taught unlike anyone else. But here, Jesus brings great clarity to the situation...

I AM IN CHARGE HERE!

2. THEREFORE

Words like this are vitally important to understand the Bible. This has less to do with some deep theological reason and more to do with simple reading comprehension. Words like “therefore” “Because of” “Nevertheless” an “Since” have been used by writers for millennia to bring a flow to a piece of literature. We don’t always use them in normal speech, but they are really important in writing because they help us see how blocks of text fit together.

I could impress you with the literary term for words like this, but instead I like to call them “connecting words.” They connect passages of text in the Bible together. Therefore in particular carries this idea...

Jesus spent a lot of time talking about life with people. He talked about having compassion on the “least of these.” He talked about living sacrificial lives when he told folks to “take up your cross daily.” He talked about financially supporting the things of God. He talked about what it means to be “born again.” Jesus covered a great deal of topics in his ministry, but one recurring theme appeared… “Follow me.”

Because of what I just said, now, read this next part.

In some of Paul’s letters, this may refer to an idea just stated or a in some cases 5 or more chapters of unpacking an idea. Either way, it connects what has been said to what is about to be said.

So...

Why does Jesus use it here?

Because I have all authority in heaven and on earth… Now hear this! Right? Do you see why verse 18 is so important!

OK. Jesus says I have all authority, therefore, what? What is he calling his disciples to do?

Verses 19-20 can look very busy! There are lots of things going on there. But, we are going to simplify this here (because there are multiple sermons built into this verse 19). In the Greek, there is one verb in verse 19.

3. DISCIPLE

This is most often translated “make disciples” because we think of “disciple” as a noun. But it is a verb too! In the graphic for these revival services, your media team used “moving forward to disciple.” That’s the form I’m using here. Jesus says, Because I have all authority, DISCIPLE.

This is where we get all confused and we overcomplicate this thing.

But they had also seen that first hand. Because in a very real sense, Jesus was a Jewish rabbi with some podunk followers. The way Jesus led and taught them was somewhat unique, but not that different.

For years in the church, we lost sight of truly making disciples. That’s why many churches are in a mess. They haven’t been fulfilling the Great Commission, the final words of Christ to his people. And that’s not good.

If you would like to personal

For years in the church, we lost sight of truly making disciples. That’s why many churches are in a mess. They haven’t been fulfilling the Great Commission, the final words of Christ to his people.

But now, there is a big movement to swing that pendulum all the way back the other way. Conferences, books, and seminars are talking about a return to one on one discipleship or one on three or four.

In a group like this, there is total transparency and support for one another. But there is high accountability as well! I have been in relationships like this and am currently starting a one on one relationship with a guy similar to this. And I want to encourage you to seek that out if God is leading you to that! Find someone that you can meet with to learn from, someone to hold you accountable! Your staff here could help you find someone who could disciple you or find you someone to disciple in this way.

But I don’t want us to focus there tonight. I think for us to define discipleship as this kind of intentional relationship ONLY, is unhelpful. To say that discipleship only occurs in a weekly hour and a half long Bible Study and accountability relationship short changes most of the discipleship that has happened in my life!

Who has most impacted your life for Christ? Has it been someone that you met with weekly in this type relationship? Maybe for some of us that is part of our story. But for me, most of the growth I have seen occur in my life has been much more simple than that.

This is how I define discipleship for my church. I hope it’s helpful for you guys too...

I want to show

Discipleship is an intentional effort towards the sanctification of another.

First off, What is “sanctification? That’s a theological term straight from the Bible that refers to the process of becoming more like Christ: literally, to be sanctified or made holy.

That’s the journey that all of us are on who are followers of Christ. We are somewhere between who we used to be and Jesus. Hopefully progressing by God’s help more on the Jesus side!

So when we help other people grow, we are being used as part of the sanctification process in their life. This is huge! This is so important. It is what God has called us to do in Christ as the church! To fail in this is to fail in the Great Commission!

Now, I know that this church is highly involved in missions. That’s great! Go on a mission trip! Make disciples in India or Africa or North Carolina! YES! That’s fulfilling the Great Commission too!

But what a travesty that we are so willing to invest in those there while our own spiritual infants here die of starvation! We neglect our own!

We have a guy on our street who cuts yards for a living. He’s got a big fancy mower and all the equipment. To talk to the guy you would think “This guy loves taking care of yards. He is so meticulous and careful. But what’s so interesting is that his yard gets totally neglected with all the other yards he cuts! The grass has been really high before, he has lots of weeds everywhere, and trimming doesn’t get done often at tall. If you were looking for a yard man, you should be able to go by his house and see his work, but his yard tells a different story of his business.

I am afraid that this is a problem in our church today.

We are doing great things around the world (and I am not advocating that we stop those things) but we must do great things right here in our own homes, church, and community!

The difference between what we do on a mission trip and what we do here at home can be summed up in that one word INTENTIONAL.

I have never accidentally cooked a casserole. I have never unintentionally cleaned my house. And you cannot disciple people without intentionality. If you come to church week in and week out without the intention of investing in someone’s life, guess what, YOU AREN’T!

Discipling others doesn’t have to be a weekly scheduled meeting. But it does take living your life with a whole new set of eyes. You have to view your convos and tasks in life not as distractions from the Great Commission, but as the Great Commission itself! Do you see the difference!?

I know a guy who would love nothing more than to be able to quit his job and be a pastor at a church or go on the mission field. But God hasn’t made a way for that yet. So, if God isn’t opening that door for him to fulfill the great commission as a pastor or missionary, what should he do? Sulk? Get frustrated? Get mad? NO! He needs to recognize that God has him right where he is with the coworkers he has, with the family he has, in the church he is in, with the Sunday School class he has to fulfill the Great Commission.

The Great Commission is not something we are working towards, it is something we are to be living in! INTENTIONALLY!

One of my favorite passages that speaks towards this idea is

Ephesians 4:11–13 CSB

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.

What does Paul say here? Sanctification is the pastor’s job? NOPE!

The pastor’s job is to help equip the saints for the work of ministry. The saints are the workers of ministry. Who are the saints? All of us! Not just some saints or old saints or young saints. Not just mature saints or teacher saints or a particular family saints. THE SAINTS! The ministry of this church is riding on you and you and you! This is a team effort here!

What is the purpose of the saints’ ministry? To build up the body of Christ! The intentional discipleship God is calling you to engage in tonight is going to strengthen this body! As you feel God pricking your heart even now about something you can do with intentionality here or someone you could encourage regularly, know that it is a big deal!

Don’t forget! Your Savior has all authority in heaven and on earth. If he is urging you to do something, it will have impact!

The biggest question addressed here is when do we get to stop. When have we arrived Paul? What’s the attendance number when we can settle in and coast a little? When can we retire from this hard work? Is there a retirement age for individuals? Let’s look and see...

“UNTIL WE ALL REACH UNITY in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s son.” What does that mean Paul?

“Growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.”

So, when can Bethlehem Baptist Church coast? When is the work over? When can we finally take a break and get some “me-time?” When EVERYONE looks like Jesus… Are you there yet? Man Naw! Will you ever get there? Man naw! So, guess what? We need to be working. There is no excuse for those of us who are in Christ to not be encouraging others in the Lord! It is outright disobedience to the Great Commission!

You see, the Great Commission isn’t just for your pastors to fulfill. It isn’t just for church leaders or teachers. The Great Commission was a gauntlet cast in front of all of us! God has called you to Disciple! And that takes intentionality!

You feeling overwhelmed yet? Listen, it is not my intention to make you feel that way… It’s God’s. Yeah. That’s what I said. God wants you to feel a little uneasy about this!

Jesus’ disciples did back in our main passage for the night! That’s why he ends with this word...

baptizing

teaching

4. REMEMBER

Jesus lays out this incredible challenge that is going to take great intentionality and sacrifice. He gets their heart rate up to about 130, then he drops this...

Matthew 28:20 CSB

teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

If the idea of going out of your way to intentionality invest in other people gets your heart rate up too, Jesus has this reminder to you… I AM WITH YOU sometimes… I am with you, on Sundays. No. I am with you ALWAYS! All the way to the very end!

What a great reminder to us who are in Christ!

Tonight, I hope that you have seen that the Great Commission is for all of us! There is no excuse great enough that gets us out of its implications! But may we be reminded that the Christ who has called us to it has all power and will always be with us as we disciple others!

That is great news today!

As we wrap up this season of rekindling, I want to challenge Bethlehem Baptist Church with this from the Lord…

1. Authority

2. Therefore

3. Disciple

4. Remember

If tonight you would admit that you have not been obedient lately to the Great Commission, you may want to come pray at this altar as a representation of the repentant heart that you have. Come here before your church family and declare that you are refocusing your life on discipleship.

If tonight you would admit that you have not been obedient lately to the Great Commission, you may want to come pray at this altar as a representation of the repentant heart that you have. Come here before your church family and declare that you are refocusing your life on discipleship.

Maybe you have been on mission trips and been faithful with those things but have been neglecting those in your own home, workplace, and church family. Repent of that and make a commitment to Live in the Great Commission day after day.

And today, if you recognize that you don’t have any encouragement to share with others because you yourself have not trusted in Christ and been changed by a relationship with him, you can today! Before you can help someone else be sanctified, you have to let God do that work in you, first through salvation, and then through a devoted life to Christ.

Whatever is on your heart, Pastors Lon and Philip will be down front to talk with you or answer questions. And these steps are open for you to come and talk to God before your church family.

Be obedient to what God is doing in you. Let me pray and then we will open up for response.

Pray to close. Turn over to Lon.

Jesus covered a great deal of topics in his ministry, but one recurring theme appeared… “Follow me.”

As the disciples heard these words from Jesus, they would not have been uncommon to these young Hebrew guys. Discipleship was built into the Jewish religious culture. The older men who were considered rabbis would say to the brightest of the bright from the schools, “Follow me!” Then they would take them under their wing and teach them. They would literally (not figuratively) walk in the footsteps of their rabbi as they followed them around.

As mostly gentile 21st century believers, we don’t understand this cultural idea. And the natural (yet sinful) response is to read Jesus’ ministry through the lens of our culture, and totally blow it! In that light, Jesus appears to us more as a brash, boat-rockin’ celebrity pastor with a cult following than he does a Jewish rabbi. When we view him that way, we misunderstand his ministry and commands. We want to learn from Jesus the way we would a celebrity pastor: by what he says.

This was not the culture of the day, however. What a rabbi DID was observed and followed by his disciples.

Jesus spent a lot of time talking about life with people.

As the disciples heard these words from Jesus, they would not have been uncommon to these young Hebrew guys. Discipleship was built into the Jewish religious culture. The older men who were considered rabbis would say to the brightest of the bright from the schools, “Follow me!” Then they would take them under their wing and teach them. They would literally (not figuratively) walk in the footsteps of their rabbi as they followed them around.

As mostly gentile 21st century believers, we don’t understand this cultural idea. And the natural (yet sinful) response is to read Jesus’ ministry through the lens of our culture, and totally blow it! In that light, Jesus appears to us more as a brash, boat-rockin’ celebrity pastor with a cult following than he does a Jewish rabbi. When we view him that way, we misunderstand his ministry and commands. We want to learn from Jesus the way we would a celebrity pastor: by what he says.

This was not the culture of the day, however. What a rabbi DID was observed and followed by his disciples.

We focus more on what Jesus said

Ephesians is such a cool book! To be such a short book, it covers a lot of ground. I want to jump into chapter 4 with you guys today, but as you are turning there, I need to let you know more about this book. To fully understand a passage of Scripture, you need to know what is being said in the rest of the book. Paul, who wrote this book, usually writes to correct issues within a local church. That or those issues become the theme of nearly everything he says. When you know that theme, the book doesn’t seem so disjointed. The key message flows from topic to topic tying everything together.

I believe the key theme that Paul is addressing here is “UNITY.” You see it through the whole book!

He begins with a strong soteriology (meaning a theology of salvation). But no where in here does he refer to God saving individuals. He doesn’t even use ambiguous “you” language like he does in most of his other letters. Listen to a few excerpts here...

Read v. 3-8, 11-14