Graduation Day (Committing Ourselves To The Church's Call)
Discipleship • Sermon • Submitted
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· 19 viewsJesus has given his followers the mandate wash and grow new followers
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Illustration: NPR Special Series: The Coronavirus Crisis article “No Caps, No Gowns: For Many In The Class Of 2020, Commencement Is Called Off” by Elissa Nadworny on April 1, 2020
(Well in our text today, it is graduation day for Jesus Christ’s disciples
And Jesus is their commencement speaker)
Transition To Body- Context To Text Today
Transition To Body- Context To Text Today
Jesus Directed The Disciples To Meet Him In Galilee (Where Their Discipleship Began)
Jesus Directed The Disciples To Meet Him In Galilee (Where Their Discipleship Began)
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
What is a disciple?
one who engages in learning through instruction from another, pupil, apprentice
one who is rather constantly associated with someone who has a pedagogical reputation or a particular set of views, disciple, adherent
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 36.38 μαθητής, οῦ
a person who is a disciple or follower of someone—‘disciple, follower
Who’s directing you these days?
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.325 τάσσω; συντάσσω; προστάσσω; ἐπιτάσσω; διατάσσω
give detailed instructions as to what must be done—‘to order, to instruct, to tell, to command
command, order, instruct
to give instructions as to what must be done, order, fix, determine, appoint
Angel of the LORD said “Go Quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen”
Angel of the LORD said “Go Quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen”
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”
And Jesus said “Don’t be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee”
And Jesus said “Don’t be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee”
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Galilee- The Place Where Jesus called the first disciples
Galilee- The Place Where Jesus called the first disciples
18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus having gone ahead to meet the disciples in Galilee after having been crucified and raised from the dead
Jesus having gone ahead to meet the disciples in Galilee after having been crucified and raised from the dead
17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
And
And
Some disciples worship
Some disciples worship
The first these disciples do is worship
You cannot miss this point being made in the text
to express by attitude and possibly by position one’s allegiance to and regard for deity
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
But
But
Some disciples doubted
Some disciples doubted
distazo- doubt; waver
In the midst of the resurrection, Jesus’ disciples, Jesus’ followers:
Some are worshiping
Some are doubting (wavering)
Jesus is essentially saying in our text today it is time for His disciples to graduate and get a job
Jesus gives the work of the church to the disciples
It is time for the disciples to graduate
It is time for the disciples to grow up in Christ
It is time for the church to grow up
The last command Jesus gave the church before he ascended to heaven was the Great Commission, the call for Christians to "make disciples of all the nations." But Christians have responded by making "Christians," not "disciples." This, according to brilliant scholar and renowned Christian thinker Dallas Willard, has been the church's Great Omission.
Body- Committing Ourselves To The Church’s Call To Make Disciples Means We Know & Understand
Body- Committing Ourselves To The Church’s Call To Make Disciples Means We Know & Understand
The Church’s Call Comes From Heaven (Yet Implemented On Earth)
The Church’s Call Comes From Heaven (Yet Implemented On Earth)
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
authority- ability to perform,
authority- ability to perform,
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 76.12 ἐξουσία, ας
the power to do something, with or without an added implication of authority—‘power.’
the right to control or command, authority, absolute power, warrant
Kingdom of God Authority
Kingdom of God Authority
Jesus has all authority in heaven & on earth
Is Jesus LORD over life here on earth as well as the heaven to come?
Illustrate: Mission vs. Commission
Mission- what we do
Mission- what we do
an important assignment carried out for political, religious, or commercial purposes, typically involving travel.
the vocation or calling of a religious organization, especially a Christian one, to go out into the world and spread its faith.
Commission- authority we are given
Commission- authority we are given
the act of committing or entrusting a person, group, etc., with supervisory power or authority.
an authoritative order, charge, or direction.
authority granted for a particular action or function.
Illustrate: Commission in terms of officers being commissioned into the arm services
However, when used without further detail, the term almost always refers to only commissioned officers, the more senior portion of a force who derive their authority from a commission from the head of state.
Commissioned officers generally receive training as leadership and management generalists, in addition to training relating to their specific military occupational specialty or function in the military.
Commissioned officers are considered commanding officers under presidential authority.
{
{
Not only does
Not only does
The Church’s Call Comes From Heaven (Yet Is Implemented On Earth)
The Church’s Call Comes From Heaven (Yet Is Implemented On Earth)
}
}
The Church’s Call Is Outward Focused
The Church’s Call Is Outward Focused
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,
go = travel out
{
{
Not only does
Not only does
The Church’s Call Comes From Heaven (Yet Is Implemented On Earth)
The Church’s Call Comes From Heaven (Yet Is Implemented On Earth)
And
And
The Church’s Call Is Outward Focused
The Church’s Call Is Outward Focused
Finally
Finally
}
}
The Church’s Call Has A Specific Purpose
The Church’s Call Has A Specific Purpose
Make Disciples Cross-culturally
Make Disciples Cross-culturally
36.37 μαθητεύωb: to cause someone to become a disciple or follower of—‘to make disciples, to cause people to become followers.’
Of All Nations
Of All Nations
Where? Everywhere- inclusivity of disciplemaking
nations
a body of persons united by kinship, culture, and common traditions, nation, people
Cleanse Disciples Thoroughly
Cleanse Disciples Thoroughly
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,
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 53.41 βαπτίζω; βάπτισμα, τος; βαπτισμός, οῦ
to employ water in a religious ceremony designed to symbolize purification and initiation on the basis of repentance
to use water in a rite for purpose of renewing or establishing a relationship w. God, plunge, dip, wash, baptize.
Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit
Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit
Father- provides, sustains, & protects
Son- waymaker; miracle worker; makes a way through substitutionary atonement
Holy Spirit- enables & empowers
i.e. Wash them for God’s purposes
i.e. Wash them for God’s purposes
Instruct Disciples Comprehensively
Instruct Disciples Comprehensively
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.224 διδάσκω; διδαχή, ῆς; διδασκαλία, ας
to provide instruction in a formal or informal setting
to observe all that I have commanded you
Content of our teaching
Content of our teaching
All Jesus has commanded of us:
Love God and Love your neighbor
Love God and Love your neighbor
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
How do you teach them to love God & one another?
How do you teach them to love God & one another?
Older disciples ought to provide good examples for younger disciples
Sheep make sheep
Dogs make dogs
People make people
Liars make liars
Cheats make cheats
Haters make haters
But
Lovers make lovers
Faithful people make faithful people
Disciples’s make disciples
Our love for one another will identify us as followers & students i.e. disciples of Jesus Christ
Our love for one another will identify us as followers & students i.e. disciples of Jesus Christ
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Transition To Close: Jesus concludes the Gospel of Matthew saying “I am with you always, to end of the age.”
Transition To Close: Jesus concludes the Gospel of Matthew saying “I am with you always, to end of the age.”
As I prepare to close I am reminded of a lil’ story
Illustration: Great Commission
When Jesus ascended to heaven after his mission on earth, the angels asked him: “Did you accomplish your task?”
“Yes, all is finished,” the LORD replied.
“We have a second question,” said the angels. “Has the whole world heard of you?”
“No,” said Jesus.
The angels next asked, “Then what is your plan?”
Jesus said, “I have left twelve man and some other followers to carry the message to the whole world.”
The angels looked at him and asked: “What is your Plan B?”
Friends, there is no Plan B. Jesus desires to reach the world through men and women like you and me.
Lift Him Up
Stanza 1:
How to reach the masses, men of every birth,
For an answer, Jesus gave the key:
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
Will draw all men unto Me.”
Refrain:
Lift Him up, Lift Him up,
Still He speaks from eternity:
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
Will draw all men unto Me.”
Stanza 2:
Oh! the world is hungry for the Living Bread,
Lift the Savior up for them to see;
Trust Him, and do not doubt the words that He said,
“I’ll draw all men unto Me.”
But don’t worry Jesus said: I am with you always...
But don’t worry Jesus said: I am with you always...
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
In the Garden (1912 song)
Refrain: And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
Now to him who is able...
Now to him who is able...
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Greater Is He That Is In You
Greater Is He That Is In You
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Jesus Is The Vine; you are the branches...
Jesus Is The Vine; you are the branches...
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
If you Keep Jesus’ commandments you will remain in Jesus’ love
If you Keep Jesus’ commandments you will remain in Jesus’ love
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
This is my commandment, the you love...
This is my commandment, the you love...
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Are you a Friend of Jesus today, then...
Are you a Friend of Jesus today, then...
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
Greater love has on one than this...
Greater love has on one than this...
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Close- God So Loved The WORLD
Close- God So Loved The WORLD
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
We love because He first loved us
We love because He first loved us
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
You Will Receive Power When the Holy Spirit Comes upon you
You Will Receive Power When the Holy Spirit Comes upon you
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Jesus is Coming Back
Jesus is Coming Back
10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Will He Find Faith In The Earth
Will He Find Faith In The Earth
7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”