Being Great: Making Disciples

Series Intro: What makes someone great? Not earthly greatness but rather, who is considered great in the kingdom of heaven. As always, Jesus said it best…

New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition: Paragraph Version Chapter 20

whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Recap/Review: In the previous to messages we looked at the Great Commandment. First, being great means we love God. Second, being great means we love our neighbors. Matthew 22:36-39

New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition: Paragraph Version Chapter 22

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 foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’

Sermon Intro:

New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition: Paragraph Version Chapter 28

18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 aGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are Great and Mighty and there is no one greater than you. Lord, today, at this time and in this place we humble ourselves before you. We are your servants and you are our God. Speak to us though Your word.

What is a disciple?

A disciple is a born again believer in Jesus Christ (“…baptizing...”) that follows Jesus (“...go therefore and make disciples...”) and teachers others to do the same (“…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you...”).

If we love God and if we love our neighbors, then we will make disciples. It is that simple. Jesus said that if we love Him we will keep His commandments (John 14:15) And if we love our neighbors, that means other people, all of them, then we will want them to know the love of Jesus so we will make disciples.

Making disciples is a command.

(v. 18-19b) “18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 aGo therefore...”

Making disciples is comprehensive.

(v. 19b-20a) “...of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you...”

Making disciples requires two key component but it is all one thing. They are two sides to the same coin.

Two sides of the discipleship coin:

Example

(v. 19b-20a) “...baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you...”

- You have to be a disciple to make a disciple.

- You have to look like a disciple to make a disciple.

Explanation

(v. 19b-20a) “... baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you...”

- People need to be taught the saving message of the Gospel.

- People need to be taught about the sanctifying work of God the Spirit.

Who? When? Where?

Who? Anyone!

(v. 19b) “…make disciples of all the nations…”

Literally, all people. No one is left out.

New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition: Paragraph Version Chapter 2

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition: Paragraph Version Psalm 117

1 Praise the LORD, all nations;

Laud Him, all peoples!

2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us,

And the btruth of the LORD is everlasting.

Praise the LORD!

When? Always!

(v. 20) “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Literally, all day, every day, all the time, until our Lord Jesus returns.

The New International Version Chapter 3

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

Where? Anywhere!

Literally, all places. There is no place we shouldn’t be willing to go.

The New International Version Chapter 1

you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Closing: I want to be great. Do you? I know that God wants us to be great for His glory. God wants His church to be great. And we were are great through His strength and for His glory, we will humble ourselves, we will love God and serve Him, we will love others and serve them and we will make disciples. Let’s pray.