Matthew 28:16-20 The Mission: The purpose we are here
Notes
Transcript
What a great day we had yesterday! Family Fall Fun Day.
Just what was it about?
We had fun. Was it only about having fun?
We showed our appreciation to the community. Was it only about the community?
We had a great time of fellowship among our members. Was it only about fellowship among our members?
We served people. Was it only about serving people?
Yes, it was about all these things. But it was about more than all these things.
Family Fall Fun Day was about carrying out the mission that was given by Christ. To us individually. To us as a church body.
Through the fun, appreciation, fellowship, and service the ultimate goal was to go and make disciples of Christ.
And that happened at some level. Our prayer was to demonstrate through our actions what it looks like to be a disciple of Christ. It really is fun. To point others to Him. To provide information about how to come to Him as Savior. The Savior who transformed our lives who desires to transform lives all around us. To make disciples.
Fall Fun Day is a different sort of twist on helping to accomplish this mission. But it is the mission itself that drove the activity.
If we don’t understand the goal, the main goal, we run the risk of doing many good things, and never achieve the goal. Of being distracted with the periphery. Of forgetting why we do what we do.
Let’s stop and do a level set this morning. Be reminded of the goal behind the events. The mission that we have been given. Christ made it clear.
(NKJV) Matthew 28 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
I. The Mission: His Last Commands
I. The Mission: His Last Commands
A. To an unlikely group
A. To an unlikely group
(NKJV) Matthew 28 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying
1. Likely in Galilee mountain to the more than 500 disciples Paul mentions
1. Likely in Galilee mountain to the more than 500 disciples Paul mentions
2. The one’s who have struggled and doubted – mixed response – like us
2. The one’s who have struggled and doubted – mixed response – like us
a. Abandoned Him - fearful – doubting - yet still following
a. Abandoned Him - fearful – doubting - yet still following
b. Privilege in spite of imperfections
b. Privilege in spite of imperfections
3. Yet to these Jesus speaks to give mission / purpose for life
3. Yet to these Jesus speaks to give mission / purpose for life
B. From the One with spiritual authority
B. From the One with spiritual authority
(NKJV) Matthew 28 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
1. Meaning – the right to exercise power – no longer the lamb – now the lion / the king
1. Meaning – the right to exercise power – no longer the lamb – now the lion / the king
2. The one who has been given a special place
2. The one who has been given a special place
(NKJV) Philippians 2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
3. Speaks with heavenly authority
3. Speaks with heavenly authority
4. Overcome spiritual opposition
4. Overcome spiritual opposition
5. Keys to the kingdom – means by which people are saved
5. Keys to the kingdom – means by which people are saved
C. From the One with earthly authority
C. From the One with earthly authority
(NKJV) Matthew 28 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
1. Has authority over the things that occur in the here and now
1. Has authority over the things that occur in the here and now
2. Not just far off – but here as well – and able to shape events
2. Not just far off – but here as well – and able to shape events
3. Has authority over us
3. Has authority over us
4. No one / nothing to limit the exercise of His power – Therefore act
4. No one / nothing to limit the exercise of His power – Therefore act
II. The Mission: Make disciples of all nations
II. The Mission: Make disciples of all nations
A. One main action: Make disciples
A. One main action: Make disciples
(NKJV) Matthew 28 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
1. Only verb here – the main command
1. Only verb here – the main command
2. Multifaceted process – one goal (supported by participles with command aspects to them)
2. Multifaceted process – one goal (supported by participles with command aspects to them)
a. Help people to come into a personal relationship with Christ and follow Him
a. Help people to come into a personal relationship with Christ and follow Him
B. One goal: Christ followers
B. One goal: Christ followers
(NKJV) Matthew 28 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
1. Learners – apprentice – followers – little Christs
1. Learners – apprentice – followers – little Christs
2. Bring people to know Christ
2. Bring people to know Christ
1) Plow: Live the gospel 2) Plant: Speak the Word (not enough to be nice to people / to live in a good manner – can have a beautifully plowed and prepared field – nothing if you don’t plant see 3) Water – Be consistent over time – nurture – be involved consistently – not a one time deal 4) Harvest – Lead to a decision – Jesus always calling for a decision
3. Helping people in a lifetime process of following Him
3. Helping people in a lifetime process of following Him
a. Same type of process to help people to grow
a. Same type of process to help people to grow
1) Live the truth / Share the truth
C. Multiple objects: People everywhere
C. Multiple objects: People everywhere
(NKJV) Matthew 28 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
1. No one excluded
1. No one excluded
2. People from all ethnic groups around the world – glimpse in heaven
2. People from all ethnic groups around the world – glimpse in heaven
(NKJV) Revelation 7 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
1. Principle – make the good news available everywhere to everyone Note: Not required for the coming of Christ at the rapture –but before the end of the tribulation all people groups will be given the gospel
III. The Mission: Making disciples involves multiple activities
III. The Mission: Making disciples involves multiple activities
A. Going: Involves a lifestyle of intentional activity
A. Going: Involves a lifestyle of intentional activity
(NKJV) Matthew 28 19 Go(ing) therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
1. Supporting participles – imperative force?
1. Supporting participles – imperative force?
2. Aorist part – after you go / assumption you are going
2. Aorist part – after you go / assumption you are going
3. Or Aorist part precedes the aorist verb with the same tense – attendant circumstance part – same mood as verb i.e. imperative
3. Or Aorist part precedes the aorist verb with the same tense – attendant circumstance part – same mood as verb i.e. imperative
4. In other words requires intentional action as you go about your life
4. In other words requires intentional action as you go about your life
5. Earlier – all nations - Acts 1:8 describes the scope of the going out
5. Earlier – all nations - Acts 1:8 describes the scope of the going out
(NKJV) Acts 1 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
a. Jerusalem – home / same culture
a. Jerusalem – home / same culture
b. Judea- Western Kansas / same culture but broader area
b. Judea- Western Kansas / same culture but broader area
c. Samaria – United States /similar culture with differences
c. Samaria – United States /similar culture with differences
d. End of the Earth – throughout the world
d. End of the Earth – throughout the world
6. Involvement in all areas simultaneously
6. Involvement in all areas simultaneously
a. Personal involvement
a. Personal involvement
b. Supporting others’ involvement financial
b. Supporting others’ involvement financial
c. Supporting others prayer
c. Supporting others prayer
B. Baptizing: Integrate into Christ’s church
B. Baptizing: Integrate into Christ’s church
(NKJV) Matthew 28 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
1. Incorporate into the local church
1. Incorporate into the local church
a. Can’t divorce growing in Christ and being involved in Christ’s church
a. Can’t divorce growing in Christ and being involved in Christ’s church
b. Win them – they profess faith in Christ
b. Win them – they profess faith in Christ
c. Baptize them – identify with Christ and His community
c. Baptize them – identify with Christ and His community
d. Place to grow from teaching / exercise of gifts of the church
d. Place to grow from teaching / exercise of gifts of the church
2. Baptism described
2. Baptism described
a. Baptize the disciples – after conversion - symbol of what has occurred
a. Baptize the disciples – after conversion - symbol of what has occurred
b. NT Baptism – always immersion – means dip – symbol of the gospel
b. NT Baptism – always immersion – means dip – symbol of the gospel
C. Teaching to observe: Help grow in a walk with Christ
C. Teaching to observe: Help grow in a walk with Christ
(NKJV) Matthew 28 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
1. Can’t separate coming to Christ and walking in His Word
1. Can’t separate coming to Christ and walking in His Word
2. Our responsibility for helping believers grow
2. Our responsibility for helping believers grow
a. Model the truth
a. Model the truth
1) People do what they see – obvious what you really believe
b. Instruct in the truth of the scripture
b. Instruct in the truth of the scripture
c. Train them to practice this truth
c. Train them to practice this truth
IV. The Mission: Enabled by His presence
IV. The Mission: Enabled by His presence
A. A guarantee of His presence
A. A guarantee of His presence
(NKJV) Matthew 28 20 … and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
1. Behold - Attention
1. Behold - Attention
2. Emphatic I – I am with you
2. Emphatic I – I am with you
3. Yahweh I AM
3. Yahweh I AM
4. It is me with you
4. It is me with you
B. In every situation
B. In every situation
(NKJV) Matthew 28 20 … and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
1. With His authority
1. With His authority
2. With His protection
2. With His protection
3. With His comfort
3. With His comfort
4. With His working in the lives of those who we reach out to
4. With His working in the lives of those who we reach out to
C. Awaiting the conclusion of this time
C. Awaiting the conclusion of this time
(NKJV) Matthew 28 20 … and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
1. Judgment and culmination
1. Judgment and culmination
Are you a disciple? – have a personal relationship with Christ / integrated into the church / seeking to walk as He has instructed
Are you making disciples? - as you live your life are you living so other see Christ in you, are you telling people about Christ, are you welcoming others into the church, are you investing in others to help them know and live according to the scriprures?
