Make Disciples

John W. Gardner, founding chairman of Common Cause, said it's a rare and high privilege to help people understand the difference they can make -- not only in their own lives, but also in the lives of others, simply by giving of themselves.

Gardner tells of a cheerful old man who asked the same question of just about every new acquaintance he fell into conversation with: "What have you done that you believe in and you are proud of?"

He never asked conventional questions such as "What do you do for a living?" It was always, "What have you done that you believe in and are proud of?"

It was an unsettling question for people who had built their self-esteem on their wealth or their family name or their exalted job title.

Not that the old man was a fierce interrogator. He was delighted by a woman who answered, "I'm doing a good job raising three children;" and by a cabinetmaker who said, "I believe in good workmanship and practice it;" and by a woman who said, "I started a bookstore and it's the best bookstore for miles around."

"I don't really care how they answer," said the old man. "I just want to put the thought into their minds.

"They should live their lives in such a way that they can have a good answer.

Sermon of Purpose

We need

purpose

calling

reason

Jesus gave us

our purpose

just before

leaving earth.

Setting The Stage

Jesus had been arrested

abused

died

buried

Disciples

hopeless

hopeful

resurrection

Angle at tomb

Matthew 28:7 ESV

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.”

Jesus appears to them

repeats command

Matthew 28:10 ESV

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Obey

gather disciples

To Galilee

Anxiety

Fear

Direction

Purpose

Matthew 28:16 ESV

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.

The crowd is anxious

some believe

some don’t

some entertainment

Hush falls on crowd

Jesus begins to talk.

3 Verses.

3 Sentences

Walked a long way

to hear these words.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

These words

For Disciples:

important

urgent

precise

For us

Today

important

urgent

precise

Eisenhower Matrix

“What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important.”

True

but

this case

Both

Important

Urgent

Christ

Last Word

Important

Also

Purpose

Reason

Direction

Will

Look at words of Jesus:

Matthew 28:18 (ESV)

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

First part,

no command

no direction

no instruction

Statement

ALL AUTHORITY

Do you know

who I Am?

Do you know?

Jesus Say:

I Am

Alpha and Omega

Beginning and End

Amen

I Am

Almighty

Bread of Life

Bridegroom

I Am

Creator

Chief Cornerstone

I Am

Gate

Good Shepherd

Great High Priest

I Am

Faithful and True

Holy and True

Horn of Salvation

I Am

I Am

Immanuel

I Am

King of kings

Lord of lords

I Am

Lamb

Lion of the Tribe of Judah

I Am

Morning Star

Rock and Refuge

Way, Truth, and Life

I Am

Son of David

Son of Man

Son of God

Could have said,

many things

But said,

I AM THE POSSESSOR OF ALL AUTHORITY

Meaning?

I got this.

This is mine.

I can do this.

But guess what?

You are going to help!

Really Both:

Promise

Calling

The end:

Similar

Matthew 28:20 (ESV)

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Another promise

I care.

I’m strong.

I’m able to see it through.

I’m here.

I won’t quit.

But I AM with

YOU!

Again,

Calling

Not just about Him

Doing it with us!

God Gives a command

sandwiched between

two promises

two calls

To be sure

we heard him

confidence to trust.

Here comes the command..

I want you to....

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

“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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

One Sentence.

Study it.

In this sentence we have

1 Verb

3 Participles

What is the difference?

Verb

Indicates Action

Participle

Verbs turn adjective

Verb: Main Action

Participle Modifying how it is done.

Four Words

Go

Make Disciples

Baptize

Teach

Which is verb?

MAKE DISCIPLES

Main Verb

Only Verb

Make Disciples

Furthermore

Imperative Verb

Meaning

Command

Thou Shalt...

Make Disciples

Other Participles

Go

Baptize

Teach

Modify:

You Make Disciples!

How can I make disciples

Go

Baptize

Teach

Our main mission

not baptizing

not even teaching

making disciples

Fullest sense of the word.

Get Water Gun

run on streets

baptizing.

Baptism without Discipling

Failure

Teaching without Discipling

Failure

Going without Discipling

Failure

Those aid the process

Those help the process

The package is called

Discipleship

Furthermore,

Relationship

Social Connection

necessary.

Error Happens

That becomes end

instead of

means to end.

The goal is not

the relationship itself

The goal is eternal life

relationship necessary element.

Many Church,

Trying Love Ministry

Trying Friendship

become country club.

Create

atmosphere

social activities

fun

laughter

entertainment

Generally good things

IF...

Built on foundation

Main Purpose.

Make Disciples

Discipling

is who we are.

is what we do.

is our purpose.

is reason for existence.

is call of the church.

If we forget

Great Commission

Becomes

Great Omission

Ideas

Home

Work

Recreation

Church

Be Intentional

Pick a Disciple

Make Time

Plan Vision

What goals?

How to reach them?

If you are not actively discipling someone, you are not experiencing you Christian calling.

Appeal

Disciple Someone

Seek Mentor

Use Word