The Doctrine of Mission

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.”

Matt 24:14

Matthew 24:14 (ESV)

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Mark 13:10

Mark 13:10 (ESV)

And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.

Luke 24:47-48

Luke 24:47–48 (ESV)

and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

What is a Disciple?

A person that follows Jesus, listens to his teachings, and obeys what he commands.

Imagine yourself as one of the disciples of Jesus when he walked the earth.

You would be following him from place to place, listening to him speak, and then obeying what he taught.

It is no different today, he is just not “physically” here.

What is Discipling?

Biblical discipling is helping others to follow Jesus by doing deliberate spiritual good to them.

Discipling involves teaching the knowledge of God and his Word through every moment of life.

You do not want someone to simply know the Word of God, you want them to practice it in their lives.

Discipling is not just teaching, but helping others to apply the Word to their lives.

Discipling is helping others follow Jesus.

Disciples disciple.

Mark Dever writes,

“Part of our obedience is leading others to obedience. Jesus final command was not to urge his disciples to armed resistance to Rome, or seek revenge on those who killed him. Rather, Jesus looked at his followers, and told them to make disciples, not just be disciples.”

This is a hard saying, but. . .

Discipling is basic to Christianity. How much clearer could it be? We might not be his disciples if we are not laboring to make disciples.

Mark Dever also writes,

“The first place Christians should ordinarily look to be discipled and to disciple is through the fellowship of the local church both gathered and scattered.”

David Wells has observed,

“It is very easy to build churches in which seekers congregate; it is very hard to build churches in which biblical faith is maturing into genuine discipleship.”

This is a key problem with the American church today. Many churches have successfully drawn people to come, but is has proven more difficult for them to develop mature disciples.

There is NO shortcut to making disciples.

Where to Start Discipling?

Start with Family-These relationships are the most important discipling charge you have.

“If I teach my son to keep his eye on the ball but fail to teach him to keep his eyes on Christ, I have failed as a father.”

Voddie T. Baucham

Show Matt Chandler video entitled “Focus on Making Disciples of your kids, Not D1 Athletes”

What Next?

Pick one person outside of your family, preferably within the church, you can disciple.

Mark Dever says,

“You also have to discern not just who needs help, but who knows they need help and is willing to receive it. In general, you don’t want to waste time with people who are not teachable, because you will be wasting time. Look instead for people who, like the wise son in Proverbs, welcome counsel and instruction.”

What To Do?

I want to disciple, but what do I do?

Pay the cost of:

Time

Bible Study

Prayer

Love

Listen to this quote, “When we love people, we invite their brokenness and mess into our lives. Mess is inconvenient; it takes our time, energy, and sometimes money to make it better. Despite our efforts, the mess cannot always be fully contained. It spills over and touches the people who dare to stand near.” from empoweredtoconnect.org

If you have spent time discipling people, you know this is true.

Mark Dever says,

“No matter who you disciple, you want to help them better follow Jesus by growing in the knowledge of God and by learning to put that knowledge into practice—to understand better and to live better.”

OK, that was point #1, make disciples.

What is the Mission?

Secondly,

To Practice Works of Mercy and Compassion

Loving your neighbor around the block and around the world.

Our loving is not limited to the house next door, nor is it only giving money to foreign missions and neglecting the person next door.

J.I. Packer say’s

all Christians, and therefore every congregation of the church on earth, are called to practice deeds of mercy and compassion, a thoroughgoing neighbor-love that responds unstintingly to all forms of human need as they present themselves.

Talk about J.I. Packer

Luke Fewins comes up to read.

Luke 10:25-37

Luke 10:25–37 (ESV)

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Rom 12:20-21

Romans 12:20–21 (ESV)

To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Why Mercy and Compassion?

When Jesus walked the earth he practiced mercy and compassion.

Jesus healed the sick

Jesus fed the hungry

Jesus taught the ignorant

Matthew 9:36 (ESV)

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 15:32 (ESV)

Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”

Matthew 20:34 (ESV)

And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

Mark 1:41 (ESV)

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”

Luke 7:13 (ESV)

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

Packer says, “Compassion was the inward aspect of the neighbor-love that led Jesus to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and teach the ignorant and those who are new creatures in Christ must be similarly compassionate.”

Packer, J. I. (1993). Concise theology: a guide to historic Christian beliefs (p. 224). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

“Thereby they keep the second great commandment and also give credibility to their proclamation of a Savior who makes sinners into lovers of God and of their fellow human beings. If the exponents of this message do not display its power in their own lives, credibility is destroyed. If they do, credibility is enhanced.”

Packer, J. I. (1993). Concise theology: a guide to historic Christian beliefs (p. 224). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

“This was Jesus’ point when he envisaged the sight of the good works of his witnesses leading people to glorify the Father. Good works should be visible to back up good words.”

Packer, J. I. (1993). Concise theology: a guide to historic Christian beliefs (p. 224). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

Can’t you see that making disciples and practicing works of mercy and compassion complement each other.

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

1 Peter 2:11–12 (ESV)

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Conclusion

What is Our Mission?

To make disciples around the block and around the world.

To practice works of mercy and compassion around the block and around the world.

Application

Who are you discipling?

Are you practicing works of mercy and compassion?

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