“The BIG picture” (Great Commandment & Great Commission) (2)
The Why behind the WHAT • Sermon • Submitted
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A couple of years ago, I met one of my cousin's first sons for the first time. He was about 4 years old. His mom was proud and excited, telling us how a week ago her Son had walked up to her, looked into her eyes, and said, "Mom, you are the love of my life!" We thought it was the sweetest thing. How awesome that little boy loved his mom. Maybe because he had seen how much she loved him, or perhaps he was beginning to experience what Love is…Well, a couple hours after spending time with him. I took him to get him an ice cream cone. Once I gave it to him, he looked at me and said, "Cindy, you are the love of my life." -_- apparently he saw his dad tell that to his mom and now he was telling everyone that.
A couple of years ago, I met one of my cousin's first sons for the first time. He was about 4 years old. His mom was proud and excited, telling us how a week ago her Son had walked up to her, looked into her eyes, and said, "Mom, you are the love of my life!" We thought it was the sweetest thing. How awesome that little boy loved his mom. Maybe because he had seen how much she loved him, or perhaps he was beginning to experience what Love is…Well, a couple hours after spending time with him. I took him to get him an ice cream cone. Once I gave it to him, he looked at me and said, "Cindy, you are the love of my life." -_- apparently he saw his dad tell that to his mom and now he was telling everyone that.
Which made me wonder how many of us claim to say that we follow God without even thinking what that means. How many of us simply recite the lord's prayer without understating what they are saying. I like that Sharon invites us to raise our hands. At the same time, we say "The Apostles Creed"; however, I wonder how long it would last until we get used to doing that and it becomes a routine.
Which made me wonder how many of us claim to say that we follow God without even thinking what that means. How many of us simply recite the lord's prayer without understating what they are saying. I like that Sharon invites us to raise our hands. At the same time, we say "The Apostles Creed"; however, I wonder how long it would last until we get used to doing that and it becomes a routine.
I believe that we, as followers and living in an egocentric time we need to be rooted in our believes. Hopefully, when we fully know what God expects from us, we can live our lives as disciples….
I believe that we, as followers and living in an egocentric time we need to be rooted in our believes. Hopefully, when we fully know what God expects from us, we can live our lives as disciples….
Last week I talked about the cost of being a disciple, the sacrifice to be a disciple of Christ. Today we will be starting a series called "The why behind the What." Why do we do the things we do…
Last week I talked about the cost of being a disciple, the sacrifice to be a disciple of Christ. Today we will be starting a series called "The why behind the What." Why do we do the things we do…
Today we are talking about "What are we called to do? Be part of The Great Commission, AND Why do we do it?
Today we are talking about "What are we called to do? Be part of The Great Commission, AND Why do we do it?
If you can look at the book of Matthew and open it to chapter 28:19-20
If you can look at the book of Matthew and open it to chapter 28:19-20
We are going to go over what is the Great Commission…
We are going to go over what is the Great Commission…
So .… Jesus has appeared to His disciples after being crucified. He has proved to them that it is Him and that He has won the victory over the cross… After many days of being with His disciples, Jesus is about to ascend to heaven. But before promising that He will be back and that they will never be alone, He gives them these instructions that have also become ours as followers of Christ.
So .… Jesus has appeared to His disciples after being crucified. He has proved to them that it is Him and that He has won the victory over the cross… After many days of being with His disciples, Jesus is about to ascend to heaven. But before promising that He will be back and that they will never be alone, He gives them these instructions that have also become ours as followers of Christ.
Matthew28:19-20
"19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD…
Jesus has done with His disciples and set the example of the character they can adopt and the miracles they can do. All that was to lead them in the direction of going out to the world and sharing everything they learned. Thanks to the disciples and an apostle who wasn't a follower then but became one later, whose name is Paul…we are here today. The faith that we share has been passed along for centuries, all due to the disciples' conviction. The work and sacrifice. Some died for the word so that we may not have to.There is power in scripture. This is how I get my conviction about the existence of Jesus. People have died to share His word. Some of his disciples received brutal deaths because of it. Only something real and solid can be passed along from century to century.
Jesus has done with His disciples and set the example of the character they can adopt and the miracles they can do. All that was to lead them in the direction of going out to the world and sharing everything they learned. Thanks to the disciples and an apostle who wasn't a follower then but became one later, whose name is Paul…we are here today. The faith that we share has been passed along for centuries, all due to the disciples' conviction. The work and sacrifice. Some died for the word so that we may not have to.There is power in scripture. This is how I get my conviction about the existence of Jesus. People have died to share His word. Some of his disciples received brutal deaths because of it. Only something real and solid can be passed along from century to century.
The way that we can do the commission is, like I said last week, not only standing behind the pulpit but sharing Jesus being Jesus to others. I learn about some of your social life. And I admire that. I love that you are going out and enjoying the world. We are gifted in life, and we should enjoy it to the fullest. However, let us not forget who we are representing. If we are too embarrassed to speak about Jesus to those around them, we can be like Him. After all, actions do speak louder than words.
REMEMBER you have been given the authority and the courage to share about Jesus. The accuser tends to wake up something in us that tells you to not share about Christ…he sometimes reminds us of our flaws or tells us we are not worthy, but WE are brothers and sisters; we are…we have the authority in Jesus name.
This past week I have talked to a couple of you who, since I met you, always shine so bright to me. But have shared part of your brokenness with me or the struggles that you are going through. And I, as your pastor, tell you that I am taking these struggles, this hurt, and this pain with yoU. You are not doing it alone.
Do not do it alone. Count on your church family…since I got here. I won't share what happened on the day that moves through some of our knows…that will be for another sermon…but since I got here, I have felt so welcomed and adopted to the church family. Remember, we are a family…yes, the family has disagreements. Sometimes we are not too happy with each other but in the end, what bounds us is our blood… the same with the church family. Still, what bonds us something more powerful is the blood of Jesus.
As the church, we are there for each other because we are called to do so.
Our why for the great commission we will go back a couple of chapters to Matthew 22:34-37
Our why for the great commission we will go back a couple of chapters to Matthew 22:34-37
Before I read it, let me explain.
Before I read it, let me explain.
During one of His teaching, Jesus was asked by the Pharisees a question. Pharisees were Jewish who would follow the Law of Moses ( the ten commandments). They were teachers of the Law who took it very seriously. They were not too fond of Jesus. You see, they have been waiting for a king to rescue them ( in fact, jews are currently waiting for the first coming of Christ), and here, a man from Nazareth who is a carpenter was claiming to be the Messiah, the one to rescue the Jews and all the world. Pharisees had a good and respectful reputation; however, nowadays, not so much. Since we read how much they were for the Law against Christ. (PAUSE AND SAY)
During one of His teaching, Jesus was asked by the Pharisees a question. Pharisees were Jewish who would follow the Law of Moses ( the ten commandments). They were teachers of the Law who took it very seriously. They were not too fond of Jesus. You see, they have been waiting for a king to rescue them ( in fact, jews are currently waiting for the first coming of Christ), and here, a man from Nazareth who is a carpenter was claiming to be the Messiah, the one to rescue the Jews and all the world. Pharisees had a good and respectful reputation; however, nowadays, not so much. Since we read how much they were for the Law against Christ. (PAUSE AND SAY)
One day, I was teaching the children about this verse, and I explained to them who the Pharisees were in simplest terms. I told them, "a pharisee is a teacher" "teacher of the law/Torah" because that is what they were… teachers…at the end of the class, before leaving, one of my students came up to me and said Ms. Cindy, you are the best pharisee ever…hugged me and then left…. Apparently, he was trying to tell me I was the best teacher ever.
One day, I was teaching the children about this verse, and I explained to them who the Pharisees were in simplest terms. I told them, "a pharisee is a teacher" "teacher of the law/Torah" because that is what they were… teachers…at the end of the class, before leaving, one of my students came up to me and said Ms. Cindy, you are the best pharisee ever…hugged me and then left…. Apparently, he was trying to tell me I was the best teacher ever.
Yes, pharisee's were teachers, but we now see them having a bad reputation because of how they doubted and treated Jesus. One day they asked him a question to see if Jesus would follow the 10 commandments…
Yes, pharisee's were teachers, but we now see them having a bad reputation because of how they doubted and treated Jesus. One day they asked him a question to see if Jesus would follow the 10 commandments…
We read…
The Greatest Commandment
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the Law, tested him with this question: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' [a]"
The 10 commandments/laws were there for a reason. In fact, we still value them, but we are aware that our number one calling is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind.
The 10 commandments/laws were there for a reason. In fact, we still value them, but we are aware that our number one calling is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind.
How do we do that?. In everything you do involved God acknowledge Him. Our Love of God must be sincere, not in word and tongue only. All our Love is too little to give upon him; therefore, all the powers of the soul must be engaged for him and carried out toward him. Commitment and faithfulness to God comes from trusting in His promises, expressed through our worship and adoration…all of which will lead us to obedience. The Love that we have for him will lead us to have the courage to share Jesus with others….
How do we do that?. In everything you do involved God acknowledge Him. Our Love of God must be sincere, not in word and tongue only. All our Love is too little to give upon him; therefore, all the powers of the soul must be engaged for him and carried out toward him. Commitment and faithfulness to God comes from trusting in His promises, expressed through our worship and adoration…all of which will lead us to obedience. The Love that we have for him will lead us to have the courage to share Jesus with others….
This morning as we go to communion…I know some of us to come with a heavy heart with worries or pain in the past. God cares more about YOU than what you can do for Him. The sermon is to encourage you all to share the goodness of Christ, but I do not want you to leave this place feeling overwhelmed and thinking you need to add one more thing to your list. The way to chare christ will come to You he will lead you. Putting that aside, I want you to know that Jesus is here, and Jesus feels your burden. In fact, He wants to carry your pain and burden. Do not feel alone or abandoned by your Father. Part of putting God first and loving Him with our whole soul and mind is to welcome Him in our problems and our joys…so today, before we take communion, I want to spend a couple of minutes surrendering everything that has been bothering us, you or weighting heavy in your heart. Spend this time praying to your Father because he listens and if you need prayer, please come to the altar, and ill pray for you…
This morning as we go to communion…I know some of us to come with a heavy heart with worries or pain in the past. God cares more about YOU than what you can do for Him. The sermon is to encourage you all to share the goodness of Christ, but I do not want you to leave this place feeling overwhelmed and thinking you need to add one more thing to your list. The way to chare christ will come to You he will lead you. Putting that aside, I want you to know that Jesus is here, and Jesus feels your burden. In fact, He wants to carry your pain and burden. Do not feel alone or abandoned by your Father. Part of putting God first and loving Him with our whole soul and mind is to welcome Him in our problems and our joys…so today, before we take communion, I want to spend a couple of minutes surrendering everything that has been bothering us, you or weighting heavy in your heart. Spend this time praying to your Father because he listens and if you need prayer, please come to the altar, and ill pray for you…
Amen
Amen
Benediction
Benediction
Remember, brothers and sisters, we are called to be part of the great commission to make disciples of others, and the reason we do it is for the Love that we have for God. But don't you forget we love Him because He first loved us…now go out with the confidence that you are loved, you are seen, and you are the children of the Almighty in the Name of the Father the Son, and the Holy Spirit.