Deacons come forward during the offering.

Paul writes

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 11 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

His body was broken / tortured / mutilated in our place

His blood was poured out / He died in our place

We deserved to be punished for our sin. Justice demanded that sin be punished. And it was. But in our place Jesus was punished. Physically. Emotionally. Spiritually.

Remembering the cross and what Jesus accomplished there

This is called worship.

As we eat the bread and drink the juice. We remember and worship Him for what He has done for us.

If you have trusted Jesus as Savior and seek to walk with Him, we invite you to worship with us by taking the bread and juice and partaking it with us in a moment. The deacons will pass out the double cup, with bread and juice. Hold it until we pray and we will eat and drink together – worshipping our Savior.

Start music video

Pass out the plates to the deacons. They serve and return the plates to table.

Pastor serves the deacons.

Deacon serves pastor

XXX give thanks for the bread. Eat together.

XXX give thanks for the juice. Drink together.

Deacons return to their seats.

The passage we read ended with the phrase, proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes. We share with others what He has done for us and what he offers to any who will believe on Him.

This is called evangelism.

Helping others to know about the cross / embrace the cross / follow in the way of the cross. This entire process is called discipleship

This is why we remain. This is the mission He has give us. In 2022 let us consider being about this mission in a renewed manner.

Matthew 28:18-20 Consider in 2022: Making disciples – The Mission

I. Consider Making disciples: Bringing people to Christ Matt 28:19b

(ESV) Matthew 28 19 Go therefore and make disciplesof all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. …

A. Sharing our personal experience with Christ

The most natural response in the world

What has Christ done for you?

B. Sharing the gospel

Inviting people to church is good. But why would someone without Christ want to come to church in a culture where it has no value.

Inviting people to church is good. But do we run the risk of implying that religion is all people need?

The message of the gospel is what people need. Sin separates from God. Christ came to die in our place. He suffered the cross, died, and rose again, to offer forgiveness and life to whoever will trust in Him.

This relationship with Him is what everyone need.

Do we share it?

II. Consider Making disciples: An intentional lifestyle Matt 28:19a

(ESV) Matthew 28 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. …

A. As you live life

1. Be part of life

2. Requires intentional action as you go about your life

B. To all peoples

1. 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

b. Judea- Western Kansas / same culture but broader area

c. Samaria – United States /similar culture with differences

d. End of the Earth – throughout the world

III. Consider Making disciples: Integrating into His church Matt 28:19c

(NKJV) Matthew 28 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing themin 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;

A. The physical picturing the spiritual

A critical picture

a. Baptize the disciples – after conversion - symbol of what has occurr

b. Intended to occurred soon after conversion –

c. NT Baptism – always immersion – means dip – symbol of the gospel – death burial resurrection.

B. Committingto Christ and His church

a. Baptize them – identify with Christ and His community

b. They profess faith in Christ – no secret disciples

c. Can’t divorce growing in Christ and being involved in Christ’s church

d. total commitment to new community

e. place to grow from teaching / exercise of gifts

f. New believer part of church

g. In today’s world believer commits to church as a member

IV. Consider Making disciples: Helping to walk in Christ Matt 28:19d

(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;

A. Modelthe truth

1) People do what they see – obvious what you really believe

B. Instruct in the truth

1) People desire to know why you do what you do - should be found in scripture 2) Use scripture to Know Christ 3) Use scripture to Know His teaching in order to do it 4) Use scripture as a means to be transformed to be like Him / to have our minds renewed / to allow Him to guide us

C. Help to practice this truth

1) Goal to put in practice what He has said

V. Consider Making disciples: Empowered by Christ

A. His authority Matt 28:18

(NKJV) Matthew 28 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. … 20 … and, lo, I am with youalways, even to the end of the age. Amen.

1. Meaning – the right to exercise power – no longer the lamb – now the lion / the king

2. Speaks with heavenly authority

a. Overcome spiritual opposition

b. Keys to the kingdom – means by which people are saved

3. Earthly authority given

a. Has authority over all rulers

b. Has authority over us

4. No one / nothing to limit the exercise of His power

5. Empowered (thru Holy Spirit but the emphasis is on Christ)

B. His presence Matt 28:20b

1. Behold - Attention

2. Emphatic I – I am with you

a. It is me with you

3. Yahweh I AM

a. (Emmanuel in the beginning of Matthew)

4. He is involved

a. In every situation in life

b. His involvement in every situation until the end Matt 18:20c

5. Continue awaiting the conclusion of this time

a. Judgment and culmination