Go Make Disciples
Therefore, Go • Sermon • Submitted
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· 13 viewsSome of the last words that Jesus spoke to his disciples was to "Go and make disciples." For some reason the church really struggles to get this done. As we look at the Great Commission this morning, my prayer is that it becomes your great commission as we serve the Lord Jesus together.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
I’m so excited to be writing my first book. I have entitled it “The Potter’s Clay, A Mentor’s Guide to Live Transformation.” Through my 30 years in ministry I have learned some things about moving people from a state of religion with God to a relationship with Jesus. Most of my topics come from the material I created for Mentor Training with some philosophy of discipleship thrown in.
I would ask that you be in prayer for me as I write. I have a deadline of August 1, 2022 to get my manuscript turned in. The other Pastor’s and leaders are going to bear most of the wait of preaching so that I can focus on writing. I believe this book will help a lot of people disciple a lot of people.
The first chapter of my book is entitled, “Finding Clarity in the Great Commission.” The Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20 is call so because Jesus clearly states what we as the church are supposed to do in his absence. Yet, I feel most, Christians don’t have a good grasp on what Jesus really expects for us to do.
So, we are starting a new series this morning called “Therefore, Go.” That will take us past Easter and into Mother’s Day. I think it’s important as we begin to move to our new location that we have a clear and direct understanding of what Jesus is asking of us so that we might be laser focused in our efforts.
Let’s look at Matthew 28:18-20 this morning with fresh eyes and see if we can truly understand the Great Commission from Jesus.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Call is to Make Disciples.
The Call is to Make Disciples.
If we are going to fulfil the “Great Commission” we have recieved from the Lord we must bring clarity to the command. What is Jesus asking us to do? This question demands that we have the conversation of the difference between the concepts of converts and discipleship.
Conversion is the work of God.
Conversion is the work of God.
No one comes to the Father unless he is drawn by the Father. (John 6:44)
Jesus said, in John 12:32
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
It is the Spirit that quickens the dead and brings them back to life.
The best we can do, as Mark preached last week, is preach the truth and bear witness of the work that God has done.
The best we can do, as Mark preached last week, is preach the truth and bear witness of the work that God has done.
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
People are born again by the Spirit and not the will of humanity.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Religion is the only way the church can make a convert.
Religion is the only way the church can make a convert.
Come to Church
Get on a serve team
join a group
Give your tithes and offerings
A person can do all these things and never have a personal relationship with Christ.
A person can do all these things and never have a personal relationship with Christ.
People want salvation without the Savior.
They want to believe without receiving.
They want the love without the Lord.
They want forgiveness without the fellowship.
The want conversion without immersion.
The want heaven without Hosanna.
Discipleship is the work of the Church.
Discipleship is the work of the Church.
Jesus didn’t commission us to make converts but disciples.
Concise Oxford English Dictionary Disciple
disciple /dɪˈsʌɪp(ə)l/
■ noun
1 a personal follower of Christ during his life, especially one of the twelve Apostles.
2 a follower or pupil of a teacher, leader, or philosophy.
Discipleship is the life-to-life transfer of the motives, mind, and mission of the Lord.
Motives: The love of God
Mind: The Word of God
Mission: The Work of God
Jesus commanded his disciples to “go into all the world and make disciples” not converts. The Church is all its forms has become very good at making converts and not disciples. The only time Jesus spoke of making converts was in a conversation with the Jews.
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
The church is guilty of preaching a selfish salvation that doesn’t require a relationship with God. The whole point of the redemptive work of Christ is to be in fellowship with God not the forgiveness of sin.
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
What is a disciple of Christ?
What is a disciple of Christ?
One who has accepts the person and work of Jesus the Christ.
One who has accepts the person and work of Jesus the Christ.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
One who abides in Christ.
One who abides in Christ.
John 15:4–11 (ESV)
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (Emphasis mine)
One who puts Jesus First in all things.
One who puts Jesus First in all things.
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
One who worships Christ above all things.
One who worships Christ above all things.
27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
How do we make disciples?
How do we make disciples?
Matthew 28:20 (ESV)
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you...
Learn to share the depth of your discipleship journey.
Learn to share the depth of your discipleship journey.
If you are new to Reliant you need to sign up for discipleship and let someone spiritually invest in your soul and teach you what it means to follow Christ.
Learn to abide in Christ.
learn to put Jesus first in all things.
Learn to worship Christ above all thing.
If that investment has been made in you sign up for Mentor training so that you can invest in others.
Lead by Example
Lead by Example
The call of Jesus was, “Follow me.”
The call of Paul was, “Follow me, as I follow Christ.”
Paul’s discipleship command to Timothy in 2 Tim 2:2
2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
You can’t have followers if your not willing to Lead
You can’t have followers if your not willing to Lead
We have 78 active members in Reliant that have been lead through our discipleship process call 180°. Some one invest hours spiritual truth and blessing into your life with this very phrase, “Follow me, as I follow Christ.”
31 of those individuals have gone through Mentor training. That is less than half.
Out of those 31 that have gone through mentor training we struggle to find 5 that are willing to disciple others. And it is usually the same 5.
I have one question for you, “What Great Commission of Jesus are you following.”
Jesus made Disciples
Paul made Disciples
Timothy made Disciples
I make Disciples
Kim makes Disciples
Mark Owens makes Disciples
And then a hand full of you make disciples
When you stand before Jesus and he says, “I left you with one command, my great commission. I put you in a church that was begging to teach and train you. Why didn’t you make disciples?” What will you say? What excuse will you give?
Jesus is not a man of excuses.
Jesus is not a man of excuses.
Jesus told a parable before right before this famous speech about discipleship in Luke 14:16-24
16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ ”
Therefore, go make disciples.
Therefore, go make disciples.
Join the Mentor Team here at Reliant and be ready when the groups are formed.
Join the Mentor Team here at Reliant and be ready when the groups are formed.
Stop waiting on the church to give you disciples. Find 3 friends that are interested in learning about Jesus and take them through 180°.
Stop waiting on the church to give you disciples. Find 3 friends that are interested in learning about Jesus and take them through 180°.
You can do it. I know you can do it. Jesus ends His Great Commission with these comforting words:
Matthew 28:20 (ESV)
20 ... And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
You have the commission of Christ.
You have the power in Christ.
Therefore, Go make disciples.