Be a Witness #ToInfinityAndBeyond

Scripture Passage

Matthew 28:16–20 NLT

16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Focus Statement

To be a witness is to be empowered by experiencing the risen Christ to point others to an encounter with the infinite risen Christ.

Our encounter (mountain experiences) with the risen Christ empower us to be witnesses going out to make other witnesses beyond our church buildings.

Point of Relation

Note: Consider playing with the phrase or hashtag #toinfinityandbeyond from Buzz Lightyear in the movie Toy Story. We are called to be a witness to the infinite God and beyond the place of doubt.

No doubt, i f you saw the picture online for today’s message, you’ll know that something about Buzz Lightyear is coming up.

[Play Buzz Clip]

He’s one of my favorite characters in Pixar’s Toy Story franchise and he’s been voiced by Tim Allen in the all of the films, except for the latest one.

Our first introduction to this fearless Space Ranger is in Andy’s bedroom. It’s the latest toy that Andy got as a present and the Woody, Andy’s favorite toy, (though he won’t admit it),

is afraid that this new toy, Buzz Lightyear, will replace him as Andy’s favorite.

In that bedroom, Buzz Lightyear introduces himself and really thinks he’s a REAL space ranger...

And to prove it be jumps off of the bed in order to show that he can really fly…of course he can’t because he is only a toy…

But again he does not know that and so he’s going to jump…but not before saying:

[Play Buzz Clip]

Anyway, a lot has happened since that first film and they came out with a Buzz Lightyear TV series, and now he has a stand alone movie coming out.

In the show:

Buzz Lightyear is a space ranger and, in the pilot episode,

in which the homeworld of Buzz Lightyear’s allies the Little Green Men was attacked by the evil Emperor Zurg.

The Little Green Men are the mechanics and scientists that help the space rangers and so when their world is attacked...

the space rangers naturally want to help their little friends out.

Their world is made better because of their Little Green friends.

And so, of course the Space Rangers want to show their gratitude by giving back in the LGMs time of need.

The Evil Emperor Zurg attacks for an evil purpose, stealing what is called the "Unimind."

It is the Unimind that links all of the LGMs together and allows them to work as a team and be the most effective mechanics and scientists.

It allows them to work with one purpose.

It allows them to function as a united workforce.

Once the Unimind is stolen, the LGMs cannot do anything.

They cannot communicate, they cannot fix anything, and they cannot do the most basic tasks.

Long story short, Buzz Lightyear rescues the LGMs by getting the Unimind back and saving the day!

And yet, something else was learned…something about the importance of unity in mission and purpose!

Things To Consider

Like the Space Rangers and the Little Green Men, we can all think of a connection with someone in our lives that is/was special to us,

whether a relative, partner, friend, teacher, pastor, mentor, or someone else.

This person’s light has shined in our lives in a way that inspired us,

brightened our own light,

and caused in us a desire to reflect light onto someone else.

What Scripture Says

In the Jewish tradition, “the mountain” is often where people go to meet God, or where God reveals Godself in unique ways.

The disciples have walked with Jesus throughout his ministry,

witnessed the crucifixion,

and have gone to the mountain, as Jesus instructed.

There, they meet God once again, in the resurrected Christ.

Many begin to worship in praise and belief of this divine and miraculous encounter.

But some doubt.

Mountain Moments

The mountain here represents things or ways that connect us with God,

and how we find ourselves developing a relationship with God.

Our own call to “go to the mountain” is an invitation to encounter God through spiritual disciplines

(e.g., praying, meditating, silence, worshiping, serving, connecting with others and leading them to connect with God).

In mountain moments, we meet God in unique ways and create spaces and moments for others to meet God as well.

Being a witness isn’t just about telling people you go to church, or what church you go to

(trying to get people to “come to the mountain”).

It is about bringing the mountain to them.

It is about being witnesses of the divine infinite one,

sharing what you have seen, heard, felt, experienced, and known of Jesus,

and guiding others to be witnesses as well.

Witnesses who make witnesses,

disciples who make disciples,

together share the gospel to infinity and beyond.

Attitude/Beyond Doubt

Notice that while some worshiped, others doubted.

We all encounter and grow in relationship with God at different paces,

in different moments, and in different ways.

However, an attitude of worship and listening for the voice of God is necessary even in the presence of doubt.

Doubt is not the enemy of faith,

but the perfect scenario for God to activate our faith.

This is why some will often pray, “Lord, help my unbelief,” (Mark 9:24).

Moments of doubt and confusion can prompt us to ask God, “What are you saying to me in this?

Help me to meet you and get closer to you in this.”

Doubts are opportunities to be transformed by faith.

Assurance

We are to open our senses, to perceive the mystery of the risen Christ and praise God’s magnificence with the assurance that Jesus’ presence was among the disciples.

That he promised his presence to all his disciples “until the end of the age.”

Look for ways that others can connect and build a relationship with God through us.

Empowered through our connection with God

We are sent, called, and instructed to share this great Gospel because of our connection with Christ.

Christ declares all power in heaven and earth has been given to God.

Through our connection to God, we share in that power to spread the gospel,

spread the love of Christ to every nation, race, tongue, people…

and lead them into relationship with Christ.

What This Means For You

God is yearning to meet us on the mountain, through daily encounters.

Spiritual disciplines can lead and guide us to meet God and bring the mountaintop experience to others.

I want to encourage you all to think of how you came to know God –

perhaps you came to know God though the story, testimony, or loving service of others.

Perhaps you discovered God in some other way.

Likewise, I want to remind you that THAT is how others will come to know God too -

through their story, testimony, service.

Think about what ever situation you might find yourselves –

perhaps, spiritually exercising the spiritual practices of

giving,

prayer,

or study,

but not your faith through serving or witnessing;

perhaps you’re actively serving but you don’t feel like you’ve had an encounter with God recently.

I also want to encourage you to think about how you are setting yourselves up to meet God regularly?

What spiritual disciplines might you practice to help them meet God?

And in what new ways is Jesus calling you

to witness to him and share your light with others in their lives?

What This Means For Us

How do we defeat and overcome doubts?

How are we going to go to the mountain together,

cultivating mountain experiences, and bringing others to meet Christ?

Friends, we can look at physical attendance and cry...

We can look into the offering plat and cry...

As Bon Jovi puts it, “everyone’s complaining cuz the times are tough…Lord, we gotta keep the faith.

What is crying going to do? Sure, there’s grief...

Yes, times have changed…the days of filled hallways and balconies, staff-driven programs and ministries…those days are long gone...

They were long gone long before I came to this church…Long before Jennifer Cho came...

But what are we going to do about it?

We can look at our in-person attendance and cry...

Or we can start to learn how to better minister to those attending online.

We can look into the offering plate and cry...

or you can step up and help us do ministry as well as raise money for our efforts.

For every PROBLEM…I SEE A POSSIBILITY.

Christ is full of POSSIBILITIES…NOT PROBLEMS! Can I get Amen?

We don’t worship the Lord of PROBLEMS...

We worship the LORD of the RESURRECTION baby! Can I get an Amen?!?!?

We worship the King of kings and Lord of Lords!

We worship the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God!

There are NO PROBLEMS in Christ…only POSSIBLIITIES:

[Buzz Ligthyear]

Amen? Amen.