Continuing the Work

Matthew 28: 19-20

At New Hope we have a new mission statement or motto or whatever you want to call it. And that is Continuing the work. As we just celebrated our 123rd church anniversary, I reminded the church that back in 1899 a group of believers did start something.....they started New Hope. They started another local church, in greek they started an Ekklesia, however they did not start the work that needs to be continued today. They themselves were just continuing the work and all the members throughout the years were just continuing the work. This work was started over 2000 yrs ago. This work was started by Jesus Christ himself and then he gave his disciples an assignment then and to the disciples today, we have the same assigment. What is that assignment? Turn with me to Matthew 28:19-20. READ TEXT AND GIVE TOPIC TITLE.

The Great Commission, Jesus assignment given to the disciples before his ascension. When we look at the Gospel of Matthew we see that he does not talk about the ascension but ends his gospel with the commission. Some scholars have tried to place the commission being given when Jesus was on the Mount right before he ascended and in my research others have tried to put it when Jesus was with the disciples at the sea of Tiberias, when he asked Peter an important question and gave him another assignment, Peter, do you love me, then feed my sheep, (John 21).

It doesn’t matter to me when he said it all that matters is that Jesus said it and gave us our assignment. (READ TEXT AGAIN) And then to know that those messengers over in Acts at the ascension in their on way told the disciples to get to work, they said something like, That same man you see going , is the same man that will be coming back again....in other words get to work.

Before we dive into the assignment. Please write this down, put it in your memory bank but lets remember these next few things. The central command of the Great Commission is to make disciples!! (REPEAT TWICE). A disciple, a follower of Christ, a true Christian, whatever you want to call them but the command is to go make them. (TALK, PREACH), not a follower of the Pastor or the Deacon....the assignment or command has been giving and it is our job to be obedient.

We understand the central command but what is at the heart of the G.C., Dr. Stuart Weber in his commentary tells us “ At the heart of the G.C., is the reproduction, with the help of the Holy Spirit, in new disciples what has been produced in us by the Holy Spirit.” (REPEAT). And what has been produced in the true disciples, FAITH, COMPASSION, GROWTH, OBEDEINCE AND LOVE. (REPEAT)....traits of a true disciple.

And there are some serious benefits to having these traits. A transformation made in your life for the betterment and making heaven your home. Just imagine if more people had these traits, the world you surely be a better place. FAITH, just to know without a shadow of a doubt that God has my back, that my saviour ,lives, to know that yes the clouds may be hanging right now but God(TALK, PREACH). COMPASSION, this is a good one, as much compassion Christ showed for us sinners by dying for us, (tell the story of the seeing the children on t.v) (TALK, PREACH). GROWTH, we should be seeing some growth as disciple, in the physical life and our spiritual life, if you still trying to do the same thing you was doing when you were 20, you better wake up and smell the coffee, in our spiritual life, we should just no now the scripture but we should be living the scriptures, (TALK, PREACH). OBEDIENCE, i am grown can’t nobody tell me nothing, yes you will to somebody in your life, it might as well be Jesus. At least his commands will get you eternal rest. (TALK, PREACH). LOVE, this one should be self explantory but it is still not done the way it should be done. Jesus showed us how to love, (TALK, PREACH).

If we are making disciples as the G.C., wants us to. Then there should be a change in people live because of it. Now before you continue the work, please lets us all do some self inventory and if you are lacking in any of those traits. Make sure you were you need to be before we go out.

So prayfully we understand the central command and know what the outcome should be within ourselves and the new disciples so now lets look at the text. Lets look at the words Jesus spake, the assignment that Jesus has given us , his true disciples.

READ SCRIPTURE…when we look at the text we should see the 3 major compontents or commands and the promise Jesus made. GO, BAPTIZE, AND TEACH with the promise that He will be with you always.(REPEAT)

The process goes like this. The disciple goes out spreading the good news, the people respond and get baptized and with in the local church they should be taught. Thus producing another disciple with the traits we talked about earlier and then they will be going out to make more disciples. The theory sounds good, its the practice that is lacking.

v19....GO, the good news of Christ is not meant to be stuffed between these walls, it was meant then and now to go outside. We can not wait for the people to rush in here. Waiting on the people, tell me how has that been going for you? (talk preach). the great awakenings, tent revivals be done and a great response but what are we doing today…look around at the churches today..( talk, preach)

ALL THE NATIONS....that means everyone…yes, that drug addict, that prostitute, that wine-o, that murderer, that molester, that homosexual, that transgender, EVERYONE!!! Who are we to decide who needs the gospel and who doesn’t. Let’s not forget what you were doing when you were introduce to Jesus and he changed you....(talk, preach).

BAPTIZING…now lets clear something up, i am not saying for all of yall to be out there trying to find a body of water and baptize folks, NO, we all can evangelize and talk to the people and testify but when they respond get them to the church and the pastor please. I do not want to hear about the usher board president out there at the lake baptizing. But when the people respond and confess their hope and faith in Christ the G.C. tell us to baptize them and how to baptize them. (work text, talk preach).

v20, TEACHING....this is an essential part of the commission. Christ tells the disciples then and now what to teach the new disciples. What he has commanded us. Now once again we need to make sure we know and live what he has commanded . But what has he commanded us, lets look at a few due to time restraints, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your soul and mind, Love ye another....what about the parables, the prodigal son, no matter how bad it gets the Father is always waiting for you to return to him, the lost sheep, he left the 99 to go get that 1 and you are that one....(talk, preach)

And lets not forget the very important promise. (work text, talk, preach)

Church we must continue the work that has been started. We must reach one and teach one. The G.C. is beneficial to all of us here in the life and it will help us get to that peaceful eternal life. Remember the central command and remember the traits that it will produce but most of all lets remember who started the work.

TALK, PREACH, CLOSE