The Call To Discipleship Series

INTRODUCTION

• VIDEO CLIP WE Praise Him- Facing the Giants

• SLIDE #1

• What is the main thing in life? What is the main focus of the church supposed to be?

• What is the most critical mission of the church and for all Christians?

• Where do many churches and individual Christians focus their attention?

• What is the purpose of the church? Why are we here?

• Have you ever thought about those questions?

• What should be the primary focus of the church?

• Evangelism? Fellowship? Youth? Music? Worship? Keeping the core happy?

• Today we begin a new series that will take us on a journey to help us to better understand a subject that is one of the most important issues for Christians to understand and embrace.

• The subject of this new series is essential for the church to get a handle on as well because getting a handle on this topic will help give direction to a church when it is struggling for guidance, and it will provide you with a renewed sense of focus as well as the purpose for your life.

• We are going to dive into the subject of DISCIPLESHIP for the next few weeks.

• A Disciple is a follower, a learner, discipleship is the act of making disciples.

• Today we are going to do an introductory look at the subject of discipleship, in the following weeks we will dig deeper.

• As we work through this series, I will ask that you look deep into your heart and try to visualize what your life would look like if you grasp the concept of being and making disciples for Jesus.

• I would also ask you to have a vision for what the church would look like if we all come together focused on what Jesus said was our mission.

• Today, of course, we begin with Matthew 28:16-20, a passage that is known as the Great Commission!

• Let’s begin with verse 18!

• SLIDE #2

• Matthew 28:16–18 (CSB) — 16 The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

• SLIDE #3

SERMON

I. The basis for the call. 18

• Just a little house cleaning to get started. In 1 Corinthians 15:6, when Paul speaks of over 500 people seeing Jesus at once, this is probably the event.

• Word was spread that Jesus was going to be at the mountain in Galilee. The other thing we see in verse 17 where it says that some doubted.

• This could be attributed to the fact that when Jesus first appeared that at a distance, then in verse 18, we see that He came near to the crowd.

• This is where we get to verse 18!

• When someone is dying or leaving us, we pay close attention to his or her last words. Jesus left the disciples with these final words of instruction.

• Jesus begins with the basis from which He is going to say what He was going to say.

• When Jesus appears to the group, He gets right down to business. He does not address any doubts He does not give out high fives, He gets right to it.

• He begins with “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

• In the past, Jesus was mocked, beaten, humiliated, doubted, and slandered.

• You name it, and it was done to Him.

• Jesus has defeated death! Jesus secured our opportunity for salvation!

• This brings power and truth to this verse!

• SLIDE #4

• Philippians 2:9–11 (CSB) — 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

• Throughout the Gospels, previous to the resurrection, Jesus spoke on the subject of His authority; however, NOW He makes it crystal clear who is in power.

• There will be no more beatings, humiliation, mocking, Jesus has all authority!

• Jesus is the one through whom all God’s authority was exercised.

• It follows that Jesus’ teachings and commands are invested with divine authority and therefore must take precedence in discerning the will of God. (College Press NIV Commentary: Matthew)

• The basis of the call, ALL AUTHORITY, is crucial for us to know because when given an assignment if we have no authority to do it, the assignment means nothing.