Go Means Go Series

Open with Video: From You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYB3vm9u3AQ

Jesus said, “GO!” time: 1:59

Spiritual Mile Marker message for March 2012

Focus Evangelism: 12 ways to invite 12 people to church for Easter or other times of the year.

See the 12 ways to invite someone to church card designed by Scott

Sermon Title: Go means Go!

Thesis: So what part of “Go” do you think we do not understand as the Body of Christ today? Jesus told us to “Go” to be His witnesses to the world around us which means our neighbors and those across the seas. Jesus gave us the green light to be His witness to this world and to GO tell them of Him. We are told to be light in the midst of darkness and to tell people who He was, is and will be.

Let’s listen to Jesus words directing us to “GO”

Scripture Texts:

(NIV) Matthew 28:16-20:

The Great Commission

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

(NIV) Mark 16:15-18:

15He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

(NIV) Acts 1:8

8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Introduction:

Nelson Searcy, “Two ‘pretty good’ definitions of Evangelism:”

"To evangelize is to present Christ Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, that men shall come to put their trust in God through Him, to accept Him as their Savior and serve Him as their King in the fellowship of His Church." - Archbishop’s Committee on evangelism in 1918

“To evangelize is to invite others through the power of the Holy Spirit to put their trust in God, through Jesus Christ, to accept Jesus as their Savior and follow Him as their leader in everyday life as members of a local church.” – The Journey Church of the City, New York, NY, 2006

The Evangelism System (of a church) begins when an un-churched person is prompted by the Holy Spirit to attend your church and ends when the person follows Jesus Christ and is baptized publicly (from Evangelism Seminar by Searcy).

But for people to come there has to be a person who is willing to “GO” tell them or invite them to church so they can hear the Good News.

The command from Jesus to “Go” is the most widely accepted commission ever spoken of in history. Hundreds of thousands of people for about 2,000 years have followed Jesus directive to “GO” – these were Jesus last words to His disciples, to those who would call themselves Christians. This Commission has not expired and it is still relevant today for us as Christians today!

T.S. - The truth is all Christians are to “GO” and be His witness – it’s not just a commission to missionaries, pastors or evangelists but it’s to all of us Christians. Our mission field is what and who surrounds us each and every day in our normal course of life – those individuals are the ones we need to go to.

I. Command from Jesus - “GO”

a. Definition of “Go:”

i. Webster’s Dictionary: To move on a course : PROCEED; to take a certain course or follow a certain procedure; to proceed without delay.

ii. Bing Dictionary: A basic intransitive verb of motion expressing movement from an unspecified point of departure or from a place that is already known or assumed.

iii. Thesaurus:

1. NOUN “GO”

a. Synonyms: energy, drive, liveliness, enthusiasm, spirit, vigor.

2. VERB “GO”

a. Synonyms: leave, go away, take off, depart, set off, set out, exit, walk off, move out, move,

b. Synonyms: travel, move, move on, proceed, progress, make for

c. Synonyms: reach, extend, stretch, spread

iv. Greek Word: From Theological Dictionary of the New Testament