Sermon Central
-
God's Mission Briefing
Contributed by Jon Sullivan on Mar 18, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: The Great Commisson fround in Matthew 28 is not as some suppose just for the Apostles. This sermon will show that the mission is for ALL believers and give us help in how to fulfill this mission
God's Mission Briefing
Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
I) Is The Mission For Me?
4 Reasons the Great Commission is for ALL believers:
1) When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
Matthew says the eleven disciples met Christ. The eleven were the prominent ones, but apparently there were over five hundred believers present, all seeing Him at once (1 Cor. 15:6). The reference to "they" and "some doubted" (Matthew 28:17) seems to indicate that this was the great appearance to the mass of believers mentioned by Paul. Christ had already appeared to the eleven on several occasions. They already knew the reality of His resurrection. It is unlikely that they were the ones who were questioning at this time
The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Matthew, (Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1991), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "B. The Messiah's Final Commission to His Disciples, 28:16-20".
Jesus apperaed at least 5 times to His disciples before thos meeting where His gives them their commission to "Go and make disciples" but the scripture says :but some doubted". I have a very hard time believing that any of the 11 still had doubts. That being the case I believe that we can make a good case for there being other followers present who heard this commissioning. If that is in fact the case, I believe that they would have understood that these words of Jesus were for them as well. After all Jesus did not begin by saying, Listen up you 11 who have been following me around this is just for you." If there were other people present, and I think there were, and if they understood these words of Jesus to apply to them, and I think they did, why should we not blieve that they are for us as well?
Mark 16:14-18 (NIV)
14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they 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."
Luke 24:33-39 (NIV)
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together
34 and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon."
35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?
39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
John 20:19-23 (NIV)
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
John 20:26-29 (NIV)
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
