Making Much Of Jesus!

“MAKING MUCH OF JESUS!” Matt. 28:16-20

INTRO – Centralia underground mine fire – Coal seam fire – when a layer of coal in the earth’s crust is ignited. The coal seam fire in Centralia, PA, has been burning since the early 1960’s & many think it could continue burning into the next century.

I believe FBCF is like a coal seam fire – there’s a fire burning just beneath the surface. It’s there & we get to see evidence every now & then – maybe feel a little heat occasionally – see a little smoke sometimes.

But are we content w/ that kind of fire? Is that the kind of fire that the Lord wants us to have? I don’t believe it is. I believe He wants the fire to break out in our midst w/ a white-hot intensity. I believe He wants it to be like a wildfire sweeping across a prairie.

What is this fire? It’s the fire of our love for Jesus. It’s the fire of our passion for the Gospel. It’s the fire of the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit. It’s the fire of the preaching of the Word of God followed by obedience to the Word of God. It’s the fire of passionate, heartfelt worship of our awesome God. It’s the fire of MAKING MUCH OF JESUS!

EXPLANATION – Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus concluding His earthly ministry. He’s spent 3 yrs teaching, preaching, healing, spreading the Good News, challenging the traditions of the religious leaders, accomplishing God’s perfect paln for our salvation. Cross – Tomb – Resurrection – Ascension about to happen. Final words – Final commands – Final commission.

His message in a nutshell: “You’re going to get the power you need to continue my work in a greater way. So GO! MAKE DISCIPLES! DON’T STOP UNTIL I RETURN! I WILL BE W/ YOU!” – i.e. – WE NEED TO KEEP MAKING MUCH OF JESUS!

APPLICATION – We are to live our lives making much of JESUS!

WE MAKE MUCH OF JESUS WHEN:

WE OBEY – v. 16 – Simple act of obedience – “Go to this mountain.”

No way we can make much of Jesus if we aren’t willing to simply obey Him.

Mark Sandifer here today out of obedience to God’s leadership in his life.

WE WORSHIP – v. 17 – Not talking about music styles here, but just pure worship – bowing down to Him – prostrating themselves before Him.

Literally – like a dog licking his master’s hand

WE GO – v. 19a – We are all on a journey, moving from one place to another. For those of us who are Christ-followers, we are on a journey toward heaven. One day, we will move from this place we call home to our eternal home.

But while we are on this journey, we’ve got work to do – work we MUST do! And that work is to make much of Jesus w/ our lives. To do that, you’ve got to GO.

- Go across the street or next door

- Go across the country or across the world

- Go to your phone & make a phone call

- Go to your family, your friends, a total stranger

- Go to someone in this room today

- JUST GO! Live w/ an intentional “GO” mindset.

WE MAKE DISCIPLES – v. 19b – Starts w/ evangelism. Evangelism & discipleship are inseparable. Can’t make a disciple if you don’t first share the Gospel w/ that person so they can accept Christ & become a follower of Jesus.

- The fire smoldering beneath the surface will break out into a sweeping wildfire when we do this!

- John Knox – 16th century pastor – “Give me Scotland, or I die!” Passionate about the preaching of the Gospel & about the people of his country coming to know Christ.

- “God, give us Flora!” – Would you join me in seriously praying this prayer? And then would you join me in sharing the Gospel w/ everyone in Flora?

- Mark Sandifer is passionate about sharing Christ w/ those who are lost & passionate about those who are saved growing in their walk w/ Jesus.

WE BAPTIZE – v. 19c – Why do we baptize people who’ve trusted Christ?

- Act of obedience

- Picture of the Gospel

- Picture of the life-change that has happened

- Public announcement to the world

o Your relationship w/ Jesus is personal & you have private times w/ Him. But it is to be lived out in a public way.

WE TEACH – v. 20a – A disciple is a student – a lifelong student of Jesus & His teachings. Each of us as Christ-followers is to teach other Christ-followers to obey & keep on obeying the commands of Jesus.