February 1, 2009
Morning Worship
Text: Matthew 28:16-20
Subject: The Great Commission
Title: Growing the Church God’s Way
We moved to Palmyra on Saturday November 16, 2001. That preceding week we had been sent to Florida by our District to attend a boot camp for revitalizing a church. During that week we learned a lot about technique and not a lot about substance. Let me give you an example. One of the things that our instructors said was that the church needed to hold “non-worship” events in order to draw people in. That is supposed to provide an avenue through which people will come into the church. So we have hosted children’s outreaches, singing groups, have participated in community Lenten and Advent lunches, and have singspirations every month. We have tried to do the things that are supposed to attract people. But as I look around I don’t see anyone who came to this church and stayed because of some special event that was put on. Not that those things are bad – I think they are great – But for an evangelism tool in this community, they don’t seem to be effective.
I have also read reports, books, articles and studies about church growth. We all probably have our own ideas about what it takes to keep people coming to church. One report that I read focused on previously un-churched people who came to a church and stayed. I think that is a good way to find out what works – survey the people who got connected. Some of the findings would probably surprise you. Let me give you a few of the things that these people said were an important factor in getting them to stay in church. These are in no particular order. 1) The friendliness of the church. This may be a shock to some of you but though this is important it ranked only about #5 or 6 in the statistics. 2) The music. One thing the next generation is looking for is a style of music that they can connect with. 3) Children’s ministries. Young families are so family oriented that they want to know what programs there are for their children, i.e. Royal Rangers, Missionettes, or Youth Group. 4) The appearance of the church. Is it clean? Where are the restrooms? Does it look like the congregation cares? The physical state of the building may reflect the spiritual state of the congregation. 5) This may really surprise you because this was the number one reason for people to stay in a church – good solid biblical preaching and teaching from the pulpit.
Last week I filled out the annual church ministries report for General Council. In 2008 we had 21 decisions to accept Christ. Of those 21 only 6 remain in church today. So what is it that we are or are not doing to keep converts in the church? To see the answer to that question we don’t need to look any further than the scriptures.
Let’s turn to the Word to find the answer.
Lord open my eyes to see and my ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Growing a church the right way.
I. JESUS’ PATTERN 16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. Let’s look at the word “disciple” . It literally means a learner or student. Everyone who is a follower of Jesus Christ is considered to be a disciple. We discipline ourselves according to His teaching. Now here is the pattern. Jesus chose twelve out of all that were following Him. Luke 6:12-13, 12One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Here is the pattern that Jesus established. There were many who followed, but He knew that there had to be a more intimate connection in order for what He was teaching to be effective. That is why He chose twelve designating them as “apostles”. Jesus’ pattern was not just to teach. The pattern He established was to meet with this small group so they could have the opportunity to learn, to ask questions, and to just get to know Him better. This is the same pattern that we see between Paul and Timothy and Titus, Elijah and Elisha, Moses and Joshua. The mature believers took someone under their wing to help them be molded into what God wanted them to be. As the Holy Spirit begins to call people into the church it is our responsibility make not make converts only, but to make disciples. There are two parts to making disciples. 1) someone in the church has to be willing to take another aside and instruct them, encourage them, and challenge them. 2) new believers need to be willing to be discipled.
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. The eleven were willing to do what they were told to do. Jesus raised up disciples that were willing to do what He said to do. Even among those disciples who followed Jesus not all grew in their faith. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Do you want to see the effectiveness of Jesus pattern of growing the church? Of the twelve that He called to be His close associates, only one fell away – Judas Iscariot. Of the remaining eleven, ten died because of their faith. Only one died a natural death, but all eleven remained faithful to the end.
II. JESUS’ AUTHORITY 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Everything that Jesus is going to tell them to do is prefaced with the recognition of His authority to do so. Jesus never asked anyone to do anything that He didn’t authorize them to do. In Luke 10 He gave the seventy disciples His authority. 19, I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you… Jesus is telling the disciples to listen. Everything that He has to say now is founded in His authority so in essence what He is about to say is not just a suggestion but a command.
III. JESUS’ COMMAND 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. Now let’s break that down and try to get a good clear understanding of what Jesus is saying to the church today.
1. Go! You can look at this command in a variety of ways. Probably the easiest and most comfortable way (you know how I am about being comfortable) is to take this as the command to evangelize the world, and since most of us will never go to Africa or China or South America to spread the gospel, then all we are asked to do is provide the financial support for those who will go. Or, you can take it as Jesus really meant it – “you” go. It doesn’t matter how far you go. It doesn’t matter to whom you go. It doesn’t matter how you go. But go! Jesus followed this up with the same thought in 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.” You see, the phrase “all nations” begins right here. In Acts 8 it appears that the church had forgotten about that command. It had operated effectively in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas since the birth of the church but had not taken the next step. When the persecution came to Jerusalem look what happened. Acts 8:1-4, On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. 4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. That phrase “preached the word” tells us what Jesus expected when He said “go”.
2. Make Disciples As we look back at Jesus’ pattern of building the church we see that discipleship was the foundation. Jesus called men close to Himself in order to have a close association with. He knew that intimacy was the key in creating people who would become ministers of the gospel. But Jesus did not just teach them how to preach or teach or heal or cast out demons. He taught them a pattern. He created disciples who would make disciples. That is the perfect pattern for church growth. I want you to look at how this is supposed to work. Jesus chose 12. If after the day of Pentecost those 12 each made twelve disciples – not just disciples but disciples who would make disciples – that’s 144. If those 144 new disciples go out and make 12 disciples each we are now at 1728. If they do the same thing then we would be at 20,736. At this point you are only 4 people removed from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Do you see the growth curve that is being modeled? Let’s apply this to what is going on in our church. On Tuesday evenings we started a home Bible study. We have five others in our study. Our purpose is to increase their understanding of the word of God. In the process we are making disciples who now are building a strong foundation. If those five would begin to teach five each and those then would teach five more each and so on, here is how those numbers would look. 5 would teach 5 = 25. Those 25 would tell five each about Jesus and begin to open up the word for them. 25x5=75. Now we have to think about going to two services. Those 75 would teach five more; 75x5=375. Now we need a new building. And that is just beginning with 5 people. In the last two weeks we have had over 60 in church. Now I realize that not everyone is going to disciple 5 others. Some could and could be very effective. But what would happen if each of those 60 connected with 2 others. Then we’re at 120 and then 240 then 480… How long would it take? That doesn’t make any difference. God is willing to take as long as He needs to accomplish His work. What we see taking place is the evidence of the seed principle in action. You are sowing good into someone else’s life and they in turn are doing the same and so on… Regardless of how long it takes you will reap the harvest form it. Galatians 6:9, And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Jesus indicates what the normal expectations of a disciple would be, 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. Instructing them in the word of God – teaching every promise. Making disciples who will make disciples.
IV. JESUS’ PROMISE. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus sends us out with a mission to fulfill. It isn’t an easy task. Yet, He assures us that He is not sending us alone. It is the privilege that comes with the promise. It is knowing this I am with you always, that enables us to say, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me… It is knowing that, I am with you always that we can believe 2 Corinthians 9:8, 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. It is knowing, I am with you always, that we can have faith in what Jesus said in John 14: 26, But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. There is also protection with the promise. Romans 8:31, 31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. There is power in the promise. Ephesians 3:20, Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen..
For the last five years I have been going to the middle school to do something I never thought I could do. I agreed to become a mentor. One thing I noticed immediately after starting; mentoring is a process and not a 6 week course. I’m not a teacher. The kids in middle school do things in math that don’t make any sense to me. But I’m not there to figure out the problems for them – I’m there to help them come to the right answer on their own. I have to say that most of the time the right answer isn’t in the working of the problem itself, but in getting the students to commit to working at it without giving up. I am making disciples. In this case I am making disciples that will carry on good work habits and right attitudes. I have to say that most of the time these kids just need to know that somebody cares.
When Jesus told His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, was that meant just for the disciples He was speaking to? No, it was for you. What are some of the objections that go with being a discipler?
1. I don’t have enough time. Is one hour a week too much. That is how much I spend with each student every week. And it has made a tremendous difference.
2. I don’t know enough. So when you sit down and talk about the Bible together you both learn. It isn’t so much about teaching facts as it is teaching a lifestyle.
3. I don’t know anyone. I don’t even know how to respond to that one. Come on- give me a break. Be a friend to somebody.
4. Discipling is the pastor’s job. That’s right it is. But not just my job alone. It is yours too. I’m working hard at doing my part. What are you doing?
Which would you rather have, $500,000.00 now, or a penny doubled every day for the month of February? If I asked you at the end of 14 days which you would rather have I’m pretty sure that you would chose the larger number. At the end of 14 days you would have a little over $187.00. It looks like nothing good is going to come out of it. But by the end of the month that number grows to over 1 million six hundred thousand dollars.
My point is this. Making disciples is not just about planting seed, but is about cultivating seed. The seed must be planted first then take the time to cultivate and watch it produce seed 30, 60 or 100 times what it began as.
One other thing. Making disciples means that young Christians humble themselves and find a Moses or a Paul or a Elijah to connect with.
Are you ready for the harvest? Are you ready to grow the church God’s way?
