Introduction:
A. The story is told of a truck driver who was hauling a load of 500 penguins to the zoo.
1. Unfortunately, his truck broke down.
2. He eventually waved down another truck and offered the driver $500 to take the penguins to the zoo.
3. Later that day the first truck driver got his truck fixed and drove into town and couldn’t believe his eyes!
4. Just ahead of him he saw the second truck driver crossing the road with the 500 penguins waddling single file behind him.
5. He jumped out of his truck, ran up to the guy and said, “What’s going on? I gave you $500 to take these penguins to the zoo!”
6. The man responded, “I did take them to the zoo. But I had enough money left over so now we’re going to the movies.”
7. See, that guy didn’t fully understand what he was supposed to be doing. He didn’t understand his mission.
8. Likewise, many of us believers today are fuzzy about our sense of purpose.
B. While I’m on vacation every year I spend a lot of time reflecting on how I am doing and how we are doing with regard to pleasing God and accomplishing God’s purposes.
1. It is certainly a process full of joy and sorrow.
2. Together we continue to experience a lot of progress and success (God’s doing some special things through us), but we also have our share of frustration, stagnation, disappointment and failure.
3. Part of our challenge is maintaining a sense of our God-given mission.
C. Vision is absolutely critical.
1. Without a shared vision, we have no idea what our target is.
2. Without a shared target or direction, then we have no hope of ending up at the right place.
D. So, let me ask you this important question: What is the mission of the Wetzel Road Church?
1. Can each of us state clearly and concisely what we are about?
2. What is our business? What are we trying to accomplish?
3. See, until we have a handle on what we are trying to do, how can we begin to determine how to do it?
4. In the end we don’t want just activity…we want productivity.
5. Efficiency is doing things right.
6. Effectiveness is doing the right things.
7. Excellence is efficiency and effectiveness. Doing the right things, right.
E. For many years I have worked from a very simple vision and I’ve had a concise goal in mind.
1. I would like for us, as a group, to let this simple vision guide us in our work together.
2. It would be great if it became such a part of us that when asked the question I asked a moment ago (“What is the mission of the Wetzel Road Church”), all of us would be able to give the same, simple answer.
3. Here is my answer to that question: “Our mission is to make and mature disciples of Jesus to the glory of God.”
4. Making and maturing disciples of Jesus to the glory of God – how’s that for a clear and concise target?
F. You probably recognize that this mission statement is based on the Great Commission that Jesus left us.
1. Jesus said, “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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt. 28:19-20)
2. From that verse we see, in a very clear fashion, that our goal should not just be to make disciples (help people become Christians), but that our goal should also include maturing disciples (helping people grow up in their salvation).
3. So that’s what Jesus wants us to be all about – Making and Maturing Disciples of Jesus to the glory of God.
G. Now the big question becomes: How do we do that?
1. What should we be doing, as a congregation, to insure that we are making and maturing disciples of Jesus to the glory of God?
2. I want to suggest that each of us needs to have a target to be shooting toward that includes the basics of discipleship.
3. I have made the word “target” into an acrostic to help us remember what we need to be working toward.
4. So let me briefly share the “T.A.R.G.E.T.” with you.
I. Our T.A.R.G.E.T.
A. The “T” in our T.A.R.G.E.T. stand for TRUTH
1. It should be no surprise to us that God calls us to be people of the Word.
2. It should be the goal of every disciple to LOVE the Word, to LEARN the Word, and most importantly, to LIVE the Word.
3. As a Church of Christ, we have a special commitment to following the Word and the Word only as our source of authority for our doctrine and practice.
4. Like the early church there in Acts 2, we want to devote ourselves to “the apostles teaching.”
5. Just like Paul charged Timothy we want to “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
6. We know that the Bible is inspired by God and is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
7. And we know as Psalm 19 says, that “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Ps. 19:7-11)
8. Making and maturing disciples to the glory of God starts and ends with a commitment to the Word of truth.
B. The “A” in our T.A.R.G.E.T. stands for ACTION.
1. A disciple of Jesus must put the Word into practice.
2. James wrote: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)
3. Our love for the Lord and His Word must show itself in the actions and the attitudes of our lives.
4. We must walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Right?
5. Paul said it well in his letter to the Ephesians: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Eph. 4:1-2)
6. The apostle John put it this way in his first letter: “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:3-6)
7. So much could be said at this point, but we all agree that the person who wants to please God must give concerted attention and effort toward imitating God.
8. And for all of us that means taking off and putting away a lot of our old, sinful ways, and putting on and adding the fruit of the Spirit.
9. And as we know, this is a process that takes a lifetime and one that can only be done with God’s help.
10. Putting the Word into action is a key to making and maturing disciples.
C. The “R” in our T.A.R.G.E.T. stands for RELATIONSIHPS.
1. There is no such thing as a “Lone-Ranger” Christian.
2. When we become a Christian, the Lord adds us to His church.
3. The church is the body of Christ, and each of us is a part of that body.
4. The church is also called the family of God, and each of us are sons and daughters of God, and brothers and sisters of Christ.
5. In our Scripture reading from Acts 2, we see a snapshot of life in the early church, and one of the things that stands out to me is the relationships they experienced.
6. We are told that they were devoted to the fellowship, and that all the believers were together and had everything in common.
7. We are told that they met together repeatedly in the temple courts and in each other’s homes.
8. This Fall, Lord willing, we will be focusing on issues pertaining to relationships in the church, so I’m not going to say much about it now.
9. One of the verses we will be focusing on is Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
10. All I know is that Christianity is to be lived out in relationships in the church family.
11. Each of us have important roles and responsibilities to play in the church and we must not neglect each other.
12. Thankfully, I can say without reservation that I am so thankful for the relationships that I have with you here at Wetzel Road.
13. I would not trade anything for the richness of our shared lives together.
14. But in the end, we cannot be making and maturing disciples without relationships.
D. The “G” in our T.A.R.G.E.T. stands for GIVING.
1. I always chuckle at the notion that the most sensitive nerve in the human body is the one connected to the wallet.
2. Unfortunately, many people are hyper-sensitive to preaching on money and giving.
3. I also chuckle at the picture of a person being baptized and they are completely under the water except for one of their hands is holding their wallet out of the water.
4. But the truth of the matter is that Jesus addressed the subject of money more than any other person, because He knew the spiritual challenge that money poses for us.
5. Jesus said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mt. 6:19-21)
6. Then a few verses later He added: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Mt. 6:24)
7. So we see that Jesus understood that money would be a challenge for us and one that we had better get under control, or it would control us.
8. We must learn to let God be our master and money our servant.
9. When we learn to give financially in a generous and sacrificial way, then our treasure is indeed in heaven, and our hearts will follow.
10. The discipline of faithful giving does so much good for our ability to trust in the Lord, and stay spiritually focused.
11. God certainly can be trusted, and we cannot out-give God!
12. Paul had a lot to say about giving in his letters to the Corinthians.
13. I wish we had time to read all of chapters 8 and 9 from 2 Corinthians, but we don’t.
14. Let me finish up this point by pointing you to 2 Corinthians 9:6-8: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And 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.”
15. We won’t be able to make and mature disciples without learning to give cheerfully and generously.
E. The “E” in our T.A.R.G.E.T. stands for EVANGELISM.
1. In some respects, it goes without saying that evangelism is necessary for making and maturing disciples. We won’t be able to make disciples without some evangelistic effort, right?
2. God has chosen us to be His ambassadors.
3. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
4. Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Mt. 5:13-14)
5. Wherever we go and whatever we do, we can have a seasoning and preserving effect on others, and we can shed the light of God’s love and truth into our world of hopelessness and darkness.
6. Whenever I’ve preached and taught about evangelism, I’ve suggested that there are as many ways to do evangelism as there are people to do it.
7. Each of us is uniquely prepared by our temperament, our experience and our study to reach out to the lost in different ways.
8. For some it will be street preaching and door knocking, for others it will be through the ministry of helps and mercy, and for others it will be friendship evangelism or a simple invitation to worship or special events.
9. The method isn’t the most important part. The things that matter most include our faith, our love and our faithfulness.
10. What a privilege it is to partner with the Holy Spirit in drawing and leading people to God!
11. If we are active in sharing our faith, we will be effective in making and maturing disciples of Jesus to the glory of God.
F. Finally, the second “T” in our T.A.R.G.E.T. stands for TASK.
1. Every disciple of Jesus…every member of the body of Christ has a role to play.
2. We are called to be servants and workers and ministers.
3. Paul wrote: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10)
4. Peter declared this truth so well when he wrote: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11)
5. If any of us fail to do our part, then the body is not functioning up to its potential – like a hand missing a finger, or a person trying to get around without a leg or without any legs.
6. We will be most effective in making and maturing disciples when each of us are busy doing the tasks that God has equipped us to do – faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
7. There are few things that thrill me more than to see people growing in their faith and service – to see God accomplish both small and big things through us.
Conclusion:
A. Well, that’s what it’s all about – that’s the mission that we are called to – Making and Maturing Disciples to the glory of God.
1. I hope and pray that this mission lights a fire in you – it surely does in me!
B. But we are not going to be able to fulfill that mission unless we are aiming at and hitting the target with regularity. (Let’s review the T.A.R.G.E.T. one last time. I’ll say the letter and you say the word it stands for)
1. The “T” stands for Truth – focus on the Word of God.
2. The “A” stands for Action – we must apply the Word to our lives and live a worthy life.
3. The “R” stands for Relationships – our connections with other Christians are so important.
4. The “G” stands for Giving – God loves and blesses a cheerful giver.
5. The “E” stands for Evangelism – If we won’t share the good news, how will people hear?
6. The “T” stands for Task – each of us must use our gifts to do our part.
C. There is no telling what God can do through each of us and through this church if we will stay On TARGET.
1. So how are you doing compared with the target?
2. Which of them are you consistently embracing?
3. Which of them do you need to give more attention to?
4. Are you ready to more fully embrace the mission and more faithfully aim for the target?
5. I hope and pray so!
6. And may God use us and bless us as we stay on TARGET!
