Our theme this year is Dynamic Disciples. We have been thinking about what it really means for us to be a disciples of Jesus.
This morning our focus is on the Making Disciples.
So the question to begin is: How can we Make Disciples?
How can we encourage others to discover Jesus for themselves?
How can we help those who are not in a saving relationship with Jesus understand the importance of knowing Him and trusting Him?
How can we help those who are unsaved and heading to a lost eternity turn to Jesus and be saved?
We need to allow God in the power of the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us, and by sharing the truth of who Jesus is with those we know and love.
Jesus last words before His ascension are recorded in Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus said: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
Jesus said: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Friends, we have a Mission that God has given to each of us as His followers, as His disciples.
These last words of Jesus are often referred to as the Great Commission. Sadly, many Christians treat these words as "The Great Suggestion".
It’s sad that in the 21st Century there are far too many Christians who think it’s ok to disobey Jesus, and the biggest example of their living for Jesus is actually bothering to turn up for an occasional church service - if it does not conflict with something else they feel is more important! (Car boot sale / Swap meet / playing or watching sport / shopping / etc.)
But, sharing the truth of the gospel is something that every Disciple of Christ is commanded by Jesus to do.
It’s not just the job of the ministers,it’s not just the job of a guest speaker we invite to a special event.
These words of Jesus are a commandment not a suggestion to everyone who calls Jesus their Lord and Saviour.
Each of us has a God given responsibility to share the truth about Jesus with others.
The Bible emphasises that every Christian is to be involved in the ongoing ministry of the church, everyone has a God-given gift that can be used for His honour and His glory.
As a pastor, as a minister, I have a duty to God to share the truth. But that is not just true of me that is also true of you each of us as disciples of Christ, have the duty to care, to minister, to share the truth, not just with each other within the church but also with those outside the church.
Family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, acquaintances, Facebook friends, the people we meet while we are doing life.
Not just at church events but anywhere and everywhere that God provides us the opportunity to share the truth.
The Christian message, the Gospel, is good news for the whole world. As disciples of Jesus we are commanded to bring others to a saving knowledge of God.
The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:20 says “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
Friends, we are God’s representatives, His ambassadors. Our task, our mission is to work with God to bring share the truth that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and that there is no other way to God except through Him. We are to share the truth that Salvation is a free gift to all who repent and turn to Jesus.
To be saved, a person must repent from their sins and believe in Jesus. God wants as many people as possible to be saved before Jesus returns. As disciples we are expected to participate in others being saved. Jude 1:23 says "Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives."
Our lives should be orientated towards this purpose. There is nothing we should consider more important than rescuing the lost. Everyone without Christ needs salvation. The Bible declares in Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23 tells us “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Because all have sinned, every single person needs to be saved. The Apostle Paul understood this and wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15: “Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.”
Every single person needs the blood of Christ to wash away their sins, or they will perish eternally. The Apostle Paul knew that Christ’s purpose in dying was also to redeem people from their sin. As disciples of Jesus we belong to God now. We are not our own, we were bought with a price - the sacrifice of Jesus as payment for our sins.
Being a disciple means no longer living for ourselves, we are called to live for Jesus who gave His life for us. To live for Jesus means to let Jesus live through us.
Anyone can be saved if and only if they give their life to Jesus.
Without Christ they are lost, unsaved, destined for an eternity in Hell, there needs to be a change of direction from the broad way that leads to destruction to the narrow way that leads to Heaven. There needs to be a change, a transformation, a definite repentance in their lives.
That is why Jesus has commanded US to do something about it. Jesus has commanded US to GO. We are commanded to be Disciples who make Disciples.
He has commanded US to be witnesses for Him, to communicate the gospel and make disciples everywhere.
Jesus expects US to be His witnesses, to know the truth of the gospel and to share it with others in the power of the Holy Spirit.
As disciples of Jesus, The Great Commission is a command for each of us. A disciple is someone who learns from a master. If we believe in Jesus with saving faith we must be willing to learn from our Lord and serve Him. Every Christian is called to be a disciple. A participant not a passenger.
Following Him, believing in Him, serving Him, telling others about Him.
Jesus has all the authority from God the Father to tell us what to do. This passage is Jesus speaking directly to US. Commanding US.
Jesus taught His first disciples many things. We also learn from Jesus as we read The Bible, as the Holy Spirit works in us, as God changes and transforms us by the renewing of our minds.
The things the apostles learned we have also learned from God’s Word - the love of God, the commandments of God,the gifts and fruit of the spirit, the plan of salvation, the sacrifice of Jesus, His death and resurrection, the reality of Heaven and Hell, all these things and more.
Jesus instructed these things be shared and taught to every generation of disciples. After the first disciples taught all these things to the disciples they made, those disciples in turn, followed the same command - the Great Commission.
Then they taught the next generation, who taught the next generation, who taught the next generation. Today, we are commanded to make the next generation who will make another, who will make another. This is God’s plan of salvation for the whole world, brilliant in its simplicity, the disciples of Jesus where to make disciples, who would make disciples, who would make disciples until Jesus comes again.
Jesus has promised one day he will return and on that day He will gather to Himself those who profess Jesus is Lord. Those who know Jesus is Lord and saviour will spend eternity with Him, those who never knew the Lord Will spend eternity without Him.
The Bible says we do not know the hour of His return but what we do now is every hour is one hour closer to His return. Time is short, the task is large, Jesus has told us to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel making disciples baptising them and discipling them so that they can disciple others.
Sharing the Gospel and teaching others is the Great Commission, as disciples we are part of the Great Commission.
We must learn or be taught to do all things Jesus commanded in the gospel. Remember that Jesus did not teach only verbally, but also by His example, ministry and life.
We also can teach by our example, not just our words.
Do you remember Jesus words in Luke 24:46-48?
“it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things.”
Jesus is telling us that we should share and preach the gospel - Jesus’ death and resurrection. Again in John 20:21 Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Jesus sends us, His disciples, Not just to one or two, or just to people we like. Out of love for God we are called to share the Gospel with everyone because their eternal destiny depends on them hearing the message of salvation in Jesus. God has promised to cause signs to follow those who believe. If we don’t believe signs will follow, we need to repent of unbelief. Jesus said they would follow if we believe.
We must tell the gospel to others.
As I draw to a close, let me remind you that God is sovereign, and can do things in ways we don’t anticipate. An opportunity to share the Gospel can happen when we least expect it so we need to be ready. How do we do that?
1. Be full of the Holy Spirit. Every day seek God, love God, abide in Jesus and listen to His voice. Keep your life right with God.
2. Be bold. Proverbs 28:1 says “The wicked flees when no one pursues, but the righteous is bold as a lion.” In sharing the gospel, God wants you to be bold. Declare Jesus saves, heals and delivers today. Say it to people like you believe it and expect it to happen. Speak of the need to repent, to believe, to receive Jesus as Lord, Saviour and Healer and Coming King. Expect a response.
3. Be patient: Wait, watch and listen. Wait in the presence of God with a worshipful spirit. As you do this, watch to see what God is doing in the lives of people.
See how the Holy Spirit is touching people. Move with the Holy Spirit. Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit. Wait, watch, listen and obey. Pray.
4. Be Encouraged: Never let discouragement overcome you. Do all you can to build your faith. Fast and pray that you will see the miracle of salvation in Jesus’ name.
Remember the Love God showed you at Calvary. A love so great, a punishment so great, a suffering so great. Look upon the wounds of Jesus. He bled for you, but not for you only, but for the whole world. When we see His suffering, we will count our own suffering a small thing. Our own problems pale into insignificance to the intense misery, pain, heartache and physical agony that Christ endured for us.
When we see his love expressed there on the cross, how can we not want to tell others?
God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We ought to care enough to act. To do something. Don’t just ask God to save them.
Before anyone else cared, God gave his only begotten Son to be led away to die for our sins. The Gospel is Good News. We bring good news.
God has done something for the needs of the world. This is good news.
Friends, dare to believe that God will do something amazing in the lives of those you know and love.
Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. Jesus Christ is the greatest lover of your soul, the light of your life, your Saviour, your Lord and master, your leader, your friend the very substance of your life, don’t keep Him out of your conversation. Introduce your friend Jesus to the people you know.
Open your mouth and speak the Word of God to people, the Gospel.
Now is the time for change. God is raising up a new generation of dedicated, dynamic disciples.
God’s plan is for people to hear the good news that Jesus Christ paid for their sins, and conquered death for us by rising from the dead.
May each of us be willing to Make Disciples as God has commanded us.
May we willingly serve our Lord and Saviour by telling others about Him.
Amen
