Message
Matthew 28:16-20
Mission Minded
In a town near a river which is full of fish there is a fishermen’s club. Week after week the fishermen in this club meet to talk.
They would talk about their responsibility to fish. Their slogan was “We live to Fish”.
They would talk about the many types of fish that could be caught. And how important it was to have different fishing techniques.
They were continually searching for new and better methods of fishing.
They would point to all the stuffed fish on the wall and talk about how great that fisherman was.
These meetings happened for many years as all the fishermen continued to declare that fishing was their primary task. But, in all that time, one thing they never actually did was … go fishing.
They knew all the techniques.
They constantly reminded each other of the importance of fishing.
Their lives revolved around meetings and discussions about fishing.
They had hear stories of fish being caught.
But they never actually tried it.
That raises a significant question doesn’t it?
Can you be a real fisher-person if, year after year, you never go fishing?
Let’s keep that question in mind as we read a few passages from Scripture.
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped 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, baptising 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.’ (Matthew 28:16-20)
7 He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But 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.’ (Acts 1:7-8)
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20)
Is a person a real fisherman if, year after year, they never go fishing and never catch a fish?
You would have to say no.
Think about the passages we just read, for they raise a more important question.
Is a person fishing for people if, year after year, they never go out as witnesses and fish for new disciples.
We can talk about it.
We can know who needs to be caught.
We can see the results of past witnessing.
We can have all sorts of techniques.
But if we are not witnessing in some way are we really fishing for people?
I raise this question because the passages we read earlier are pretty clear.
Go and make disciples
The way the grammar works is to make this an ongoing action.
In your going
While you are shopping … or working … or in your leisure time.
As you go about your daily tasks … here in Brisbane …
Make … it is a command … make disciples.
This is your calling and lifestyle and purpose.
You will be my witnesses.
When the Holy Spirit come on you I will change your spiritual DNA.
… from being enemies of God.
… to being witnesses powered by God.
Witnessing is not something you catch like a cold.
It is not an action that comes because you get more than 50% on some test.
It is not something you have for a while and then loose and can no longer find.
You will … and you will continue … to be witness as long as you have the Holy Spirit.
And the Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing your eternity.
I will send you out to fish for people
“I’ve got an offer”, says Jesus, “do you want to follow me?”
When we, of our own free will, take up that offer then we get an added vocation to our careers.
Architects … and fishing for people.
Plumbers … and fishing for people.
Domestic Engineers … and fishing for people.
Students … and fishing for people.
You will keep on being sent for the task that Jesus is inviting you into.
Here is what I want us to understand.
We don’t become mission-minded.
We are mission-minded.
This is who Jesus has made us to be.
That is what we are here for.
This is the description of every disciple.
Go and make disciples
You will be my witnesses.
I will send you out to fish for people
You don’t think it is possible?
You don’t think you are worthy?
You think it can only be done by people with certain gifts?
Or maybe you need to have a Bachelor of Ministry, or Theology, or Divinity. Or even a Masters?
Or maybe you need to have the right background?
Or that you need to be in a certain stage of life?
If this is where your mind is going let me show you someone?
Go to Mark 5:1-20
Summarise the story but note
Gerasenes … (footnote) Gadarenes … Gergesnes
This is on the East side of sea of Galilee in the area known as the Decapolis..
Not part of Israel at the time … (hence the pigs).
The madman is not a Jew.
He lived for years among tombs.
He self-mutilated his body.
He is possessed by Legion.
What a sight he would have made.
Wild hair.
Bloody wrists.
Scratched skin.
Fury in the flesh.
He’s a totally naked man running through the cemetery with arms flailing and voice screaming.
My guess is the disciples just gulped and put one foot back into the boat. They are worried and horrified.
But Jesus isn’t.
From the beginning it is very that this is a one sided affair.
In the blink of an eye, Jesus delivers this lunatic – and a disciple is made in the cemetery.
Now let’s read from Mark 5:14-20
Did you see the impact of verse 20?
20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Isn’t he doing exactly what we have been talking about?
Go and make disciples
You will be my witnesses.
I will send you out to fish for people
Now back to one of our core values
Mission Minded.
To lead not-yet-believing family, friends and neighbours into a mature relationship with Christ and integrate them completely into the life of our church.
When we think about this core value don’t straight away think, “We need more programs”, or “We need more events”.
Programs can help.
Events can help.
Training can help.
And in 2019 we will keep on looking at ways to have programs, and events, and training.
But, ultimately, a mission mindset is not tied to programs, training and events.
A mission mindset is tied to responding to our identity.
Go and make disciples
You will be my witnesses.
I will send you out to fish for people
This man understood his identity.
I’m reading this time from the story as told by Luke:-
Jesus says …
39 ‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you.’ So the man went away and told all over the town how much Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:39)
We can do that. Can’t we?
Tell how much God and Jesus has done for you.
This man was a madman … and now he is a missionary.
He hasn’t been given any training.
His place in society up to this point is pretty suspect.
He doesn’t even have at this point the message of the death and resurrection of Jesus, nor the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
All he could offer was the message that Jesus had changed His life.
But that was enough.
A missionary witnessing … fishing … making disciples.
We all say yes, “but what a story”
I was a madman … now I am a missionary.
It is an amazing testimony. But so is your testimony.
At one point we were all partners with Satan until that moment where Jesus steps.
We are never in our right mind until we are converted.
We are never in the right place until we are sitting at the feet of Jesus.
We are never rightly clothed until we have put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
This applies no matter how your conversion took place.
Maybe you can remember a specific time when God became real to you.
Perhaps you were a nice person who realised niceness doesn’t get you to heaven.
You could have been rebellious until Jesus took us by the collar.
However it took place. And all the stuff that has happened since.
That is your testimony.
The Word of God … the Spirit of God … the confession of Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
We might not know all of the Bible verses … or even some of them.
We will not be able to answer all of the questions.
We may struggle at times to find the words.
But it doesn’t disqualify us from having a mission mindset.
Go and make disciples
You will be my witnesses.
I will send you out to fish for people
Why is it possible?
Because when we go and make disciples … it is because all authority has been given to Jesus.
And when we become witnesses … it is because we have been given the Holy Spirit.
And when we are sent to fish for people … it is because Jesus invited us to follow.
So the effective mission minded person is not one who has confidence in themselves, or a technique, or a program, or an event, or training.
They all help … they all have a place … but ultimately our confidence can’t lie there.
Our confidence relies on what Jesus is doing.
Let’s go back to Matthew 28:18-20
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, baptising 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.’ (Matthew 28:16-20)
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me
If Jesus has all authority
… then every other religion, pretend religion, false religion, or no religion …
All of these have no authority.
Our confidence relies on the uniqueness of Christ and that he is the only way.
Baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Baptism is a sign of acceptance and allegiance. It is a visual recognition that we belong under the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Only in the family of Jesus.
Only in the kingdom of God.
Only because of the work of the Holy Spirit.
Can we have a place.
Our confidence relies on the fact that the church … in the full meaning of the word … is the place when Jesus is gathering on earth the saints who will ultimately be in heaven.
Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you
Teaching, obedience, commandments. It is a call to take that which we have as our foundation and confidently proclaim it is the only way … the only living Word.
Teaching what it means to carry the cross.
Teaching what it means to follow Jesus.
Teaching it all … as the authoritative word for transformation.
Our confidence relies on the truth and the relevance of this book.
Mission-minded.
It doesn’t rely on us.
It relies fully on Jesus.
Which is good. Because if it relied on us … well …
FAILURE.
But … because we can confidently rely on Jesus … He will continue to transform.
And that is why the core values that we have had since the foundation of our church are so significant.
Because none of them sit in isolation.
They work together.
To be people who don’t rely on ourselves but have confidence in Jesus … what do we need to do?
… …
PRAYER
So today, as just one of many practical responses we will be having through this series but also through the year, we are going to make a commitment to prayer.
EACH ONE REACH ONE
Pray for a person who is spiritually homeless.
Pray for a person who is spiritually lost.
