THE COMMAND TO DISCIPLESHIP
Matthew 28: 18-20
INTRODUCTION:
A. Before Jesus ascended unto the Father, He gave
instructions to His church
1. He gave us these instructions because:
a. He wanted us to know what our purpose as a church is
b. He didn’t want us to get sidetracked from that purpose
c. We can get so busy doing good things that we neglect
to do the best things
2. In these verses, we see that the church has been charged
to evangelize a lost world
a. That evangelization is to be aggressively carried out--
we are to go into the world and not wait for them to
come to us
b. Evangelizing a lost world is as simple as sharing our
testimony
c. If we share the gospel, God will anoint it and we will
see some come to know Christ as Savior
3. Then, we are commanded to baptize those who receive
Jesus as Savior
a. The new believer is to be baptized as an act of
obedience to Christ
b. The new believer is to be baptized as an act of public
testimony to Christ
c. That new believer is to be baptized as an act of
identifying with Jesus and His church
B. Tonight, let’s notice the third command Jesus gave to His
church-- teaching the to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you
I. NOTICE THE COMMANDS JESUS HAS
COMMANDED US TO OBSERVE
A. He has commanded us to love one another
1. John 15:12 This is My commandment, That ye love one
another as I have loved you
a. If we love one another it will reveal itself in the way to
treat one another
b. Loving one another will enable us to fulfill the rest of the
one another commands in the Bible
c. If we love one another, we will bear one another’s
burdens
d. If we love one another, we will confess our faults to one
another and pray for one another
e. If we love one another, we will forgive one another
f. If we love one another, we will edify or build one
another up
2. Paul says the entire law is summed up by loving your
neighbor as yourself
3. Jesus gave us this command because He knew that the
world would know that we are of Him if we love one
another
B. Jesus has commanded us to be faithful
1. He wants us to be faithful in our devotion to Him
a. Jesus rebuked the church at Ephesus because they had
allowed their first love for Him to cool
b. Jesus condemned the half hearted and lukewarm
devotion of the church at Laodecea
c. The world is constantly going to demand that we turn
from a love for Christ and love it
d. Satan is always going to put hardships in our path
designed to cause us to doubt God’s love for us
e. In spite of it all, Jesus’ command is still, Love Me with
all your heart soul and strength
2. Jesus wants us to be faithful in the duties that He has
assigned us
a. It is required in a steward that a man be found faithful
b. He wants us to be faithful in our duties to our families
c. He wants us to be faithful in sharing our faith
d. He wants us to be faithful in our church
responsibilities-- teachers, deacons, officers
e. Jesus wants us to be obedient to obey what He has said
in His word
II. HOW WE ARE TO CARRY OUT THESE
COMMANDS
A. We are to teach these commands
1. Since these commands are found in the Bible, we are to
teach the Bible
2. The pattern for this kind of discipleship is seen in II
Timothy 2: 2
a. We are to teach what we have been taught to faithful
people
b. These faithful people will then teach what they have
learned to others
3. Why the command is to teach faithful people
a. We are to teach faithful people because our teaching is
to build on what has been taught-- line upon line and
precept upon precept
b. We are to teach faithful people because they will put
into practice what has been taught
4. Teaching and growing disciples is a lifetime effort
a. Some we teach will blossom, grow and be productive
Christians
b. Some will turn away from the truth and break our hearts
5. Our responsibility is to be faithful and teach
B. Older believers are to teach new converts to observe these
commands by setting an example
1. Often, our example speaks louder than our words
2. Here is where we have often failed as a church
3. Preachers, deacons and teachers have often failed to give
an example that our newer believers can follow
4. An inconsistent example will do one of two things
a. An inconsistent example to lead to new converts
accepting a hypocritical lifestyle
b. An inconsistent example will lead to new converts
getting discouraged and then fall by the way side
CONCLUSION:
A. Jesus has given His church its mission
1. Evangelize
2. Baptize those who believe
3. Teach those new believers to observe Jesus’ commands
B. He has given us the promise that He will go with us if we
carry out that commission
