LBC Sermon-4/23/06-The Everyday Commission
Key Idea: Christ came to win, build and equip his followers and today He calls us to fulfill our mission by doing the same.
Intro. Last week the message of the Cross-Love of God & the Hope of the Resurrection– more than just this life-hope for a better future. Today look @ the mission that X set before His disciples in the times that He appeared to them after His resurrection.
To set this up we have to understand
I. Christ’s Mission (John 17:4)
Sometimes you can look @ something 100 times and not really see or understand it till #101 and it hits you like a ton of bricks-this verse hit me like that the first time I heard someone teach on it. Changed the entire way that I looked at the life and ministry of X.
Read Jn. 17:4
What had he done-hadn’t yet gone to the cross, what had he finished.
Obviously talking about something he had already completed.
Jn. 17:4-NAS-having accomplished the work which Thou hast given me to do.
NIV-by completing the work you gave me to do.
KJV-finished the work thou gavest me to do.
What had he finished? What had he completed?
The training of His disciples-that was one of his primary purposes in coming to earth prepare those men and women who would carry on His message after He was gone.
Look @ these verses from that prayer:
-17:8 “I have passed on to them the words you gave me”
-17:11 “Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them-all those you have given me-so that they will be united just as we are.”
17:18 “As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”
17:20-21 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father-that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.”
Apart from the fact that X came to the earth to die, he came to prepare and train those men who would carry on His message after He returned to heaven. That was His primary goal for those 3.5 years of His earthly ministry, to prepare them to go and make disciples after He was gone.
That was His message to them after His resurrection.
If we look at His appearances to the disciples after His resurrection we will see...
Christ’s Commission- (Matt. 28:16-20, Luke 24:46-53, Acts 1:8)
I think that one of the main reason’s he appeared to them again and again after His res. Was to make sure they didn’t miss the point of what He had come and prepared them for.
Listen to these passages-Could not make it any clearer
Matt. 28:16-20-Great Commission “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Luke 24:46-53 “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’ When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.”
Acts 1:3-8 “It is not for you to know the times or the dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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.”
What can we learn from these:
X didn’t ask them to do it alone– They would have the power of the Holy Spirit and the authority of X
X called them to share the truth of what they had seen and heard.-They had lived w/ Him for 3 years and seen his death, burial and resurrection and now their lives would never be the same. Share that.
This was an everyday commission for them.- “Go and make disciples”- not a call to be missionaries, but a call to share the truth about X as you go through your life everyday. “as you are going”
Application
Our Mission-oikos
I hope that we all understand that the mission that X gave to His disciples that everyday commission that defined their lives-is the same everyday commission that X has called us to live out.
Wrap up by talking about how we can effectively fulfill X’s calling to be witnesses for Him and be making disciples.
To do that I want to talk about a greek work you may or may not be familiar with oikos.
Throughout biblical history, God has utilized the "extended family" as His primary target for evangelism. That group is described as your oikos (the Greek term for "household") in the New Testament.
Acts 16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household.” (oikos)
Acts 11:14,16:34, 18:8
Look at John 1 to see an example of how this worked in X’s ministry.
1:35-40-Andrew & John
1:41-42-Andrew brought Simon
1:43-44-Philip acquaintance of Andrew & Peter
1:45-46-Philip brought Nathaniel
On the average, it is made up of anywhere from eight to fifteen people whom God has supernaturally and strategically placed in your direct sphere of influence. If we are to be effective at fulfilling the call of X for our church we each need to identify our oikos our "eight to fifteen," and find ways share with them the tremendous news of God’s grace.
As we do this remember the things that X said to His disciples are just as true for us today as they were for them then.
We don’t do it alone– we have the power of the Holy Spirit and the authority of X
X calls us to share the truth of what we have seen and heard.-They had lived w/ Him for 3 years and seen his death, burial and resurrection and now their lives would never be the same. Share that.
This is an everyday commission- “Go and make disciples”- not a call to be missionaries, but a call to share the truth about X as you go through your life everyday. “as you are going”
App. Identify your oikos, your household, your “extended family” your 8-15, that is your mission field, that is who God is calling you to reach, that is how the good news is going to be spread.
