WEBVTT 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:06.660 Hey all, Pastor John here. Thanks for tuning 00:00:06.660 --> 00:00:09.759 in to the weekly sermon podcast. We pray this 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:12.519 message encourages you, strengthens your faith, 00:00:12.660 --> 00:00:15.080 and helps you to take your next step with Jesus. 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:18.239 If this content blesses you and you'd like to 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:20.339 be a part of helping us continue to bring the 00:00:20.339 --> 00:00:22.760 gospel to life, we'd love for you to consider 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:25.739 supporting the ministry of Village. Your generosity 00:00:25.739 --> 00:00:28.339 makes it possible for us to keep creating and 00:00:28.339 --> 00:00:31.510 sharing resources like this podcast. You can 00:00:31.510 --> 00:00:35.250 give safely and easily by visiting sacvillage 00:00:35.250 --> 00:00:39.090 .org slash give or by heading to our website 00:00:39.090 --> 00:00:43.109 at sacvillage .org. Thanks again for listening. 00:00:43.409 --> 00:00:54.890 Now let's dive into this week's message. Amen. 00:00:54.950 --> 00:00:58.130 Well, we're in our final week of our Made for 00:00:58.130 --> 00:01:01.229 More series. And what we've been saying along 00:01:01.229 --> 00:01:05.329 the way is you are made for more than mere religious 00:01:05.329 --> 00:01:09.109 activity, right? You are made for more than just 00:01:09.109 --> 00:01:14.189 filling a seat. You are made new in Christ Jesus 00:01:14.189 --> 00:01:17.950 for a purpose. And that purpose is in order that 00:01:17.950 --> 00:01:20.629 you would become a Christ -honoring disciple. 00:01:21.450 --> 00:01:23.430 And we laid out a framework for what that looks 00:01:23.430 --> 00:01:27.790 like. The four elements to that framework, rooted 00:01:27.790 --> 00:01:30.230 in Christ. A Christ -owning disciple is rooted 00:01:30.230 --> 00:01:33.349 first and foremost in Christ. And then renewed 00:01:33.349 --> 00:01:37.409 in grace and shaped for purpose. And then today 00:01:37.409 --> 00:01:41.010 we are going to land at the final one, sent to 00:01:41.010 --> 00:01:44.269 serve. To be rooted in Christ means that your 00:01:44.269 --> 00:01:48.909 life sinks deep into him through his word. through 00:01:48.909 --> 00:01:53.329 worship and devotion to him and in prayer that 00:01:53.329 --> 00:01:56.769 your life is firmly found upon Christ and your 00:01:56.769 --> 00:01:59.930 identity is found in him and that it means that 00:01:59.930 --> 00:02:04.170 we're learning to depend on him daily so that 00:02:04.170 --> 00:02:07.129 what's beneath the surface in our life sustains 00:02:07.129 --> 00:02:10.889 what's visible on the surface to be rooted in 00:02:10.889 --> 00:02:12.870 Christ. And then we talked about being renewed 00:02:12.870 --> 00:02:16.360 in grace. To be renewed in grace means that you 00:02:16.360 --> 00:02:20.120 stop striving to prove yourself and instead start 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:22.539 living from the grace that is already yours in 00:02:22.539 --> 00:02:26.199 Christ Jesus. It's already yours. To be renewed 00:02:26.199 --> 00:02:29.680 in grace is how we find freedom from the hurts 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:32.919 and the sinful habits that have defined our lives 00:02:32.919 --> 00:02:36.900 before Christ. And how do we do that? Well, one 00:02:36.900 --> 00:02:39.360 of the unique ways that God uses to renew us 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:43.500 in grace is through Christ -centered gospel, 00:02:43.500 --> 00:02:46.960 spirit -filled community. It's being with one 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:50.599 another. It's iron sharpening iron. It's allowing 00:02:50.599 --> 00:02:53.580 the work of the Lord to happen as the spirit 00:02:53.580 --> 00:02:56.300 of the Lord ministers to us through one another. 00:02:56.620 --> 00:02:59.759 And as he makes his glory known in and among 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:03.840 a people that he has gathered up and called out. 00:03:04.539 --> 00:03:06.900 And it's through that community that God uses 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:09.740 those people, the people that we surround ourselves 00:03:09.740 --> 00:03:14.479 in, the church. to heal, to hold us accountable, 00:03:14.620 --> 00:03:19.020 and to restore our life. We're renewed in grace 00:03:19.020 --> 00:03:22.400 in Christ -centered, authentic, Spirit -filled 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:26.360 community. Number three was to be shaped for 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:29.360 purpose, and that means that we let God use our 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:33.099 story. Sometimes we wish we had someone else's 00:03:33.099 --> 00:03:35.659 story, don't we? Sometimes we wish that we had 00:03:35.659 --> 00:03:38.060 some other life, or we didn't have to go through 00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:40.620 the things that we went through. But part of 00:03:40.620 --> 00:03:43.860 our gospel discipleship is allowing God to use 00:03:43.860 --> 00:03:48.240 our story, what he has done in us, how he has 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:50.740 renewed us in grace, the gifts that he has given, 00:03:50.759 --> 00:03:53.900 how he's uniquely wired you, and also the scars 00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:58.280 that you bear. They can be used to serve his 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:02.039 kingdom. And then that leads us to this last 00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:06.139 part, which is sent to serve. This isn't some 00:04:06.139 --> 00:04:09.449 sort of... chronological, linear, I'm rooted 00:04:09.449 --> 00:04:11.789 in Christ and then I'm renewed in grace. This 00:04:11.789 --> 00:04:13.870 is discipleship. Think of it more as a circle 00:04:13.870 --> 00:04:17.389 than a straight line. We are always being rooted 00:04:17.389 --> 00:04:20.029 more deeply in Christ, renewed in his grace, 00:04:20.209 --> 00:04:23.189 discovering our purpose that he shaped us for 00:04:23.189 --> 00:04:28.810 and being sent to serve. But this is the way 00:04:28.810 --> 00:04:30.990 that it is because... The truth of it is about 00:04:30.990 --> 00:04:33.589 being a disciple. A disciple is not fully formed 00:04:33.589 --> 00:04:38.490 until a disciple is living a sent life. We're 00:04:38.490 --> 00:04:40.769 not fully formed disciples unless we're living 00:04:40.769 --> 00:04:45.089 sent. I remember my first case of this was in 00:04:45.089 --> 00:04:48.050 youth group. I was maybe 16 or 17 years old and 00:04:48.050 --> 00:04:50.170 I had an awesome youth leader. His name was Tom 00:04:50.170 --> 00:04:53.689 Borsik. He's a great guy, loved the guy. Great 00:04:53.689 --> 00:04:56.949 youth leader. Our youth ministry was called World 00:04:56.949 --> 00:05:01.399 Changers. Man, we like, we swung. We swung for 00:05:01.399 --> 00:05:03.839 the bleachers, right? We were going all out, 00:05:03.860 --> 00:05:06.920 world changers. And we thought, I mean, truth 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:09.379 is, as a 16, 17 year old, you actually believe 00:05:09.379 --> 00:05:11.759 you can change the world, like the whole world, 00:05:11.819 --> 00:05:15.600 the whole thing, right? But what it did and what 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:18.540 I loved about it was it planted a seed in my 00:05:18.540 --> 00:05:22.579 own heart and in my peers to not view our discipleship 00:05:22.579 --> 00:05:26.500 merely in a devotional capacity. Make me feel 00:05:26.500 --> 00:05:29.519 better. Help me become the best version of me. 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:33.360 It's something that Matt Chandler calls moralistic 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:37.720 therapeutic deism. A lot of people approach their 00:05:37.720 --> 00:05:40.420 walk, their discipleship with Jesus as moralistic 00:05:40.420 --> 00:05:44.139 therapeutic deism, right? I need to know what's 00:05:44.139 --> 00:05:47.439 right and wrong and I need God's therapy to make 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:51.459 me the best possible person that I can be so 00:05:51.459 --> 00:05:53.879 that I can live a happy and healthy and prosperous 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:57.290 life. And you notice that? That makes the whole 00:05:57.290 --> 00:06:01.930 thing about discipleship about who? You, me, 00:06:02.209 --> 00:06:06.850 right? Moralistic, therapeutic deism versus a 00:06:06.850 --> 00:06:10.209 disciple who sees that they're actually formed 00:06:10.209 --> 00:06:14.689 for a purpose to be sent out on mission. And 00:06:14.689 --> 00:06:17.269 listen to the way this Anglican preacher, Christopher 00:06:17.269 --> 00:06:22.110 Wright, frames it. It is not so much that God 00:06:22.110 --> 00:06:24.790 has a mission for his church in the world, but 00:06:24.790 --> 00:06:27.990 that God has a church for his mission in the 00:06:27.990 --> 00:06:31.730 world. I'm going to read that again. You kind 00:06:31.730 --> 00:06:32.709 of have to sort it out. We might have to get 00:06:32.709 --> 00:06:35.149 the whiteboard out, right? Do some arrows and 00:06:35.149 --> 00:06:38.750 some pointy things, right? It's not so much that 00:06:38.750 --> 00:06:40.949 God has a mission for his church in the world, 00:06:41.089 --> 00:06:45.149 but that God has a church for his mission in 00:06:45.149 --> 00:06:47.610 the world. In other words, the church exists 00:06:47.610 --> 00:06:52.540 for the sake of his mission. we gotta be real. 00:06:52.860 --> 00:06:56.639 A lot of Christians live like the Great Commission 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:01.560 is what? The Great Suggestion. We say things 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:04.699 like, man, I'm not really called to ministry 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:09.779 as if Jesus only said go to pastors or to missionaries 00:07:09.779 --> 00:07:15.180 or seminary graduates. You gotta hear this. If 00:07:15.180 --> 00:07:18.560 you've been saved by Jesus, then you have been 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:22.110 sent by Jesus. If you've been saved by Jesus, 00:07:22.189 --> 00:07:25.050 you've been sent by Jesus, amen? Because the 00:07:25.050 --> 00:07:27.430 Great Commission isn't for a few, it's for all 00:07:27.430 --> 00:07:32.610 of us. God's mission in the world isn't simply 00:07:32.610 --> 00:07:36.310 waiting for the next big revival to hit so that 00:07:36.310 --> 00:07:39.269 he can elevate a few superstars that can sell 00:07:39.269 --> 00:07:43.129 some books and go on a tour. God's mission is 00:07:43.129 --> 00:07:46.569 waiting on everyday believers to begin to see 00:07:46.569 --> 00:07:50.899 their lives as mission fields. You don't have 00:07:50.899 --> 00:07:53.639 to go into full -time ministry to make disciples, 00:07:53.779 --> 00:07:59.620 but you do have to follow Jesus full -time. And 00:07:59.620 --> 00:08:01.800 today, I want to talk a little bit more about 00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:04.980 what it means to live sent. And so if you have 00:08:04.980 --> 00:08:06.680 your Bibles, I would invite you to open up to 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:10.240 Matthew chapter 28. Matthew is the first book 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:13.819 in the New Testament. If you have a complete 00:08:13.819 --> 00:08:16.040 Bible, Old Testament, New Testament, you're probably 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:19.519 going to be just past the halfway point. Matthew, 00:08:19.540 --> 00:08:21.199 Mark, Luke, John. If you hit Mark, Luke, John, 00:08:21.259 --> 00:08:24.500 you've gone too far. Go back a little bit. You 00:08:24.500 --> 00:08:27.300 see Malachi? Stay away from there. Go forward. 00:08:28.939 --> 00:08:30.939 Matthew. We're going to be in Matthew chapter 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:37.399 28 and verse 18 through 20. Matthew 28, 18 through 00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:42.159 20. This is Jesus filing a final command to his 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:44.399 disciples. So he's about to ascend into heaven 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:48.230 and turn this mission over. to his disciples. 00:08:48.330 --> 00:08:49.789 And this is the heartbeat, I think, of what it 00:08:49.789 --> 00:08:52.090 means for us as believers and us as a church 00:08:52.090 --> 00:08:55.190 to follow Jesus. Jesus came near and said to 00:08:55.190 --> 00:08:58.309 them, all authority has been given to me in heaven 00:08:58.309 --> 00:09:01.970 and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples 00:09:01.970 --> 00:09:04.909 of all nations, baptizing them in the name of 00:09:04.909 --> 00:09:07.909 the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 00:09:08.029 --> 00:09:11.029 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded 00:09:11.029 --> 00:09:15.779 you. And remember, I am with you always. To the 00:09:15.779 --> 00:09:23.779 end of the age. This is God's word. Today we're 00:09:23.779 --> 00:09:25.759 going to look at three truths from Jesus' words 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:27.980 right there in Matthew 28 that are going to help 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:30.440 us live that sent life. And those three truths 00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:33.539 are this. Number one, we're sent under authority. 00:09:34.899 --> 00:09:38.639 Number two, we are sent on his mission. And I 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:42.759 emphasize his mission. And number three, we are 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:46.500 sent with his presence. Under his authority, 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:49.440 on his mission, with his presence. You know, 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:50.980 I think one of the greatest tricks that the enemy 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:56.399 can trick the believers and saints into believing 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:59.960 is convincing them that somehow ministry or somehow 00:09:59.960 --> 00:10:04.299 the great commission is only for the pros. Only 00:10:04.299 --> 00:10:07.440 for someone who has a title or a degree or a 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:10.379 microphone. And that everyone else is just there 00:10:10.379 --> 00:10:14.720 to support the mission. Just support it. not 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:17.179 live it. And that's not what Jesus has said. 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:21.139 When Jesus stood on that Galilean hilltop, that 00:10:21.139 --> 00:10:23.399 mountaintop, and he looked out at his disciples, 00:10:23.659 --> 00:10:27.360 do you think he saw a bunch of superstars? No, 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:31.120 he did not see a bunch of superstars. Jesus saw 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:34.700 a group of very ordinary men, very inconsistent, 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:39.139 underqualified men. He saw a fisherman. He saw 00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:42.139 a tax collector. He saw a doubter. And to that 00:10:42.139 --> 00:10:47.259 group of people, he said, go. And you think about 00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:50.519 it, you know, the entire future of the mission 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:54.460 that Jesus had started to seek and save the lost, 00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:57.100 to save humanity, is now hanging on a handful 00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:59.340 of nobodies who just happen to take Jesus at 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:01.759 his word. That's pretty extraordinary, isn't 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:04.960 it? Look around. I look around sometimes and 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:09.710 I go, Lord, Help us, help us. We are a bunch 00:11:09.710 --> 00:11:12.649 of nobodies trying to make something happen, 00:11:12.750 --> 00:11:14.830 but we're gonna take you at your word, amen? 00:11:17.450 --> 00:11:19.570 Jesus said, I'm gonna take some regular people 00:11:19.570 --> 00:11:21.830 and I'm gonna turn them loose for an eternal 00:11:21.830 --> 00:11:24.970 purpose. So if you're taking notes, the first 00:11:24.970 --> 00:11:26.710 thing I'll have you write down is that first 00:11:26.710 --> 00:11:32.090 point. He sent under his authority. Because before 00:11:32.090 --> 00:11:36.289 the command to go comes, He first says, all authority 00:11:36.289 --> 00:11:38.889 in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:11:40.210 --> 00:11:42.889 It's like Jesus was saying, before you step out, 00:11:42.929 --> 00:11:47.870 remember whose name you step out in. Because 00:11:47.870 --> 00:11:50.409 that word, that word authority in the Greek, 00:11:50.529 --> 00:11:53.309 which is the original language that the New Testament 00:11:53.309 --> 00:11:55.970 was written in, that word authority means the 00:11:55.970 --> 00:12:00.669 rightful power to act. In other words, Jesus 00:12:00.669 --> 00:12:03.809 is sovereign. He has the rightful power attack. 00:12:04.029 --> 00:12:06.549 He doesn't just have influence. He has ownership. 00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:11.360 Because he's the one who conquered sin. He's 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:13.059 the one who conquered death. He's the one who 00:12:13.059 --> 00:12:15.740 conquered hell and the grave. And now he's standing 00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:18.639 in resurrection glory and he's saying, I have 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:21.620 all authority over every nation, over every kingdom, 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:24.220 over every heart, every demon, every disease, 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:27.379 and every dark corner of this world. And that 00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:30.960 means that there is no place you can go where 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:40.870 Jesus isn't already king. Amen? Authority before 00:12:40.870 --> 00:12:44.769 assignment. You notice the order. Jesus doesn't 00:12:44.769 --> 00:12:47.389 give them authority. He reminds them that he 00:12:47.389 --> 00:12:53.070 already has it. In other words, Jesus says, because 00:12:53.070 --> 00:12:56.409 I have all authority, you can now go in confidence. 00:12:57.889 --> 00:13:00.690 If you belong to Jesus, you don't go in your 00:13:00.690 --> 00:13:06.110 own name. You go in his. You don't have to manufacture. 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:10.360 courage you just need to walk in obedience and 00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:13.139 too many Christians act like they're undercover 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:16.460 secret agents in the kingdom right like like 00:13:16.460 --> 00:13:18.659 that's your spiritual gift that God has equipped 00:13:18.659 --> 00:13:21.720 you with is to be an undercover agent where man 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:24.840 where no one knows I'm a Christian like see how 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:27.179 far I can ride under the radar see if I can make 00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:29.240 it another 10 years without anyone knowing right 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:32.980 anyone have that spiritual gift raise it high 00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:41.379 no just kidding Secret agent man, right? You 00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:45.379 got a badge in your back pocket and that's where 00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:47.799 you're going to keep it, right? But in the kingdom 00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:52.080 of God, there are no interns. There are no people 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:53.919 who are waiting for, you know, hey, I'll hang 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:57.320 around hoping God gives me something to do. I 00:13:57.320 --> 00:14:01.159 don't know, right? In the kingdom of God, we 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:04.700 are told that we are ambassadors for the king. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:09.419 We are walking in his delegated authority. Paul 00:14:09.419 --> 00:14:12.340 said this in 2 Corinthians 5. He said, we are 00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:15.580 ambassadors for Christ since God is making his 00:14:15.580 --> 00:14:19.720 appeal through us. And that means when you step 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:22.899 out to preach Jesus or when you serve his people, 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:26.639 the church, or when you speak his truth, you're 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:30.940 not doing Jesus a favor. He's doing his work 00:14:30.940 --> 00:14:35.990 through you. You're his vessel. not a volunteer. 00:14:37.970 --> 00:14:41.730 You're carrying his authority into those moments. 00:14:41.830 --> 00:14:44.250 In the ancient world, that's how it worked. A 00:14:44.250 --> 00:14:47.529 king would seal a letter, his authority, his 00:14:47.529 --> 00:14:51.250 decree, with his signet ring into the hot wax. 00:14:51.590 --> 00:14:55.690 He would impress his mark into that wax and it 00:14:55.690 --> 00:14:58.970 carried his authority. It carried his name. You 00:14:58.970 --> 00:15:01.830 know who didn't matter? It didn't matter who 00:15:01.830 --> 00:15:05.340 carried the letter for him. It didn't matter 00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:07.860 who delivered the letter. What mattered was the 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:12.519 mark that it bore. And so when you step out into 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:14.960 this world as a disciple of Jesus, you might 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:17.980 not feel very powerful, but the name that you 00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:21.460 carry has authority over heaven and earth. And 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:23.600 that means even the darkest corners of this world, 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:27.840 Jesus has a divine claim over. And so before 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:32.110 we ever talk about what we're called to do, we 00:15:32.110 --> 00:15:36.049 have to remember who we're called by. That there's 00:15:36.049 --> 00:15:39.330 authority in Christ and that precedes our assignment. 00:15:39.590 --> 00:15:43.669 And when you walk into work tomorrow, that you're 00:15:43.669 --> 00:15:46.309 not just an employee, you're also a representative 00:15:46.309 --> 00:15:51.090 of King Jesus. When you drop your kids off at 00:15:51.090 --> 00:15:55.029 school, you're not just a parent, you're a missionary 00:15:55.029 --> 00:16:00.039 on assignment. When you serve, even here at Village, 00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:02.200 whether kids or worship or hospitality, you're 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:04.399 not just a volunteer. You're standing in the 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:07.080 authority of the risen Christ to make his name 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:11.879 known to all the world. We don't go because we're 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:16.759 qualified. We go because we're authorized. And 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:18.700 the authorized or the authority has flown from 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:21.240 Christ and his authority. Jesus says, all authority 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:26.720 has been given to me, therefore go. And he's 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:29.460 not just giving us confidence, but he's also 00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:33.080 calling us into that calling, the one that he 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:36.460 started. And so let's talk number two, we are 00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:41.600 sent on his mission. Sent on his mission. Go 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:44.320 therefore and make disciples of all nations, 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:46.600 baptizing them in the name of the Father and 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:49.320 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:54.779 to observe everything I have commanded you. Friends, 00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:58.179 if you've ever wondered, as I have often, what's 00:16:58.179 --> 00:17:02.299 God's will for my life? I can tell you at least 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:07.119 in part what it is. It's right here. You don't 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:08.700 have to climb a mountain or you don't have to 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:11.119 wait for a mystical voice in the clouds to tell 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:13.460 you or whisper to you what your calling is. It's 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:15.920 right here in his word because Jesus spells it 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:18.799 out in black and white. Go, therefore, make disciples. 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:23.160 Go therefore make disciples. You're called to 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:25.740 go therefore and make disciples. And what is 00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:27.839 his ministry? Well, you could sum up Jesus's 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:31.200 ministry in this, that Jesus is on a mission 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:34.640 for one more. That's kind of the language we 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:36.619 use around here, but I'm gonna use it here in 00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:39.299 this kind of summing it up. Jesus is on a mission 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:46.259 for one more. One more disciple. One more fully 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:49.559 committed follower of Jesus. Listen, the shepherd 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:53.920 leaves the 99 to go after the what? The one. 00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:59.319 The woman turns her house over completely, upends 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:04.200 her house just to find the one lost coin. The 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:06.460 father runs down the road to welcome home the 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:10.440 one rebellious son. And Jesus looks up into a 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:13.019 sycamore tree as he's walking by and he calls 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:17.799 down the one crooked tax collector. Jesus crosses 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:21.579 the lake in a storm to free one tormented man 00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:24.420 living among the tombs. Then he gets back in 00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:28.140 the boat and goes. He pauses on his way through 00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:31.920 a crowd just to touch one desperate woman who 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:35.720 needs healing. He kneels beside one adulterous 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:40.240 sinner. Everyone else is looking to stone. And 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:43.819 he hangs on a cross between two criminals and 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:47.680 reaches the one who would believe. You see, the 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:51.200 heart of Jesus is one more soul, one more story, 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:54.299 one more person brought from death to life. Amen? 00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:57.259 In other words, the Great Commission isn't about 00:18:57.259 --> 00:19:00.059 adding something new to your life. It's about 00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:04.960 seeing your whole life differently. As you are 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:08.099 going to work, that's the beauty of this, this 00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:10.240 mission that we've received from Jesus, this 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:12.259 mission that we're on. If it's his, it's ours 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:15.420 too. And the secret to it is hidden in that one 00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:20.220 little word, go. That one little word, go. Because 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:22.259 in the Greek, in the original language, that 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:24.220 word go is not like get up out of your seat and 00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:25.599 go right now and do it and then come back and 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:29.279 then we'll move on. That word go actually means 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:35.910 as you go. So how would that read then? As you 00:19:35.910 --> 00:19:41.890 go along, make disciples. Oh, well that gives 00:19:41.890 --> 00:19:44.210 a whole new definition to when we're supposed 00:19:44.210 --> 00:19:48.829 to be doing it, doesn't it? As we go along, as 00:19:48.829 --> 00:19:53.609 we go, make disciples of all nations. As we go. 00:19:53.730 --> 00:19:56.490 And the Great Commission isn't just that, adding 00:19:56.490 --> 00:19:59.849 more work to my life, another event, another 00:19:59.849 --> 00:20:03.890 service to attend. But when we see our life in 00:20:03.890 --> 00:20:06.589 a whole new way and we see as we go about our 00:20:06.589 --> 00:20:09.490 life, we are to be making disciples. As you are 00:20:09.490 --> 00:20:12.390 going to work, as you are going to school, as 00:20:12.390 --> 00:20:14.609 you are going to practice, as you are coming 00:20:14.609 --> 00:20:19.630 home to your family, one more. The heart of Jesus 00:20:19.630 --> 00:20:22.349 is for one more. He's looking in the sycamore 00:20:22.349 --> 00:20:25.369 tree. He's looking in the crowd. He's looking 00:20:25.369 --> 00:20:28.769 for the lost one. One more as you go along. Because 00:20:28.769 --> 00:20:31.930 discipleship ultimately is not a program. But 00:20:31.930 --> 00:20:34.509 it's a posture of our life. It's how we orient 00:20:34.509 --> 00:20:37.190 our life. Jesus didn't say, go build more programs. 00:20:37.769 --> 00:20:41.029 Go start more events. He said, go make disciples. 00:20:42.769 --> 00:20:45.170 And that means disciple making isn't reserved 00:20:45.170 --> 00:20:48.009 for Bible teachers or missionaries. It's what 00:20:48.009 --> 00:20:51.890 everyday believers do when they take Jesus seriously. 00:20:51.950 --> 00:20:57.029 Do you want to take Jesus seriously? Can you 00:20:57.029 --> 00:21:00.940 pray with a coworker who's struggling? That's 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:05.339 disciple making. Can you invite a neighbor into 00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:09.759 your home to have a discussion or a talk or to 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:12.000 get to know them and go a little bit deeper and 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:14.380 introduce them to this Jesus who's transformed 00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:17.480 your life? That's disciple making. Can you invite 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:20.059 a neighbor or a friend or a coworker into your 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:22.920 small group to bring them into this circle of 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:25.519 discussion about what Jesus is doing and who 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:29.730 he is? That's disciple making. Can you help your 00:21:29.730 --> 00:21:32.890 kids memorize scripture? And can you model grace 00:21:32.890 --> 00:21:35.490 for them when you're at home? That's disciple 00:21:35.490 --> 00:21:41.690 making. Why is it disciple making? Because you're 00:21:41.690 --> 00:21:45.089 helping one more take a step closer to Jesus. 00:21:46.789 --> 00:21:50.690 And friends, Jesus didn't say, if you feel led 00:21:50.690 --> 00:21:55.789 to go, did he? Oh, that's our favorite Christian 00:21:55.789 --> 00:21:58.609 cop -out, isn't it? I said, sorry guys, I just 00:21:58.609 --> 00:22:01.609 don't feel led. If you feel led to go, and it's 00:22:01.609 --> 00:22:03.369 fine. If you don't feel led to do this or that 00:22:03.369 --> 00:22:05.109 that I'm asking you to do, cool, not a problem. 00:22:05.210 --> 00:22:06.930 But when the scripture comes along and Jesus 00:22:06.930 --> 00:22:09.390 says, hey, I got an assignment for you. If you're 00:22:09.390 --> 00:22:12.130 in Christ, if you've been redeemed, if I set 00:22:12.130 --> 00:22:14.609 you free, there ain't nothing louder than a captive 00:22:14.609 --> 00:22:17.849 set free, eh? Let's get that word out and let's 00:22:17.849 --> 00:22:21.970 go make disciples. As you go, look for the one 00:22:21.970 --> 00:22:26.279 more. That's what Jesus modeled. He's not looking 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:29.220 for fans in the stands. He's looking for players 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:32.400 on the field. And every believer has a position 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:36.299 to play in what he is doing. You see, Jesus gave 00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:38.480 these three action words, these three verbs there. 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:43.680 He said, going, as you go, living a sent life 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:48.200 every day. He said, baptizing, because following 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:50.480 Jesus isn't just a private, personal decision. 00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:55.220 It's also a public declaration, isn't it? Baptism 00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:58.599 says, I belong to Jesus and I belong to his people. 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:02.680 When we baptize here at Village, we're not just 00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:05.400 celebrating some personal milestone in someone's 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:07.319 life, but we're also welcoming a new brother 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:10.539 or sister into the family, the visible family 00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:16.000 of God. Baptism marks that new identity and that 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:19.680 new community. It's how disciples are visibly 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:23.859 added to the body of Christ. And then he says 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:26.420 teaching. So going, baptizing, teaching, helping 00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:29.420 them to live out the way of Jesus in their lives. 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:31.920 And that's a long process. That's a life process. 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:34.240 That's spending your life and investing your 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:37.599 life and energy into pointing them to Jesus. 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:41.160 And that pattern is clear. Go, reach, grow, go, 00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:44.680 reach. As you go, reach and grow people. As you 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:47.779 go, reach and grow people in Christ. It's not 00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:51.029 a very complicated system, is it? But it does 00:23:51.029 --> 00:23:53.210 have to be intentional. It doesn't just happen, 00:23:53.329 --> 00:23:58.470 does it? Being the people of God is not about 00:23:58.470 --> 00:24:02.750 filling more chairs. It's about forming Christ 00:24:02.750 --> 00:24:08.210 -honoring disciples who bring the gospel to every 00:24:08.210 --> 00:24:12.789 corner of their life. You guys know the analogy 00:24:12.789 --> 00:24:14.609 of dropping a stone into water, right? And the 00:24:14.609 --> 00:24:17.210 ripple effect. I got three boys. Anytime there's 00:24:17.210 --> 00:24:20.079 water and there's rocks, Rocks go in water, right? 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:23.220 Rocks keep going in water. Even when people are 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:25.200 passing by on boats, we still throw rocks at 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:30.359 them, right? That's even more fun, actually. 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:36.579 I took one of my sons fishing and I'm pretty 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:39.640 sure we were at one point discussing, you know, 00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:41.519 wouldn't it be fun if we just grabbed some rocks 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:43.400 and hit the fish and then went in and grabbed 00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:45.539 the fish and pulled it out? This reel and rod 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:48.200 thing, this is... This is lame. This is a manly. 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:53.220 Let's throw rocks at fish. We couldn't see any 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:56.680 fish, though. Makes sense why you put a fishing 00:24:56.680 --> 00:25:02.759 line in the water where you can't see. With any 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:04.660 stone or rock that's thrown into the water, the 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:06.839 impact, it's small, right? But then these ripples 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:10.279 begin to reach out. I don't remember the whole 00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:12.299 story, but I do remember a man named Billy Graham. 00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:15.289 You guys remember a man named Billy Graham? And 00:25:15.289 --> 00:25:17.329 I don't remember the whole story of his conversion, 00:25:17.490 --> 00:25:19.809 but I do know this, that his conversion took 00:25:19.809 --> 00:25:26.029 place at a revival itself. But I can't remember 00:25:26.029 --> 00:25:27.829 the name of the guy who ran it, and probably 00:25:27.829 --> 00:25:30.269 most of you can't either. And that's the point, 00:25:30.329 --> 00:25:33.829 right? There was a guy who stood up who was probably, 00:25:33.869 --> 00:25:37.509 by all human accounts, a failed evangelist. We 00:25:37.509 --> 00:25:41.269 don't remember his name. And yet, sitting in 00:25:41.269 --> 00:25:43.859 the audience one night, was Billy Graham and 00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:46.920 I think his friend came and he was convicted 00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:48.400 and then he came back the next night and the 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:50.180 next night and he gave his heart to Jesus and 00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:53.460 from that point on he lived his life committed 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:55.799 to the mission of spreading the good news to 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:58.779 the corners of the world and that guy he could 00:25:58.779 --> 00:26:01.200 have gone on with his life died thinking he's 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:03.039 a failure or he could recognize that he played 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:06.039 a small part in what God was doing it had a ripple 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:08.920 effect and you don't know the ripple effect that 00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:11.759 your commitment to obedience to Christ in this 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:15.980 one regard can have on this world. When we act 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:18.759 in obedience to reach one more, that can ripple 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:23.019 through a neighborhood. I remember 20 years ago, 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:25.359 30 years ago, there were stories called transformation 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:27.799 stories and they were about how the gospel was 00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:30.200 brought into certain areas, certain cities, certain 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:32.839 neighborhoods and cities and how it spread like 00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:35.680 wildfire and entire communities were saved because 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:38.970 of what God was doing. Someone was faithful to 00:26:38.970 --> 00:26:41.849 act in obedience, to declare the good news of 00:26:41.849 --> 00:26:45.150 Jesus, to mark out, stake out the claim of Jesus 00:26:45.150 --> 00:26:49.890 as king. And to see that ripple effect reaching 00:26:49.890 --> 00:26:52.609 one more after one more, a city can be changed, 00:26:52.730 --> 00:26:54.670 a neighborhood can be changed, even a generation 00:26:54.670 --> 00:26:58.430 as we saw with Billy Graham. Multiple generations. 00:27:01.509 --> 00:27:04.089 The key is you don't have to quit your job, your 00:27:04.089 --> 00:27:07.900 day job to live on mission. Your job is your 00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:10.980 mission field. And you don't need a passport 00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:15.380 to be sent. You just need to pay attention to 00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:20.259 where you are currently planted. Your classroom 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:22.359 is a mission field. Why? Because there is one 00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:26.920 more there. Your coffee shop is a mission field. 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:29.759 Why? Because there is one more there. Your cul 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:32.359 -de -sac and your gym or your friend group is 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:34.880 a mission field because in that group is one 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:39.819 more. The Great Commission is not something we 00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:42.599 go on. It's something we wake up to every morning. 00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:49.539 Every day your mission starts. I love this. I 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:51.680 love this last part here, the third point, that 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:54.019 Jesus doesn't just send us out and say, you know, 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:56.039 good luck, buttercup. I hope it works out for 00:27:56.039 --> 00:28:02.900 you. He ends the Great Commission, the part that's 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:05.230 not. maybe not talked about as much as the first 00:28:05.230 --> 00:28:07.109 part. He ends the Great Commission with a promise. 00:28:07.210 --> 00:28:10.250 I think that changes everything. That we're not 00:28:10.250 --> 00:28:12.150 just sitting under his authority or on his mission, 00:28:12.230 --> 00:28:17.369 but we're sent with his presence. He said, remember, 00:28:17.470 --> 00:28:22.670 I am with you always to the end of the age. Jesus 00:28:22.670 --> 00:28:24.609 has given his disciples the greatest mission 00:28:24.609 --> 00:28:27.470 in history. He's told them to go into all the 00:28:27.470 --> 00:28:29.990 nations to make disciples, to teach and baptize. 00:28:30.049 --> 00:28:33.170 It's massive, it's global, it's way bigger than 00:28:33.170 --> 00:28:35.450 them. And then how does he end it? He says, one 00:28:35.450 --> 00:28:38.890 promise, I am with you always, not a throwaway 00:28:38.890 --> 00:28:43.490 line. It's literally the only hope for the mission. 00:28:44.930 --> 00:28:47.470 Because without his presence, the great commission 00:28:47.470 --> 00:28:52.160 is impossible. But with this presence, it truly 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:59.519 is unstoppable. Jesus is saying, as you go, as 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:03.160 you go and walk in obedience, you're never going 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:06.579 to walk into a moment where I'm not already there. 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:10.779 You're never going to walk into a conversation 00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:16.019 where I'm not already there. I'll never forget 00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:18.519 when I was in Uganda and I had been asked to 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:21.279 teach at this pastor's conference and I felt 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:23.579 completely inadequate to teach a room full of 00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:25.579 pastors through a translator. It was just something 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:27.859 that I'd never done before and I was looking 00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:29.299 for the exits. I was trying to figure out how 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:31.519 far I could run before I ran out of breath. It 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:35.039 wasn't very far. They would have found me right 00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:40.690 outside the door. I was feeling inadequate, and 00:29:40.690 --> 00:29:43.529 I'm sitting there in worship beforehand and going, 00:29:43.630 --> 00:29:48.650 like, dude, get someone else. Like, get someone 00:29:48.650 --> 00:29:53.690 else. I'm not, this is not my thing. And I remember 00:29:53.690 --> 00:29:56.549 being in worship and watching as others worshiped 00:29:56.549 --> 00:29:58.509 the Lord and the songs rose, and I didn't understand 00:29:58.509 --> 00:30:00.250 all of it, but sometimes they would sing in English. 00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:03.160 And you could definitely see that the Lord was 00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:05.779 working and people were declaring his praise 00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:09.579 and were being moved by his presence and spirit 00:30:09.579 --> 00:30:12.720 and responding to him. And I just remember realizing, 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:16.940 you know, John, you're not bringing Jesus into 00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:19.440 the room here. Like you put too much pressure 00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:21.180 on your back. Like you're not bringing him in 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:23.819 the room here. He's been here the whole time. 00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:26.680 You're just got an opportunity to partner with 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:29.180 him in what he's doing here. And who knows, maybe 00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:31.019 someone out there needs to hear one thing you're 00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:33.240 going to say or two things, or maybe someone 00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:35.619 there is just going to ignore you. Who cares? 00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:39.819 Jesus is in the room. King Jesus is in the room. 00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:45.160 Help reveal him. And I think sometimes we think, 00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:47.339 man, if I go talk to that person, I also got 00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:50.200 to bring Jesus with me. And I'm not too sure 00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:53.099 Jesus is with me. And so I don't know if I want 00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:54.420 to go in there because if Jesus doesn't come, 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:57.819 this is going to be an abject failure. You know, 00:30:57.819 --> 00:31:00.359 Jesus is with you and Jesus is there already. 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:02.700 And he's been with them for a long time before. 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:04.880 And he's been ministering to them and his Holy 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:06.859 Spirit has been prompting them. And who knows 00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:09.859 the work that he's put in far before you came 00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:13.930 on the scene. And you may not see a result. You 00:31:13.930 --> 00:31:16.690 may be like the guy who led Billy Graham to Christ 00:31:16.690 --> 00:31:19.589 or the guy who led the guy who led Billy Graham 00:31:19.589 --> 00:31:23.329 to Christ. You don't know. The guy who died and 00:31:23.329 --> 00:31:26.829 never knew the name Billy Graham, but he led 00:31:26.829 --> 00:31:28.450 someone to Christ who led someone to Christ who 00:31:28.450 --> 00:31:31.069 led Billy Graham to Christ. You don't know what 00:31:31.069 --> 00:31:35.650 you're doing. That's the point. You are an ambassador. 00:31:36.690 --> 00:31:40.380 You're not the thing. You're the messenger. You're 00:31:40.380 --> 00:31:43.079 to bring the glory of Christ wherever you're 00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:45.299 at, wherever Christ has already been working. 00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:48.819 And he's already been working in this world. 00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:53.420 And he lives in you and he works in this world 00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:55.819 and he's working in those that you're ministering 00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:58.839 to. Jesus doesn't just give us marching orders 00:31:58.839 --> 00:32:02.539 either. He sends the spirit as a power supply. 00:32:04.339 --> 00:32:06.779 It's not just this solo mission that we're on. 00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:10.140 It's a spirit -filled partnership. That we're 00:32:10.140 --> 00:32:13.740 entering into. Jesus says I'm with you always. 00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:15.460 And then he points to the coming of the Holy 00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:18.119 Spirit. At the beginning of Acts. He says you 00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:21.039 will receive power. This is Jesus in Acts 1 .8. 00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:23.440 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:26.000 come upon you. And you will be my witnesses. 00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:30.180 And that means the same power that raised Jesus 00:32:30.180 --> 00:32:32.759 from the dead is living in you and me. And the 00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:35.960 same power that turned a fisherman into a preacher 00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:39.440 and turned cowards into martyrs, that same spirit 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:45.619 empowers you to live the sent life today. And 00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:49.700 you know, you may not feel bold. You may not 00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:53.859 feel equipped. I've been there many times weekly. 00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:59.039 I want you to hear what the promise of Jesus 00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:01.519 isn't. Jesus didn't come to his disciples and 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:04.799 say, therefore, go, make disciples of all nations, 00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:07.039 baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, the 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:10.299 Holy Spirit, and you got this, bro. You can do 00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:14.900 it. Did he, right? Get out there, kid. Make a 00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:18.380 name for yourself. He didn't end with, you got 00:33:18.380 --> 00:33:24.240 this. He ended with, I'm with you. I'm with you. 00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:29.220 And programs and plans and preaching, man, they 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:32.339 mean nothing if we're not connected to the presence 00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:37.319 of God. But when we're plugged in and we're found 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:40.240 in Christ and his spirit lives in us and light 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:44.140 pierces darkness and he is with us and that power 00:33:44.140 --> 00:33:48.380 source. backs up every act of obedience as we, 00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:51.079 his disciples, his children, walk in obedience 00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:53.039 to him. Because the power of the Great Commission 00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:57.700 is not found in your ability or my ability, but 00:33:57.700 --> 00:34:00.920 it's found in our availability to go on mission 00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:05.640 with God and in the power of the Spirit that 00:34:05.640 --> 00:34:08.480 shows up at the moment of courageous obedience. 00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:13.019 We wanted to show up a week before. We want it 00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:15.739 to get us ready, right? Give us a pat on the 00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:17.820 back, squeeze our shoulders, right? And be like, 00:34:17.820 --> 00:34:21.320 you got this, it's all right. But no, the spirit 00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:25.780 pours out at the moment. His people in cooperation, 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:30.079 in partnership, step out in courageous obedience 00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:35.719 to his word. Stop waiting for the perfect conditions. 00:34:36.760 --> 00:34:41.829 They're not coming. Think about that conversation 00:34:41.829 --> 00:34:44.650 or that person that you know the Lord's put in 00:34:44.650 --> 00:34:46.730 your life and you know that you have a treasure, 00:34:46.949 --> 00:34:52.750 Jesus, and you know that treasure is to be shared. 00:34:53.329 --> 00:34:55.789 Think about that person in your life that you've 00:34:55.789 --> 00:34:59.789 been waiting for the perfect circumstance. I'm 00:34:59.789 --> 00:35:01.889 telling you, there's no perfect conditions. They're 00:35:01.889 --> 00:35:05.710 not coming. Not in that situation. The perfect 00:35:05.710 --> 00:35:11.500 condition is start walking. In obedience. Walk 00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:13.440 with the knowledge that the one who sins you 00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:19.039 also goes with you. And that's really where this 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:22.280 made for more journey kind of comes to a landing. 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:26.059 It's rooted in Christ, renewed in grace, shaped 00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:29.019 for purpose and now sent to serve, stepping out 00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:31.639 in his authority, his mission and his presence. 00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:35.039 That's what it means to be a Christ honoring 00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:37.440 disciple and that's what we've been made for. 00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:42.340 And so today I want to close our time together 00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:48.380 and this series, you know, not with a poem or 00:35:48.380 --> 00:35:52.219 something, but with a commissioning of sorts 00:35:52.219 --> 00:35:56.840 that you and I would not just be church goers, 00:35:56.840 --> 00:36:00.039 but we would be disciples who live sent.