1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,360 for the month of February, 2 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:04,560 we're going to have a short sermon series 3 00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:06,680 called The Greatest, 4 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:10,840 in which four different preachers over the next four weeks 5 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:15,280 will speak to you about some of the great themes of the Bible. 6 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:18,920 But I'll leave that to each man to convince you 7 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,480 of what they're speaking about and why it's so great. 8 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:27,400 Today, we'll be focusing in on the Great Commission, 9 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,720 which has been given to every single Christian 10 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:33,640 by our Lord Jesus Christ. 11 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:37,160 And we're doing this because it is a wonderful thing 12 00:00:37,160 --> 00:00:42,160 for every single one of us to pause and reflect 13 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,560 and ask ourselves if we are really obeying 14 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:50,560 some of the last words given to us Christ's disciples. 15 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:52,840 And that's what I wanna speak to you on today, 16 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:56,680 because this really is the greatest commission 17 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:58,640 given to the church. 18 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:00,640 So in saying that, if we think about it, 19 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:04,880 we are a people who are actually under orders 20 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,840 from headquarters, from the King of Kings himself 21 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:13,040 to go and make disciples of him. 22 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,000 And so the words that we're going to look at this morning 23 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,200 aren't just a suggestion, 24 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,700 but a divine commission given to all of us. 25 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:26,040 And so one thing that we must be all thinking 26 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,840 about this morning and ask ourselves, 27 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,240 what is the Great Commission? 28 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:35,000 What exactly is Jesus asking of us? 29 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,520 Because of all the things that we wanna do 30 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,160 as a church and individually, 31 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,280 if we don't understand what Jesus is asking of us, 32 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:48,120 it's very likely that we'll go about it in the wrong way. 33 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:49,880 And if we're not careful, 34 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,680 ultimately go about it in our own strength. 35 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,080 But if we do understand our Lord's commission, 36 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,600 if we understand that Jesus has called us, 37 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:04,680 that he has commissioned us to the most awesome mission 38 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:06,760 ever given to humanity, 39 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:11,240 to a mission that only he can really accomplish, 40 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:15,360 yet one that he expects us to participate in, 41 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,800 then I think it will totally transform the way 42 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:21,640 that we look at evangelism 43 00:02:21,640 --> 00:02:24,160 and disciple making in our church. 44 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:26,760 So that's what I'm wanting to do with you today. 45 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:31,160 I'm wanting as a church's disciples of Jesus Christ 46 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:35,120 to reflect with you on the words that have been given 47 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,080 to all Christians throughout all times 48 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,080 so that we might understand our calling 49 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:43,360 and be edified in that, 50 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,040 that this is something that the living God 51 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,620 not only wants us to do, but is with us in the work. 52 00:02:49,620 --> 00:02:51,000 But before we do any of that, 53 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,800 would you please join me in asking our living God 54 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,400 to help us understand these words 55 00:02:58,400 --> 00:02:59,920 that we're looking at this morning? 56 00:02:59,920 --> 00:03:00,920 Would you pray with me? 57 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:08,560 Lord Jesus, it was once said to your disciples, 58 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:10,880 will you leave me also? 59 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:16,720 To which they replied, you have the words of eternal life. 60 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:21,120 These words are true. 61 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,400 These words are beautiful. 62 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,800 And we asked this morning 63 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,400 that you would pierce our hearts, 64 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:33,400 give us ears to help us to understand this commission 65 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:35,280 and that you would transform us 66 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,760 and be with us in the work 67 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:41,600 and help us to know that you are with us in the work. 68 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,540 We ask for this in your name, Jesus, amen. 69 00:03:44,540 --> 00:03:49,540 Now, before we dive in head first 70 00:03:50,380 --> 00:03:55,140 into the details of what our Lord has commanded us to do, 71 00:03:55,140 --> 00:03:59,180 I wanna actually start with the greatest encouragement 72 00:03:59,180 --> 00:04:02,220 that undergirds this passage. 73 00:04:02,220 --> 00:04:07,220 And we see it in the way that grace bookends these verses, 74 00:04:07,980 --> 00:04:12,940 which is the basis for the Great Commission. 75 00:04:12,940 --> 00:04:14,500 Let me set the scene. 76 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:17,820 Jesus told his followers that he would rise from the dead 77 00:04:17,820 --> 00:04:21,380 and that he would meet them on a mountain in Galilee. 78 00:04:21,380 --> 00:04:25,100 And so after he conquers death, he meets them 79 00:04:25,100 --> 00:04:29,540 and he says, all authority in heaven and on earth 80 00:04:29,540 --> 00:04:33,180 has been given to me, verse 18. 81 00:04:33,180 --> 00:04:36,100 And then after he's given them the Great Commission, 82 00:04:36,100 --> 00:04:37,820 notice how he ended all. 83 00:04:37,820 --> 00:04:41,180 He says, surely I'm with you always 84 00:04:41,180 --> 00:04:45,060 to the very end of the age, verse 20. 85 00:04:45,060 --> 00:04:46,980 Do you see what he's doing there? 86 00:04:46,980 --> 00:04:49,540 Jesus bookends the Great Commission 87 00:04:49,540 --> 00:04:54,540 in between two huge statements of grace. 88 00:04:56,780 --> 00:04:59,020 He began by telling his disciples 89 00:04:59,020 --> 00:05:01,740 that all authority in heaven and on earth 90 00:05:01,740 --> 00:05:05,420 had been given to him and he ends with the assurance 91 00:05:05,420 --> 00:05:11,100 of the promise that he will always be with his people. 92 00:05:11,100 --> 00:05:12,900 Now let's step back and have a think 93 00:05:12,900 --> 00:05:15,580 about the immediate context here. 94 00:05:15,580 --> 00:05:18,980 Jesus is speaking with 11 guys 95 00:05:18,980 --> 00:05:23,060 and he's telling them to go and make disciples of what? 96 00:05:23,060 --> 00:05:28,060 Not of their local villages, towns or cities, but of what? 97 00:05:28,220 --> 00:05:31,020 All nations. 98 00:05:31,020 --> 00:05:33,780 That's what Jesus is saying here. 99 00:05:33,780 --> 00:05:38,380 He's saying, you 11 guys are to go out and fish for people, 100 00:05:38,380 --> 00:05:43,380 fish for people from every tribe, nation, tongue and people. 101 00:05:44,060 --> 00:05:46,260 And so like the original audience 102 00:05:46,260 --> 00:05:51,100 would have needed to understand God's grace in all of this, 103 00:05:51,100 --> 00:05:54,020 we too need to understand it. 104 00:05:54,860 --> 00:05:56,340 And so let's slow down here 105 00:05:56,340 --> 00:05:58,660 and think about that first phrase. 106 00:05:58,660 --> 00:06:01,940 All authority in heaven and on earth 107 00:06:01,940 --> 00:06:06,940 has been given to me because understanding that 108 00:06:07,020 --> 00:06:09,500 is hugely important. 109 00:06:09,500 --> 00:06:11,380 Now I say it's hugely important 110 00:06:11,380 --> 00:06:15,180 because Jesus is claiming to be the fulfillment 111 00:06:15,180 --> 00:06:18,340 of Daniel's prophecy in which the prophet 112 00:06:18,340 --> 00:06:21,580 saw the ancient of days, which is another name 113 00:06:21,580 --> 00:06:25,940 for God Almighty, he gives the kingdom, 114 00:06:25,940 --> 00:06:28,900 the eternal kingdom to the Son of man 115 00:06:28,900 --> 00:06:32,940 and all power so that, and this is important for us 116 00:06:32,940 --> 00:06:37,940 to understand here, so that all nations might worship him. 117 00:06:38,700 --> 00:06:43,500 It's found right there in Daniel 7, verses 13 to 14. 118 00:06:43,500 --> 00:06:46,820 And that's what Jesus is claiming for himself here. 119 00:06:46,820 --> 00:06:50,100 He's saying, I'm the one that Daniel saw God the Father 120 00:06:50,100 --> 00:06:54,900 give everything to and indeed it has been given to me 121 00:06:54,900 --> 00:06:59,260 so that all nations might worship me. 122 00:07:00,220 --> 00:07:03,420 Now these 11 guys would have needed to understand that 123 00:07:03,420 --> 00:07:08,420 because Jesus was sending them on an impossible mission. 124 00:07:09,380 --> 00:07:12,020 Now I don't know how many civilizations 125 00:07:12,020 --> 00:07:14,060 or known people groups would have been going 126 00:07:14,060 --> 00:07:17,460 through their minds, but I'm sure that they would have been 127 00:07:17,460 --> 00:07:22,460 thinking the same thing as we would in our own context. 128 00:07:22,460 --> 00:07:26,380 And that's that there is a lot of people in this world 129 00:07:26,380 --> 00:07:30,580 and the work can seem so overwhelming. 130 00:07:31,900 --> 00:07:33,980 Just this week I had the privilege of hearing 131 00:07:33,980 --> 00:07:37,900 from a mission organization called The Big Give 132 00:07:37,900 --> 00:07:42,060 which started in Canada, which encourages the local church 133 00:07:42,060 --> 00:07:45,260 to reach their local communities by putting on 134 00:07:45,260 --> 00:07:49,220 a garage sale once a year where everything, 135 00:07:49,220 --> 00:07:53,060 and I mean everything is absolutely free. 136 00:07:53,060 --> 00:07:55,180 It's a really good idea. 137 00:07:55,180 --> 00:07:58,460 They encourage the local church to feed, help, give, 138 00:07:58,460 --> 00:08:01,900 and care for anyone who might come by 139 00:08:01,900 --> 00:08:05,220 in real practical ways. 140 00:08:05,220 --> 00:08:07,460 And one of the things that really stood out to me 141 00:08:07,460 --> 00:08:10,660 was just how many people who they met, 142 00:08:10,660 --> 00:08:14,260 who walked past their doors for years, 143 00:08:14,260 --> 00:08:19,260 how they didn't have a clue who Jesus really is. 144 00:08:19,780 --> 00:08:23,740 That's not to say that they might know about the church 145 00:08:23,740 --> 00:08:26,860 or Christianity from pop culture, 146 00:08:26,860 --> 00:08:28,980 which is never a great thing, 147 00:08:28,980 --> 00:08:33,980 but they said not many people know who Jesus really is. 148 00:08:35,020 --> 00:08:38,700 And that's the same in our city of Perth, 149 00:08:38,700 --> 00:08:40,660 even here in Armadale. 150 00:08:40,660 --> 00:08:42,860 Many might know that there's a church here 151 00:08:42,860 --> 00:08:47,380 that we have jump and we have a wonderful food outlet, 152 00:08:47,380 --> 00:08:52,380 but most likely many don't know who Jesus is. 153 00:08:52,620 --> 00:08:55,140 And so the work that we have cut out for us 154 00:08:55,140 --> 00:08:59,140 here at Grace Christian Church in just this city alone 155 00:08:59,140 --> 00:09:03,180 can seem overwhelming when we start to think 156 00:09:03,180 --> 00:09:06,860 about what Jesus has asked us to do. 157 00:09:08,260 --> 00:09:11,820 And this is why understanding the grace of God 158 00:09:11,820 --> 00:09:16,820 that undergirds the great commission is so important. 159 00:09:16,860 --> 00:09:20,780 All authority in heaven and on earth 160 00:09:20,780 --> 00:09:23,900 has been given to Jesus. 161 00:09:23,900 --> 00:09:25,820 If we understand that church, 162 00:09:25,820 --> 00:09:28,220 if we understand that our King, 163 00:09:28,220 --> 00:09:31,900 who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, 164 00:09:31,900 --> 00:09:35,860 if we understand that he has all authority 165 00:09:35,860 --> 00:09:37,380 and that it's being given to him, 166 00:09:37,380 --> 00:09:39,700 then we can walk confidently 167 00:09:39,700 --> 00:09:43,140 into any city, town, village, suburb, 168 00:09:43,140 --> 00:09:46,460 any situation and share the gospel 169 00:09:46,460 --> 00:09:51,020 because no power on earth can stop that from happening. 170 00:09:52,060 --> 00:09:55,220 And that's not to say that many might tell you 171 00:09:55,220 --> 00:09:57,860 that you're not allowed to share the gospel 172 00:09:57,860 --> 00:10:00,380 with them or even their nation, 173 00:10:00,380 --> 00:10:04,260 but have a think about who's really in charge here. 174 00:10:04,260 --> 00:10:09,260 Think about these words of the risen King of Kings, 175 00:10:10,220 --> 00:10:13,540 all authority in heaven and on earth. 176 00:10:14,460 --> 00:10:17,020 That means church, anywhere we go, 177 00:10:17,020 --> 00:10:22,020 anywhere we might find ourselves, Jesus is in charge. 178 00:10:23,700 --> 00:10:24,740 I don't know about you, 179 00:10:24,740 --> 00:10:28,780 but that is such a freeing and glorious thing 180 00:10:29,700 --> 00:10:32,420 when the media, when pop culture, 181 00:10:32,420 --> 00:10:36,940 when Western society says you're not welcome, 182 00:10:36,940 --> 00:10:41,260 you're not allowed to share Jesus in our schools, 183 00:10:41,260 --> 00:10:44,780 in the public sphere with your work colleagues. 184 00:10:44,780 --> 00:10:47,460 When it all seems too much, 185 00:10:47,460 --> 00:10:52,380 well, we have the words of Jesus, he's in charge. 186 00:10:52,380 --> 00:10:57,380 And he has commissioned us, his disciples, to make him known. 187 00:10:57,380 --> 00:11:02,380 A five volume series called 2000 Years of Christ's Power 188 00:11:04,380 --> 00:11:08,340 was recently recommended to me by our very own Ben Wright, 189 00:11:08,340 --> 00:11:10,500 who was playing drums this morning. 190 00:11:10,500 --> 00:11:14,940 Now the series covers 2000 years of Christ's reign 191 00:11:14,940 --> 00:11:17,140 over this world through the church. 192 00:11:17,140 --> 00:11:21,740 And historian Nick Needham has done the most outstanding job 193 00:11:21,740 --> 00:11:26,420 in showing how Christ indeed did end up working 194 00:11:26,420 --> 00:11:30,580 through these 11 guys who went on to establish the church 195 00:11:30,580 --> 00:11:33,100 in Jerusalem and then Samaria, 196 00:11:33,100 --> 00:11:35,980 and then later through Paul and then after them 197 00:11:35,980 --> 00:11:39,300 to the ends of the earth through others. 198 00:11:39,300 --> 00:11:43,100 And might I highly commend to you to study church history 199 00:11:43,100 --> 00:11:48,100 because it attests to many, many Christians throughout the years 200 00:11:48,420 --> 00:11:52,220 despite real opposition from every tribe, 201 00:11:52,220 --> 00:11:54,540 nation, tongue and people. 202 00:11:54,540 --> 00:11:57,540 Well, they keep going and they knew 203 00:11:57,540 --> 00:12:01,420 that they weren't doing things in their own strength. 204 00:12:01,420 --> 00:12:04,900 No, they took these words literally 205 00:12:04,900 --> 00:12:08,060 that Christ has ultimate authority and power 206 00:12:08,060 --> 00:12:09,860 no matter where they went. 207 00:12:10,780 --> 00:12:15,780 And the church in Australia is both testament to that 208 00:12:16,340 --> 00:12:18,940 and we need to remember that. 209 00:12:18,940 --> 00:12:22,940 So that's first, the Lord Jesus has all authority and power, 210 00:12:22,940 --> 00:12:26,980 but next we notice that He is with us in the mission. 211 00:12:26,980 --> 00:12:29,300 We see that in verse 20, don't we? 212 00:12:29,300 --> 00:12:34,300 Jesus says, I'm with you always to the very end of the age. 213 00:12:35,180 --> 00:12:36,300 Now, as I said before, 214 00:12:36,300 --> 00:12:40,740 we just have finished our series in the book of Philippians. 215 00:12:40,740 --> 00:12:43,780 However, you might remember that it was there in chapter one 216 00:12:43,780 --> 00:12:46,020 that Paul said to the church, 217 00:12:46,020 --> 00:12:48,980 I thank my God every time I remember you. 218 00:12:48,980 --> 00:12:50,460 In all my prayers for you, 219 00:12:50,460 --> 00:12:53,980 I always pray with joy because of your partnership 220 00:12:53,980 --> 00:12:57,100 in the gospel from the first day until now, 221 00:12:57,100 --> 00:12:58,500 being confident of this, 222 00:12:58,500 --> 00:13:01,460 that he who began a good work in you 223 00:13:01,460 --> 00:13:06,460 will carry it onto completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 224 00:13:07,660 --> 00:13:10,420 Here, what our apostle is saying there. 225 00:13:10,420 --> 00:13:13,420 He's saying that no born again Christian 226 00:13:13,420 --> 00:13:18,420 on the face of the planet is working in their own strength. 227 00:13:18,420 --> 00:13:23,420 No, we all have the spirit of God working in us. 228 00:13:23,860 --> 00:13:27,820 And Paul is saying until the day of Christ, 229 00:13:27,820 --> 00:13:31,820 when he returns in the power and glory of his kingdom, 230 00:13:31,820 --> 00:13:35,980 Jesus is doing his good work in us 231 00:13:35,980 --> 00:13:40,460 and is doing his good work with us. 232 00:13:40,460 --> 00:13:45,460 In other words, we're not left alone to do the Christian life 233 00:13:45,460 --> 00:13:50,460 or the Christian commission because Christ is with us always. 234 00:13:54,620 --> 00:13:58,900 And that's the way we must understand these words 235 00:13:58,900 --> 00:14:00,980 that we are gonna look at this morning. 236 00:14:00,980 --> 00:14:04,200 That's the way we should understand the commission. 237 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,340 Yes, we are to be faithful to the work, 238 00:14:07,340 --> 00:14:11,300 but ultimately it is Jesus who is working in 239 00:14:11,300 --> 00:14:15,220 and through his church to do his work 240 00:14:15,220 --> 00:14:17,620 until he comes again. 241 00:14:17,620 --> 00:14:22,620 And it is he who has ultimate authority and power 242 00:14:23,060 --> 00:14:24,980 no matter where we go. 243 00:14:24,980 --> 00:14:28,300 And we see great encouragement in this 244 00:14:28,300 --> 00:14:32,400 if we see the great grace that has been given to the church. 245 00:14:33,380 --> 00:14:35,220 So we might ask ourselves, 246 00:14:35,220 --> 00:14:37,500 what exactly is the great commission? 247 00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:40,660 What does Jesus want us to actually do? 248 00:14:40,660 --> 00:14:45,620 Well, we see the details beginning in verse 19. 249 00:14:45,620 --> 00:14:50,620 Jesus says, therefore go and make disciples of all nations. 250 00:14:52,180 --> 00:14:55,740 Now, I think the going parts pretty self-explanatory 251 00:14:55,740 --> 00:14:59,500 and we'll look at that in a bit of detail in just a moment. 252 00:14:59,500 --> 00:15:04,020 But we might ask for now, we are to go, 253 00:15:04,020 --> 00:15:06,460 but for what purpose? 254 00:15:07,580 --> 00:15:10,580 Well, that's what Jesus says here. 255 00:15:10,580 --> 00:15:12,940 It's to make disciples. 256 00:15:13,900 --> 00:15:17,140 Now, I just wanna be crystal clear on something. 257 00:15:17,140 --> 00:15:21,180 It's actually impossible to make true disciples of Jesus 258 00:15:21,180 --> 00:15:22,420 in our own strength. 259 00:15:23,780 --> 00:15:24,700 Let me say that again. 260 00:15:24,700 --> 00:15:28,940 It's actually impossible to make true disciples of Jesus 261 00:15:28,940 --> 00:15:31,380 in our own strength. 262 00:15:31,380 --> 00:15:32,420 Now, don't get me wrong. 263 00:15:32,420 --> 00:15:36,020 We're called to share the good news of Jesus Christ 264 00:15:36,020 --> 00:15:37,180 with others. 265 00:15:37,180 --> 00:15:39,980 We can certainly do that and we must, 266 00:15:39,980 --> 00:15:43,380 but ask anyone who has heard these words of Jesus 267 00:15:43,380 --> 00:15:45,380 and put them into practice. 268 00:15:45,380 --> 00:15:48,340 Ask them if they have ever been able 269 00:15:48,340 --> 00:15:50,980 to give someone a new heart. 270 00:15:51,860 --> 00:15:55,460 I'm sure they would all give you the same answer. 271 00:15:55,460 --> 00:15:57,420 And that would be, no, it's impossible 272 00:15:57,420 --> 00:15:59,740 to change anyone's heart. 273 00:15:59,740 --> 00:16:03,540 It's impossible to make anyone born again. 274 00:16:05,020 --> 00:16:08,500 This again, church, this again goes back 275 00:16:08,500 --> 00:16:13,500 to our realizing that we need God in the Great Commission, 276 00:16:14,100 --> 00:16:19,100 as it's only the Holy Spirit that can bring about new birth. 277 00:16:19,700 --> 00:16:21,020 Jesus said it like this, 278 00:16:21,020 --> 00:16:23,580 one of Israel's great rabbis and Nicodemus, 279 00:16:23,580 --> 00:16:25,780 the wind blows wherever it pleases. 280 00:16:25,780 --> 00:16:29,220 You hear it sound, but you can't tell where it comes from 281 00:16:29,220 --> 00:16:31,020 or where it's going. 282 00:16:31,020 --> 00:16:35,020 So it is with everyone who was born of the Spirit, 283 00:16:35,020 --> 00:16:36,020 John 3.8. 284 00:16:36,020 --> 00:16:40,620 In other words, you can tell the truth of God's word. 285 00:16:40,620 --> 00:16:43,860 You can share the gospel with people and we must, 286 00:16:43,860 --> 00:16:47,180 but it's only the Holy Spirit that can open their hearts 287 00:16:47,180 --> 00:16:51,580 and minds to bring them to accept it. 288 00:16:51,580 --> 00:16:55,860 And so we already see in just these first few words 289 00:16:55,860 --> 00:17:00,060 that our Lord has called us to do something impossible 290 00:17:00,060 --> 00:17:03,740 in our own strength and power. 291 00:17:03,740 --> 00:17:08,500 We are called to go and make disciples, 292 00:17:08,500 --> 00:17:12,620 yet we are unable to change the human heart. 293 00:17:12,620 --> 00:17:15,860 That is what Jesus has called us to here. 294 00:17:15,860 --> 00:17:18,340 And that's why we have to see 295 00:17:18,340 --> 00:17:22,180 that we must depend on Jesus in the work. 296 00:17:23,180 --> 00:17:25,060 Now, why am I telling you any of this? 297 00:17:25,060 --> 00:17:27,820 Why is this important to know? 298 00:17:27,820 --> 00:17:30,060 Well, church, this is where understanding 299 00:17:30,060 --> 00:17:33,580 the Great Commission will help us not go wrong 300 00:17:33,580 --> 00:17:35,860 in trying to obey it. 301 00:17:35,860 --> 00:17:39,380 Because if we only understand discipleship 302 00:17:39,380 --> 00:17:41,780 as getting people to come to church, 303 00:17:41,780 --> 00:17:44,340 to join a church, to join a ministry, 304 00:17:44,340 --> 00:17:47,740 even to become a member of our church, 305 00:17:47,740 --> 00:17:52,540 then we're missing what Christ has called us to do. 306 00:17:52,540 --> 00:17:56,260 That's because disciples, as the Bible sees it, 307 00:17:56,260 --> 00:17:59,780 are people who believe, not just in Jesus, 308 00:17:59,780 --> 00:18:02,340 but in what he had to say, 309 00:18:02,340 --> 00:18:07,020 and they seek to live that out in all that they do. 310 00:18:07,020 --> 00:18:07,980 Why? 311 00:18:07,980 --> 00:18:11,300 Because the Holy Spirit has revealed to them 312 00:18:11,300 --> 00:18:16,300 that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. 313 00:18:16,540 --> 00:18:19,460 He has opened their hearts to the gospel, 314 00:18:19,460 --> 00:18:23,020 and they have been spiritually born again. 315 00:18:23,020 --> 00:18:26,020 Brothers and sisters, as much as we might try, 316 00:18:26,020 --> 00:18:29,340 we actually can't produce that sort of new 317 00:18:29,340 --> 00:18:32,300 and willing heart in other people. 318 00:18:32,300 --> 00:18:35,260 It is only the Holy Spirit that can do that work 319 00:18:35,260 --> 00:18:37,900 in another person's heart, though, 320 00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:42,180 and this is so important for us to understand this morning. 321 00:18:42,180 --> 00:18:47,180 He uses us and our obedience to his commission 322 00:18:47,260 --> 00:18:48,420 to bring that about. 323 00:18:50,180 --> 00:18:52,460 So we're left with a question. 324 00:18:52,460 --> 00:18:55,300 How do we go about all this work? 325 00:18:55,300 --> 00:18:58,780 How do we obey our Lord's words here? 326 00:18:58,780 --> 00:19:03,180 Well, we see it here in verses 19 and 20. 327 00:19:03,180 --> 00:19:07,020 Three verbs, go, baptize, teach. 328 00:19:07,020 --> 00:19:12,020 Those three things again, go, baptize, and teach. 329 00:19:12,100 --> 00:19:16,100 That is key to understanding our responsibility 330 00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:19,620 and how to make disciples of the nations. 331 00:19:19,620 --> 00:19:22,020 So let's briefly look at each one. 332 00:19:22,020 --> 00:19:23,500 First, we are to go. 333 00:19:24,380 --> 00:19:27,340 Now, as I said before, the going part 334 00:19:27,340 --> 00:19:29,820 is pretty self-explanatory 335 00:19:29,820 --> 00:19:33,900 because remember who Jesus is speaking to here. 336 00:19:33,900 --> 00:19:37,580 Many of his disciples were fishermen, 337 00:19:37,580 --> 00:19:39,860 and it was to them, if you might remember, 338 00:19:39,860 --> 00:19:41,820 at the beginning of his ministry that he said, 339 00:19:41,820 --> 00:19:45,900 follow me, and I will make you fish for people. 340 00:19:45,900 --> 00:19:49,580 And every fisherman on the face of the planet knows 341 00:19:49,580 --> 00:19:52,460 that they're not to stand on the seashore calling out, 342 00:19:52,460 --> 00:19:54,820 here, fishy, fishy. 343 00:19:54,820 --> 00:19:58,940 It's lunacy, and the disciples knew that. 344 00:20:00,220 --> 00:20:02,940 They knew that to be the case because Jesus said 345 00:20:02,940 --> 00:20:06,100 for his disciples, the greatest model 346 00:20:06,100 --> 00:20:10,620 of discipleship making that we could ever hope to have. 347 00:20:10,620 --> 00:20:13,340 And we see it all throughout the gospel. 348 00:20:14,180 --> 00:20:18,380 You see, God, the Son, left his heavenly home 349 00:20:18,380 --> 00:20:20,300 and came to us. 350 00:20:20,300 --> 00:20:24,700 God took on flesh so that he could be involved 351 00:20:24,700 --> 00:20:28,660 in our humanity, in our lives, in our mess, 352 00:20:28,660 --> 00:20:33,220 and then he showed us what it was to live in obedience 353 00:20:33,220 --> 00:20:35,500 to our Father in heaven. 354 00:20:35,500 --> 00:20:39,020 And so when Jesus said to his disciples, 355 00:20:39,020 --> 00:20:41,700 go and make disciples, they knew exactly 356 00:20:41,700 --> 00:20:43,140 what he was asking of them. 357 00:20:43,980 --> 00:20:47,620 They were to go and model the life 358 00:20:47,620 --> 00:20:50,500 that Christ had modeled for them. 359 00:20:51,660 --> 00:20:53,620 Now, we could spend the rest of our morning 360 00:20:53,620 --> 00:20:56,140 on just exactly what that looks like 361 00:20:56,140 --> 00:20:57,420 and how we might do that, 362 00:20:57,420 --> 00:21:00,100 not just here at Grace Christian Church, 363 00:21:00,100 --> 00:21:03,620 but for us individually as well. 364 00:21:03,620 --> 00:21:06,620 However, I just wanna say a couple of things here. 365 00:21:07,420 --> 00:21:12,420 First, our going out day to day to our mission fields, 366 00:21:13,020 --> 00:21:16,860 it might be to our own families, workplaces, 367 00:21:16,860 --> 00:21:19,820 or to some other group, or like some families 368 00:21:19,820 --> 00:21:22,460 in this church, you might be called 369 00:21:22,460 --> 00:21:24,900 to literally pack up everything 370 00:21:24,900 --> 00:21:27,460 and move to another nation. 371 00:21:28,340 --> 00:21:31,620 However, whatever your mission field is, 372 00:21:31,620 --> 00:21:34,020 Jesus expects that his people 373 00:21:34,020 --> 00:21:36,700 are personally involved in the work. 374 00:21:36,700 --> 00:21:38,060 That's what Jesus has showed us. 375 00:21:38,060 --> 00:21:42,540 He got involved in the life of those he was discipling. 376 00:21:42,540 --> 00:21:47,220 He modeled what he expected us to understand. 377 00:21:47,220 --> 00:21:50,300 Second, Christ's vision for his church, 378 00:21:50,300 --> 00:21:53,060 for his people, for his bride, 379 00:21:53,060 --> 00:21:55,780 is that it would be full of people 380 00:21:55,780 --> 00:21:58,780 from all sorts of places. 381 00:21:58,780 --> 00:22:01,660 That meant for his immediate Jewish audience, 382 00:22:01,660 --> 00:22:05,820 they weren't just to go to other Jews. 383 00:22:05,820 --> 00:22:09,980 And so for us, though it might be more comfortable, 384 00:22:09,980 --> 00:22:14,220 we must be very careful to not just hone in on people 385 00:22:14,220 --> 00:22:17,940 who act, talk, or even think like us. 386 00:22:17,940 --> 00:22:22,500 You know, this good news is for all people. 387 00:22:22,500 --> 00:22:27,500 And we are called to go to them and to make disciples. 388 00:22:27,620 --> 00:22:30,660 And so you might wanna ask the Lord this week 389 00:22:30,660 --> 00:22:33,340 where he would have you go. 390 00:22:33,340 --> 00:22:35,940 Who would he have you to speak to? 391 00:22:37,100 --> 00:22:38,580 All that to say, brothers and sisters, 392 00:22:38,580 --> 00:22:41,180 our responsibility in making disciples, 393 00:22:41,180 --> 00:22:43,260 in modeling the Christian life, 394 00:22:43,260 --> 00:22:48,100 is to first be disciples of Jesus Christ ourselves 395 00:22:48,100 --> 00:22:50,260 so that wherever we go, 396 00:22:50,260 --> 00:22:53,780 we model the Christian life for others. 397 00:22:53,780 --> 00:22:56,260 That's why at Grace Christian Church, 398 00:22:56,260 --> 00:23:00,500 we always endeavor to hold Christ among us high 399 00:23:00,500 --> 00:23:04,700 through his word and ask for God's spirit to change us 400 00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:09,700 more and more into the image of his son, into Christ. 401 00:23:10,380 --> 00:23:13,220 Because it's as we know our Lord more and more, 402 00:23:13,220 --> 00:23:16,580 it's as we follow him and know him more and more, 403 00:23:16,580 --> 00:23:19,100 that we will go about our everyday lives 404 00:23:19,100 --> 00:23:21,820 wherever we might find ourselves 405 00:23:21,820 --> 00:23:25,860 and model what it is to be a disciple of Jesus. 406 00:23:27,100 --> 00:23:30,300 So first we go, second we baptize. 407 00:23:30,300 --> 00:23:32,900 Now you might have noticed in the newsletter 408 00:23:32,900 --> 00:23:36,180 that went out this week that I'm going to be spending 409 00:23:36,180 --> 00:23:41,180 this year walking you through the Westminster Confession. 410 00:23:41,180 --> 00:23:43,500 And how the Westminster theologians 411 00:23:43,500 --> 00:23:46,140 summed up the whole Council of Scripture 412 00:23:46,140 --> 00:23:48,940 in regards to how we should think about 413 00:23:48,940 --> 00:23:53,220 and practice baptism, it's wonderful. 414 00:23:53,220 --> 00:23:55,740 And I'll hit on that in the coming months. 415 00:23:55,740 --> 00:23:58,180 But for now, I just want to point out a couple of things 416 00:23:58,180 --> 00:24:01,420 that Jesus says here in our text this morning. 417 00:24:02,820 --> 00:24:07,820 First, we're to baptize in the name of our triune God. 418 00:24:07,820 --> 00:24:12,820 And that is incredibly important for us to notice here. 419 00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:17,660 Because it's here that we see that the first disciples, 420 00:24:17,660 --> 00:24:21,260 the first Christians fully accepted Christ's claim 421 00:24:21,260 --> 00:24:24,980 of deity as he commanded to give the sign 422 00:24:24,980 --> 00:24:29,500 of the new covenant and seal people with his name 423 00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:34,220 being on par with the Father and the Holy Spirit. 424 00:24:34,220 --> 00:24:37,460 And second, the sign and seal is to be given 425 00:24:37,460 --> 00:24:41,620 in the context of modeling and teaching. 426 00:24:41,620 --> 00:24:43,980 That's the context that Jesus expects 427 00:24:43,980 --> 00:24:45,500 this sign to be given in. 428 00:24:45,500 --> 00:24:49,420 In the context of one having the Christian life 429 00:24:49,420 --> 00:24:52,300 taught and modeled for them. 430 00:24:53,300 --> 00:24:57,900 That's why baptism is to be done by and within 431 00:24:57,900 --> 00:25:01,260 the local body of believers because it is meant to happen 432 00:25:01,260 --> 00:25:05,420 in the context of Christian discipleship. 433 00:25:05,420 --> 00:25:08,460 That's why when our church baptizes people, 434 00:25:08,460 --> 00:25:11,380 you, the members of Christ's body, 435 00:25:11,380 --> 00:25:16,380 make a vow to those being baptized to help them 436 00:25:16,380 --> 00:25:20,020 in their discipleship by modeling the Christian life 437 00:25:20,020 --> 00:25:20,860 for them. 438 00:25:21,740 --> 00:25:24,860 We did that a couple of times just last year. 439 00:25:24,860 --> 00:25:29,140 You might remember when we baptized Zayles and Raj, 440 00:25:29,140 --> 00:25:32,540 we didn't just give the sign of baptism, 441 00:25:32,540 --> 00:25:34,660 the sign of the covenant 442 00:25:34,660 --> 00:25:39,260 and then wish them well in their individual journeys. 443 00:25:39,260 --> 00:25:44,260 No, we baptized them in the context of the church 444 00:25:44,260 --> 00:25:46,460 and made the promise to help them 445 00:25:46,460 --> 00:25:50,980 in the whole discipling process. 446 00:25:50,980 --> 00:25:51,940 How? 447 00:25:51,940 --> 00:25:56,580 Well, by being there for them to model the Christian life 448 00:25:56,580 --> 00:26:00,260 and to help them in the way that they should go. 449 00:26:00,260 --> 00:26:04,140 It's a communal vow and acknowledgement 450 00:26:04,140 --> 00:26:09,140 that we can't do discipleship as alone rangers. 451 00:26:09,180 --> 00:26:12,620 No, we need one another in our Christian life 452 00:26:12,620 --> 00:26:14,140 and discipleship. 453 00:26:14,140 --> 00:26:17,820 And so baptism is to be administered by disciples 454 00:26:17,820 --> 00:26:21,180 and they were to continue to disciple one another 455 00:26:21,180 --> 00:26:23,260 in the local church. 456 00:26:23,260 --> 00:26:25,660 That's why one of the great concerns 457 00:26:25,660 --> 00:26:28,860 of the Westminster Presbyterian denomination 458 00:26:28,860 --> 00:26:32,540 of which this church is a part is that we go 459 00:26:32,540 --> 00:26:37,020 and we plant churches wherever God may see fit 460 00:26:37,020 --> 00:26:39,180 to send our missionaries. 461 00:26:39,180 --> 00:26:42,340 And we plant churches because it's important 462 00:26:42,340 --> 00:26:46,260 that we have local churches for people to get to 463 00:26:46,260 --> 00:26:48,860 because that's where disciples are made. 464 00:26:48,860 --> 00:26:52,620 We never wanna go and tell people the gospel, 465 00:26:52,620 --> 00:26:55,380 see them converted, see them baptized 466 00:26:55,380 --> 00:26:58,180 and then pack up and leave without a place for them 467 00:26:58,180 --> 00:26:59,660 to be discipled in. 468 00:26:59,660 --> 00:27:04,460 So we go, we baptize third we teach. 469 00:27:04,460 --> 00:27:07,540 Now Jesus is pretty specific in what he expects 470 00:27:07,540 --> 00:27:10,980 his disciples to teach others. 471 00:27:12,460 --> 00:27:17,460 We are to teach others not just to know what Jesus taught 472 00:27:17,980 --> 00:27:21,060 but and you will notice it here in our text 473 00:27:21,060 --> 00:27:26,060 were to teach them so that they might obey what he taught. 474 00:27:26,060 --> 00:27:31,060 That is absolutely essential to the Great Commission. 475 00:27:32,580 --> 00:27:35,380 You see brothers and sisters, we must be careful 476 00:27:35,380 --> 00:27:38,340 not to think we're fulfilling the Great Commission 477 00:27:38,340 --> 00:27:41,660 if we just talk to others about church, 478 00:27:41,660 --> 00:27:45,060 about ministry, about philosophy, about history, 479 00:27:45,060 --> 00:27:49,100 about our own personal experiences. 480 00:27:49,100 --> 00:27:52,020 Now though those things might be helpful 481 00:27:52,020 --> 00:27:56,860 in clearing the way and to get conversation started, 482 00:27:56,860 --> 00:28:01,780 our ultimate goal is to teach people what Jesus taught 483 00:28:01,780 --> 00:28:06,000 so that they might obey all that he commanded. 484 00:28:07,140 --> 00:28:08,540 We need to see the difference there. 485 00:28:08,540 --> 00:28:13,260 There is information and then there's transformation 486 00:28:13,260 --> 00:28:16,420 and the commission states that we make disciples 487 00:28:16,420 --> 00:28:20,620 by telling others all that Jesus commanded 488 00:28:20,620 --> 00:28:24,940 so that as they hear the words of Jesus, 489 00:28:24,940 --> 00:28:28,940 the Holy Spirit might open their hearts to obey 490 00:28:28,940 --> 00:28:31,100 all that he has said. 491 00:28:31,100 --> 00:28:35,460 That's why we use the Bible in our discipleship, 492 00:28:35,460 --> 00:28:38,940 in preaching and teaching in all that we do 493 00:28:38,940 --> 00:28:42,100 as all scripture is breathed out by God 494 00:28:42,100 --> 00:28:46,540 and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction 495 00:28:46,540 --> 00:28:48,500 and for training in righteousness 496 00:28:48,500 --> 00:28:52,660 so that the people of God may be complete and equipped 497 00:28:52,660 --> 00:28:54,620 for every good work. 498 00:28:54,620 --> 00:28:57,340 Second Timothy 3, 16 and 17. 499 00:28:59,100 --> 00:29:02,580 Church, I hope you have captured something this morning. 500 00:29:02,580 --> 00:29:06,380 We have been given the greatest commission 501 00:29:06,380 --> 00:29:09,540 to go and disciple the nations. 502 00:29:09,540 --> 00:29:13,980 Admittedly, it is an overwhelming task if we look at it 503 00:29:13,980 --> 00:29:18,980 and as we have seen this morning, absolutely impossible 504 00:29:19,060 --> 00:29:21,380 if we go about it in our own strength. 505 00:29:22,380 --> 00:29:27,380 That is why every step of the way in everything we do, 506 00:29:28,060 --> 00:29:32,940 in everything we are, we need to keep our eyes firmly set 507 00:29:32,940 --> 00:29:37,020 on the one who is not just the king of the nations 508 00:29:37,020 --> 00:29:39,980 but has power over all things. 509 00:29:39,980 --> 00:29:43,860 It is he who has given us the great commission 510 00:29:43,860 --> 00:29:47,900 but it is also he who is in the work with us 511 00:29:47,900 --> 00:29:50,180 every step of the way. 512 00:29:50,180 --> 00:29:53,740 He is the one who opens the eyes of the blind 513 00:29:53,740 --> 00:29:57,820 and brings about new birth from the spiritually dead 514 00:29:57,820 --> 00:30:00,820 but and this is the most incredible thing. 515 00:30:01,780 --> 00:30:06,780 He uses people like you and me to do so. 516 00:30:08,620 --> 00:30:11,980 Church, Jesus is called every single one of us 517 00:30:11,980 --> 00:30:16,580 to be disciples so as to make disciples. 518 00:30:16,580 --> 00:30:21,580 We are all called to go, show and tell all those around us. 519 00:30:21,940 --> 00:30:25,100 That is the goal of the great commission. 520 00:30:25,100 --> 00:30:28,740 Not to have nations full of people that know something 521 00:30:28,740 --> 00:30:33,740 about Jesus or the church but to know Christ intimately, 522 00:30:34,020 --> 00:30:38,140 to love him and thus obey him and all that they are 523 00:30:38,140 --> 00:30:41,900 and all that he had to say out of the overflow 524 00:30:41,900 --> 00:30:44,620 of the work of the spirit in their lives 525 00:30:44,620 --> 00:30:49,620 so that they too might go and impact others around them. 526 00:30:50,780 --> 00:30:52,620 That's the great commission. 527 00:30:52,620 --> 00:30:55,180 It is the greatest commission. 528 00:30:55,180 --> 00:30:58,820 No wonder we need to know Jesus more and more 529 00:30:58,820 --> 00:31:02,620 and more in our own lives because we can't do 530 00:31:02,620 --> 00:31:06,180 any of this alone but in saying that, 531 00:31:07,100 --> 00:31:11,300 as we've seen this morning, it was never designed 532 00:31:11,300 --> 00:31:15,380 and given to be done on our own. 533 00:31:15,380 --> 00:31:19,540 No, Jesus gave this so that we might partner with him 534 00:31:19,540 --> 00:31:24,100 in his work to see the nations disciple 535 00:31:24,100 --> 00:31:27,420 and nothing is impossible for our God 536 00:31:27,420 --> 00:31:29,620 and those that trust him. 537 00:31:29,620 --> 00:31:30,660 Would you pray with me? 538 00:31:35,660 --> 00:31:39,140 Lord Jesus, we are thankful for these words 539 00:31:39,140 --> 00:31:44,140 that you have given us, an impossible task to do on our own. 540 00:31:47,700 --> 00:31:51,060 Lord, we ask that you would help us, 541 00:31:51,940 --> 00:31:56,940 that you would show us what it is to obey these words 542 00:31:58,420 --> 00:32:00,020 that we have heard this morning. 543 00:32:02,460 --> 00:32:05,300 Lord, we wanna see many come into your kingdom. 544 00:32:05,300 --> 00:32:08,460 We wanna see many born again. 545 00:32:09,780 --> 00:32:14,220 We wanna see many set free from the power of sin and death 546 00:32:15,300 --> 00:32:19,260 and we wanna see many love you and obey you 547 00:32:19,260 --> 00:32:22,660 and that they would go out into their contexts 548 00:32:22,660 --> 00:32:25,620 and share the good news that you have given to us. 549 00:32:27,020 --> 00:32:31,140 Lord, these are all things that we ask of you 550 00:32:31,140 --> 00:32:32,980 and know that we need from you. 551 00:32:32,980 --> 00:32:37,980 And Father, we would ask that in the work of your spirit, 552 00:32:38,140 --> 00:32:42,100 through your son, that you would hold Christ high here 553 00:32:42,100 --> 00:32:43,980 at Grace Christian Church 554 00:32:43,980 --> 00:32:47,500 and that you would draw all manner of people to yourself, 555 00:32:47,500 --> 00:32:49,820 that you would convert people 556 00:32:49,820 --> 00:32:52,820 and that you would use this place for your glory. 557 00:32:52,820 --> 00:33:03,340 We ask for this in Jesus' name, amen.