Make Disciples.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Go ahead and have a seat. [0:01] Welcome to Village Church. [0:02] If this is your first time here, I want to welcome you and thank [0:06] you for being here with us. [0:07] My name is Steve, one of the pastors here at Village Church. [0:10] And as always I am thankful and grateful to see each and every

[0:14] one of you. [0:14] If you have your Bibles, go ahead and open them up to Matthew [0:17] 28, we will be in Matthew 28 for a while and also in 2 Corinthians [0:23] 5 this morning. [0:24] If you want to hold your finger there. [0:26] But first I want to talk to you a little bit about next Sunday as

[0:29] we will gather together on the Sunday before Christmas. [0:33] And we’re just calling next Sunday morning our family Christmas [0:37] party here at Village Church. [0:38] And so we want to invite you all to our Christmas party next week. [0:42] So if you want to come in a tacky or if you don’t know what that [0:46] means, a beautiful Christmas sweater.

[0:50] Whatever your view, fashion is subjective, ladies and gentlemen. [0:56] Wear your Christmas sweaters, come ready to sing Christmas carols, [1:01] come ready to hear the Christmas story. [1:04] And we will share some refreshments in the foyer for a brief few [1:07] moments after the service next Sunday morning. [1:10] So I just want to invite you out to come to that.

[1:13] And we’re going to be doing one more thing that is for me and really [1:16] for all of us here at Village Church because we believe in connecting [1:20] people to God through the hope that is found in his son Jesus Christ. [1:24] And we’re going to take up a special offering next Sunday morning for [1:28] the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. [1:30] And if you’re unfamiliar with what that is, every year we participate

[1:34] with many churches all over the nation and really all over the world [1:38] to cooperate together to take up funds to give to the [1:42] International Mission Board to continue the work of taking the Gospel [1:46] of Jesus Christ to people even in nations who’ve yet to hear [1:51] the news of what Jesus has done, that he has come [1:55] to save, that he has come to redeem, and he’s coming again

[1:58] to usher in his kingdom. [2:00] And so the 100% of the Lottie Moon Christmas offering goes to the [2:04] International Mission Board and they use it to fund, train, [2:08] equip, and send out, and then as they’re out, to care for [2:14] missionaries internationally to take the good news of Jesus Christ. [2:19] And last Sunday we had a great time in the Word talking about

[2:23] giving and being people who are marked by generosity for the [2:27] purpose of getting the Gospel out there into the world. [2:29] And this is just one way in which you can actually apply [2:34] the Gospel mandate of generosity into our lives to actually [2:39] send missionaries out into the world. [2:42] If we are not going to other nations, it is our responsibility

[2:46] and our joyful stewardship to send people and to equip people [2:51] who are going to go to other nations. [2:54] So next Sunday, come prepared to give towards that offering. [2:58] And this week, just commit yourself to prayer, to saying, [3:03] God, what would you have me do? [3:05] How would you have me to give to reach people all over the world

[3:10] with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? [3:13] Pray with me. [3:15] Our Father, you have been so good to us. [3:22] Lord, you have given us grace, grace unparalleled in the history [3:26] of the world, that your Son would become one of us, [3:30] live among us perfectly and then die for us as a substitute

[3:35] so that we can have the opportunity to know you, [3:40] so that we can have the joy of following you, [3:43] and so that we can be privileged enough to be able to live a life [3:47] in which we can obey you. [3:50] Lord, I pray this morning that you would give us a vision [3:54] for who you would have us to be as your people,

[4:01] what you would have us to do as your disciples. [4:06] Father, I pray for churches all over this area this morning [4:10] that you would fill those rooms with the power of your Holy Spirit, [4:15] that a people would be risen up in every church that would live [4:20] to joyfully proclaim and joyfully live in obedience,

[4:27] to follow Jesus, to know you as well as make you known [4:33] among all peoples everywhere.

[4:37] May we live lives of worship. [4:39] Be merciful to me, a sinner. [4:41] In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

[4:46] What I want to deal with this morning in the seventh week [4:49] is the final week of our series, the seven basic commands of Jesus. [4:53] And what I want to deal with really this morning [4:55] is this final command that Jesus made [4:58] before he ascended up into heaven, [5:01] where he is right now at the right hand of the Father,

[5:03] making intercession for his people [5:05] and preparing for the day when he will come again [5:08] to establish his kingdom all over this world. [5:11] The book of Revelation has this amazing picture [5:13] where he literally lowers his kingdom onto this earth [5:18] after he has refined it.

[5:20] And what we have to understand with this command [5:23] to make disciples of Jesus [5:27] is that it is with a picture and with a vision [5:31] of where you believe the future of this world [5:35] and the future of all people everywhere, [5:37] and then the future of yourself,

[5:39] what you believe God has determined it will be. [5:43] And so to answer that, you can begin with just a very simple question. [5:48] What is the aim of your life?

[5:53] Life is really about aiming yourself in a certain direction. [5:57] The apostle Paul talks about this in Philippians chapter 3 [6:00] when he says, I press on towards the prize [6:04] of what God has determined I will be in Christ Jesus. [6:08] He says, not that I’m perfect, [6:09] but I’m aiming my life in a specific direction.

[6:13] I’m aiming my life towards a specific goal.

[6:18] And so where you are aiming your life [6:21] does determine the direction towards which you are going. [6:27] No one accidentally, D.A. Carson says, [6:31] drifts towards following Jesus or drifts towards holiness. [6:36] We drift in the opposite direction, actually. [6:40] It is only when we intentionally seek to follow Jesus,

[6:45] intentionally seek to know what his demands, [6:48] what his aim for our life is, [6:51] and then we intentionally say, I will submit my life to that, [6:53] I will follow Jesus, that we will get anywhere. [6:56] If you consider just for a moment that you’re at a shooting range, [6:59] the bullet is only going to go the direction towards which you aim it.

[7:04] If you’re shooting free throws in a basketball game, [7:07] the ball is only going to go in the direction towards which you aim it. [7:11] If you’re pitching in a baseball game, [7:13] the catcher sets his glove in a specific spot [7:16] so that the pitch will go in that direction. [7:18] Therefore, your responsibility is to aim it in the proper direction.

[7:24] If you don’t do it, you will not hit it. [7:28] And the same is true of following Jesus. [7:32] We are called to be a people [7:36] who take the responsibility and the intentionality [7:40] of aiming our lives in a specific direction. [7:45] And Jesus has said that direction is towards the path in which he’s going.

[7:50] The question that we’ve got to deal with again [7:53] is where is your life aiming? [7:57] And you say, what does that have to do with making disciples? [7:59] You will only make disciples in the direction [8:04] that your life is aiming towards.

[8:08] You can never hope to make a disciple of Jesus [8:13] if your life is not aiming in the direction of Jesus. [8:18] You will make disciples, certainly, [8:20] but they will not be disciples of Jesus. [8:26] In Matthew chapter 28, Jesus makes it clear [8:31] starting in verse 18.

[8:33] We’ve talked about baptism from this text. [8:35] You may have said he seemed to ignore everything around baptism. [8:38] That’s because I was getting to it today. [8:41] In Matthew chapter 28 verse 18, [8:44] it says that in Jesus came and said to them. [8:48] Now I want to set the stage for you before I go any further

[8:51] and let you know that what’s happened is [8:53] that Jesus has died on the cross. [8:55] He’s risen from the dead. [8:57] He’s appeared to many people over the last 40 or so days. [9:03] And then he calls them all to the top of a mountain [9:05] where he knows that he’s going to ascend physically into heaven.

[9:10] And then he has one last address to make to his followers. [9:16] So anytime you have one last thing to say, [9:19] you should probably pay attention to what that thing is. [9:22] Specifically when you’re dealing with God. [9:26] Jesus comes to them in verse 18 and he says, [9:29] all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

[9:37] It’s a very important text.

[9:41] This season is actually all about that verse. [9:46] Because what we have during the Christmas season [9:49] is a celebration of what just for personally to me [9:52] is the most astounding miracle that has ever happened in the world. [9:57] I think it’s a greater miracle than the parting of the Red Sea. [9:59] I think it’s a greater miracle than any of the plagues.

[10:01] I think it’s a greater miracle than any healing that ever took place. [10:04] It is the miracle of the God who spoke all that is into existence. [10:10] So if you see it in this world, [10:11] understand that there was a day when it didn’t exist [10:14] and then God did not come down and just say, [10:18] okay, I’m going to start building some things.

[10:19] I’m going to have a construction initiative. [10:21] I’ve got the plans drawn up [10:23] and then put his hand to a hammer and build it. [10:26] No, God’s more powerful than that. [10:28] God is so powerful that we can’t even imagine [10:31] the infinite nature of His power.

[10:35] To where things didn’t exist one day [10:37] and then the God of the universe just spoke that it exists and it did. [10:43] Out of nothing, God made everything. [10:46] That same God who spoke everything that is into existence

[10:52] became a part of His creation in the form of a child.

[11:01] So when we consider Christmas, [11:03] which does necessarily need to be a time in which you reflect on who Jesus is, [11:09] understand that the virgin birth of Jesus Christ [11:13] is the foundation upon which our entire faith is built.

[11:19] Because this little child is the God who spoke all that is into being [11:24] and I have little children, I have a little child [11:26] and I can’t even imagine the creator of all becoming like that. [11:33] And he did.

[11:36] And it’s of magnificent importance that child is God. [11:40] Because if he’s not, then our faith is worthless.

[11:46] But Jesus lives His life perfect, teaching perfectly, [11:51] teaching with an authority that astounded, even the most astute of their times.

[11:58] Living sinless, living with the ability to take things that are caused [12:03] because of the curse of sin. [12:05] Blindness, deafness, paralysis, leprosy, [12:08] even death in His friend Lazarus, [12:12] and reverse that and make people whole. [12:18] Then He goes to the cross simply for the fact that He had the audacity

[12:24] to admit who He was.

[12:27] He goes to the cross sinless, substituting His life for my life and your life, [12:33] paying the penalty for all of the times that I’ve ever sinned against God [12:38] and all of the times that I ever will sin against God. [12:40] Jesus paid the penalty fully. [12:43] Then He rises from the dead under His own power. [12:49] And then He stands there before, you know, some people say there’s probably

[12:54] 120 people there, some people say it’s more than that. [12:58] But He stands before them and He says, let me be clear.

[13:04] All authority in heaven and on earth belongs to me.

[13:13] Number one this morning, understand that to make disciples, you must be a disciple. [13:19] To make disciples, you must be a disciple. [13:22] You might say, where is that specifically in this statement in Matthew chapter 28, verse 18? [13:34] Because what He is doing is He’s looking at those people who believe Him [13:39] and He’s saying, if you have any hope of obeying what I’m going to say in verse 19, [13:47] submit your life to verse 18.

[13:51] Aim your life in the direction that Jesus has all authority. [13:57] He doesn’t just have some authority over you. [14:00] He doesn’t just have most of the authority over you. [14:03] He has absolutely all authority over every little minute detail of your life [14:13] and the large things of your life. [14:19] He is God.

[14:23] So there is no part of your life that is insignificant to Jesus. [14:32] When He says all, that’s what He’s getting at. [14:36] He’s saying there’s no area of this world in which I do not deserve allegiance, [14:43] in which I do not call for all people everywhere to bow the knee and submit to King Jesus. [14:52] That’s what He’s saying in verse 18. [14:55] So when He gets to verse 19 and He says, go in light of this and make disciples,

[15:05] that is predicated on verse 18. [15:11] It’s predicated on the reality that you, number one, believe that He’s God. [15:17] Number two, you believe that He came to redeem. [15:20] You believe the gospel. [15:22] You’ve turned from the life without Him and you’ve turned towards Him [15:27] and you are making it your aim to submit every aspect of your life to Him.

[15:34] Making disciples forces us to take inventory of our own life as followers of Jesus.

[15:44] Friends, understand that the level to which you are following Jesus [15:49] is all that you can ever hope to reproduce in other people.

[15:56] The level to which you are following Jesus is all that you can ever hope to reproduce in other people. [16:03] Why is that? [16:05] Because making disciples is reproducing what is going on in your life and the lives of others.

[16:12] Making disciples is reproducing what is going on in your life and the lives of others. [16:16] So when Jesus comes, verse 18 is so significant to the call to make disciples. [16:23] Because Jesus is saying, if you’re going to obey me there, your hope is that you’re obeying me here. [16:31] And that you are being a disciple of Jesus Christ. [16:37] And what’s so tempting for us in this place when we say, [16:41] cannot reproduce if someone else was not going on in my life, I hope this person is listening to that.

[16:50] That’s what we’re tempted to do. [16:52] We’re tempted to transfer this to someone else’s guilt. [16:57] No, Jesus is talking to you.

[17:00] Did you know that at the end of all times there’s going to be a day when we all stand before God? [17:06] It’s called, for those of us who are followers of Jesus, this is called the judgment seat of Christ. [17:11] Do you know that that person that always comes into your mind who needs to hear this or who needs to change, [17:18] they’re not going to be with you.

[17:23] Friends, by God’s grace, I will stand before Jesus.

[17:30] He’ll take a look at me.

[17:33] I can’t turn that over to someone else. [17:36] I can’t hope that he’s going to bring that other person that I’ve got everything in the world against [17:42] or that I’ve used as my excuse that day. [17:44] I can’t do that. It’s going to be about me. [17:47] The same is true of you. [17:49] And so what Jesus is doing in verse 18 is that he is bringing a swift amount of judgment and demand

[17:56] into the life of those who would follow him. [18:00] And he’s saying, if you’re following me, follow me. [18:04] Do you know that you can’t follow Jesus without following Jesus? [18:09] It’s utterly impossible.

[18:13] Discipleship is the reproduction of what you believe and what you are living in light of the gospel.

[18:24] And so how I am living as a follower of Jesus Christ is very significant to my obedience [18:30] to this final command that Jesus himself has made, [18:35] because your life in following Jesus is all about where you are growing and where you are going. [18:42] So the question then becomes, how are you growing and following Jesus? [18:46] And where are you going with the gospel of Jesus? [18:50] Because following Jesus is going somewhere.

[18:54] But here’s the key to getting your shame. [18:56] So is not following Jesus. [18:58] They’re both taking you somewhere. [19:01] But the question is, what direction do you need to be aimed at and what direction are you aimed at? [19:07] Because here’s the direction of the gospel of Jesus Christ and repenting of your sins, believing in the gospel. [19:12] Here’s the direction that it’s aimed at.

[19:14] In Daniel chapter 7 verse 14, the prophet said this before the time of Christ, but it was about Christ. [19:20] And to him, Jesus was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him. [19:31] His dominion, note this, is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away. [19:39] And his kingdom, one that shall not be destroyed. [19:45] There’s no expiration date on the authority of Christ. [19:48] There’s no end of his kingdom.

[19:52] It’s all victory.

[19:55] There’s no failure with the kingdom of God. [19:57] There’s no failure with Jesus. [19:59] He is victorious. [20:01] He will reign forever. [20:04] And if you are a follower of Jesus, understand this morning that you believe that this is where the world is headed towards.

[20:13] So discipleship very much is wrapped up in what you believe about the future. [20:17] What you believe will happen at the end of all things. [20:21] What the prophet is saying and then what Jesus is doing in Matthew chapter 28 verse 18 is he’s echoing this promise saying, [20:28] I’m the fulfillment of that. [20:30] That kingdom is his.

[20:34] So being a disciple is about bringing your life into step with this future vision of the delivery of his kingdom over the entire world. [20:44] Now, when you do that, then and only then can you hope to make disciples of Jesus. [20:54] Question is, in your life, take inventory now. [20:59] What kind of disciples are you making? [21:04] And what type of disciples can you make with where you are right now with every area of your life? [21:11] What kind of disciples can you hope to make?

[21:16] And when you do that and when you have the ability to actually look in the mirror and be honest with yourself, [21:25] then you can note, I need growth here. [21:30] I need change here. [21:33] I need repentance here. [21:34] I need to reconcile this entire area of my life right here to what I believe about the future, [21:43] because right now it isn’t saying Jesus is the king.

[21:46] It’s saying something else. [21:49] In John 15 verse 8, Jesus puts it this way. [21:53] He says, by this, my father is glorified that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

[22:02] Do you want to know if you are making disciples of Jesus or if you are being a disciple of Jesus?

[22:11] To answer that question, take a look at what your life is producing.

[22:17] Take a look at the kind of disciples and how many disciples you are currently making. [22:26] So when we do that, we can actually look and say, is God being glorified in my life? [22:33] When we do that, we can actually say, what kind of fruit am I making? [22:38] Because you’re making fruit.

[22:43] The question is, is it gospel fruit or is it just you?

[22:49] The hope of the world is not in you or I reproducing you or I. [22:58] There’s no hope in that, trust me.

[23:02] The hope is that you and I produce disciples of Jesus. [23:08] But to do that, there must be a submission to him above absolutely everything else.

[23:20] And so number two this morning, understand that the mission then of a follower of Jesus is to make disciples.

[23:31] The mission of a follower of Jesus is to make disciples. [23:35] We are clear that Jesus says that the life of a disciple is formed by bringing all that you think, feel and do into submission to his rule. [23:47] Then he tells us to use that reality of submission and make more disciples as we go in this world.

[23:57] Here’s what he says, read verse 19 again. [24:00] He says, Go, therefore, in light of my authority, go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [24:13] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. [24:16] And behold, I’m with you always to the end of the age.

[24:23] So discipleship, understand that observing all that he commanded comes after this plea of making disciples. [24:34] So you can’t do one without the other. [24:35] You can’t observe his commandments and not make disciples because one of his commandments is to make disciples. [24:41] Discipleship then should occupy the singular focus of the life of anyone who claims to be a believer of Jesus. [24:51] Many pontificate that verse 19 actually means as you go through life, make disciples. [24:59] This is fine.

[25:01] The imperative is on making disciples. [25:05] That means that in your going, if it’s in submission to who Jesus is, will be in submission to the singular vision of making disciples. [25:16] Therefore, the only way to be made a disciple of Jesus is to be making disciples of Jesus.

[25:25] I don’t want you to mishear me.

[25:30] The only way to be made a disciple of Jesus is by making disciples of Jesus.

[25:45] Some of you still probably heard one of the ways.

[25:50] I said the only way.

[25:57] So everything else that you’ve got going on in your life will not serve to make you a disciple of Jesus. [26:10] So long as you refuse to make disciples of Jesus.

[26:21] So many of us face so much frustration in our relationship with Jesus, in our prayer lives, in our reading of scripture, [26:31] in our group gatherings, in our obedience with God, in attempting to set up a life in which we’ve submitted to him. [26:38] We see so much frustration because we feel nothing. [26:42] We don’t understand the word. [26:43] We struggle to pray. [26:45] And I can tell you by and large, for the most part, if I sat down with most of you that I have many of you,

[26:51] I could find a root cause in the fact that you have so many things in your life that come before the calling to make disciples.

[27:07] When you’re not making disciples, when it is not your focus, when it is not the aim of your life, [27:13] yes, the word of God will mostly be irrelevant to your life. [27:18] Most of the word will be reduced to just chicken soup for the soul. [27:22] Where you go when you’ve had a bad day or when somebody’s done something mean to you and you just want to feel better [27:28] and you just go to second Chronicles and you’re like negative. [27:32] That did nothing.

[27:35] You go to Psalm 2 and you’re like, well, Jesus is going to beat his enemies up. [27:39] I don’t like that. [27:40] Somewhere else.

[27:42] So finally you come to one of those verses that you probably took out of context and you’re like, ah, all better. [27:52] And then five minutes later, you’re discouraged again.

[27:57] This is the treadmill of following Jesus that many of us are on. [28:02] And we then wonder why we’re getting nowhere. [28:05] It’s because Jesus doesn’t really have your submission.

[28:11] A number of other things actually do. [28:14] So understand the calling of God to make disciples trumps all other pursuits and passions of your life. [28:25] In Second Corinthians five, the apostle Paul, one of my favorite sections of scripture, [28:29] The apostle Paul, in my opinion, writes what I believe is a commentary on Matthew chapter 28, starting in verse 18. [28:36] The apostle Paul writes this. [28:38] He says, all this is from God, speaking of the change that the gospel brings,

[28:42] who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. [28:48] Note what he did. [28:49] He reconciled you to himself. [28:52] And then he said, now you have a task. [28:55] The ministry of reconciliation. [28:58] That is in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses, which means sins against them.

[29:07] And then entrusting to us. [29:08] Here it is again, entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. [29:15] Therefore, what does that mean? [29:17] That means that we are in verse 20 ambassadors for Christ. [29:23] God, making his appeal through us, we implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [29:31] And what is all that founded on verse 21 for our sake.

[29:36] He made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

[29:49] See, God wants to do an extraordinary thing in your life. [29:56] If you don’t know Jesus, if you don’t know the forgiveness of sins that’s available in Jesus, [30:01] understand that God actually desires a relationship that is completely barrier free between you and him. [30:11] He wants you in his life and he wants to be in your life. [30:16] Therefore, what he has done is he has sent his son to come and represent him physically in this world. [30:25] And then God, the son who knew no sin, completely perfect, never disobeyed the law of God.

[30:31] He actually on that cross, the text says he became sin for you. [30:39] So every bad deed, every bad thought, every bad action, every bad reaction, [30:47] every sin that has ever been committed was laid directly on to him. [30:55] That is a glorious thing. That is a revolutionary work that God has done for you, that God has done for me. [31:02] And the thing that you have to do to embrace it is just believe it, is just trust it. [31:08] And then be gloriously thankful for it.

[31:13] Then he says, if you believe it, if you believe that the news of that gospel is true, [31:21] what you will do then is you will take the identity of one who has been forgiven, [31:28] one who has been redeemed of his sins, one who has been reconciled fully with God [31:34] through the completely finished work of Jesus Christ. [31:38] And in that you will have a message to give to the world.

[31:45] And that is what you will do. [31:47] He says, have you been reconciled? [31:49] Well then you have a pretty good story to give to others, don’t you? [31:53] He says, have you been reconciled? [31:55] Then you have got a pretty amazing ministry to serve others with. [32:00] Have you been reconciled?

[32:02] Then you represent an everlasting kingdom for which you are an ambassador for. [32:09] So you have something from God in your life that you can speak of and it will do amazing things. [32:18] He says, we implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [32:25] That’s the gospel.

[32:29] So what he is saying is, if you know him, follow him, if you follow him, tell others about him. [32:36] And in telling others about him, you will further this work of God’s reconciliation to other people [32:43] and then they will join with you and then you can help them. [32:47] Then you can obey verse 20 in Matthew 28. [32:51] Then you can then teach others to observe all that he has commanded. [32:57] But you must aim your life in that direction.

[33:03] Your life is to serve as a representative picture of Jesus to the world around you. [33:10] And as you do that, you make the appeal to others of the good news of Jesus Christ.

[33:19] If anything trumps that calling on your life, anything, then understand this. [33:27] Then you have become an ambassador to that thing.

[33:33] So whatever trumps the calling of God on your life has then necessarily become the God that you submit to. [33:38] And so as you walk through this world, you’re an ambassador for something. [33:42] It’s either Jesus or it’s something else. [33:44] Because the message then that’s going out from your life is, if you want hope, here’s where I’ve found hope.

[33:53] Some of you find hope in your job. [33:56] You say you want the good life, you need a job like I’ve got. [34:00] Some of you have found hope in your significant other.

[34:04] Some of you are finding hope in your children becoming sports stars, becoming rock stars, becoming actors, dancers. [34:11] I don’t know. There’s so many classes now. [34:13] I’m confused as a father. What do I even do anymore? [34:17] I’ll just sign them up for everything. [34:19] I’ve seen some of you taking that course. That’s why you’re never available for discipleship.

[34:28] You find your significance in leisure. [34:32] I’ve got a boat I go out on every weekend. [34:34] Don’t you need a boat like that? [34:36] That’s where my hope is. I’m an ambassador for boats.

[34:41] You laugh.

[34:44] Some of you are ambassadors for golf, some of you are ambassadors for football, basketball, whatever it is.

[34:52] Anything that trumps the calling of God on your life to make disciples is the thing that you will make disciples of [35:00] because it is the thing that you’re finding hope in. [35:03] And if you’re finding hope in it, understand that you do not live on an island.

[35:08] Whatever you’re finding hope in, that’s what you’re telling others to find hope in.

[35:15] Make disciples of Jesus.

[35:18] Discipleship is the most significant thing that you will devote your life to [35:24] because it is why you’re becoming what you are becoming. [35:28] So you have to take frequent inventory of the gospel fruit that you’re seeing develop in your life [35:37] because when you do that you can answer the question of are you seeking Jesus and seeking to make Jesus known? [35:45] Are you really doing that? [35:48] The answer to that question is far simpler than you would want to admit most of the time.

[35:54] When we consider how this call to make disciples fits into the command to build the church [36:03] we must realize that that is the destination of where we are pointing people to be made into discipleship. [36:10] Discipleship comes through relationships. [36:12] Now I know some of you have taken the method of discipleship via iTunes or discipleship via a television program [36:19] or discipleship via anything to keep me from a room filled with other people, that’s what I’ll do. [36:26] You just can’t do it. It’s impossible.

[36:29] I tried and wish I could continue to try that for years. [36:34] Trust me, sit in a room with me. It gets uncomfortable quick.

[36:39] But the reality is that God has called me to repent of that. [36:44] And he’s called you to repent of that. [36:46] He has called you to understand that being a disciple is something that he fashioned on this earth [36:52] as he lived in relationship with human beings teaching them what it meant to follow him. [36:59] Therefore, if you want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ it’s going to require you to first be made into a disciple [37:05] through submitting to relationships inside of the local church

[37:08] as well as seeking to make other disciples which then connects them to the life of the church [37:15] that you then necessarily must be connected to. [37:19] Often though, our vision for this can get very cloudy. [37:23] We make the mission of Jesus about things that it is not. [37:27] You can use these things to make disciples but left alone as your focus you will have mission drift. [37:35] You’ll drift over towards something else because you’re making discipleship about what you want it to be.

[37:40] And here’s the truth, it doesn’t matter what you want discipleship to be.

[37:47] God doesn’t care what you think. [37:50] He doesn’t have to, he’s God.

[37:53] What you think discipleship is or should be is insignificant. [37:57] All that matters is what Jesus’ discipleship is. [38:00] All that matters is what the word says and what the word means. [38:04] It doesn’t really matter what it means to you. [38:06] As some of us, we make discipleship and we say, okay, well here’s what the mission of Jesus is. [38:11] The mission of Jesus is just being nice.

[38:15] Never saying anything that contradicts anyone or anywhere. [38:20] Now trust me, being nice is important. [38:22] I should be a much nicer person than I am. [38:25] I’m growing folks.

[38:28] And trust me, you guys haven’t been that nice to me either so whatever.

[38:33] Just kidding, or am I?

[38:38] Being nice helps but it’s not the mission. [38:43] Do you understand that? [38:44] Helping people charitably is good and it helps make disciples. [38:49] But it isn’t the mission.

[38:53] [38:53] Building a life where you are responsible and you are a good employee and you do good things is important. [39:00] But it’s not the mission. [39:04] Raising my children well is important. [39:08] But it’s not the mission. [39:10] Being a good husband is important.

[39:15] But it’s not the mission. [39:19] There’s something that all of those things fall under the umbrella of. [39:24] And that is the good news of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. [39:31] So I am to be nice so that I can point people to Jesus Christ. [39:37] So that I can tell them the gospel of Jesus Christ. [39:41] I am to do charitable things and serve the underprivileged and help the helpless.

[39:46] So that I can point them to Jesus and give them the good news of who Jesus is. [39:53] What Jesus has done. [39:54] From raising my children to being a good husband to mowing my grass on Saturday afternoon. [40:00] I am to do those things because they fall under the umbrella of we serve a God who saves. [40:09] His name is Jesus and your neighbors need to know Him. [40:14] They don’t need to know how good you are.

[40:17] They need to know how good He is.

[40:21] That’s the mission of Jesus. [40:23] Do not get that confused.

[40:28] Because thirdly this morning understand that God is worshiped through a life of mission.

[40:36] Missions exist to make worshipers. [40:39] That’s it. [40:42] That’s it. [40:43] We are to live the mission of Jesus because God wants glory. [40:47] God wants people to worship Him. [40:49] And by His grace we get to take part in that.

[40:53] What is the hope of the mission to make disciples? [40:56] What’s the point? [40:58] I believe verse 20 goes so far in giving us that point and we often miss it. [41:06] He says teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. [41:08] So we are supposed to reproduce what we are doing in the lives of others. [41:12] And then He says behold.

[41:16] It’s an important word that we often pass over because what that means is He says pay attention to. [41:22] Put your focus on. [41:24] Understand this important key. [41:26] Stand back. [41:27] Sit there and listen to what I’m about to say. [41:30] He says I am with you always to the end of the age.

[41:39] So that’s where the mission comes to its fullness. [41:43] Because He’s letting us know. [41:44] He says this is not about you. [41:47] This is not about you doing good things. [41:49] This is not about you being a good guy. [41:51] This is not just about your growth as a person.

[41:54] He says this is about Jesus. [41:57] He says I’ll never leave you. [41:59] He says I’m going to be there in the mission with you. [42:03] I’m never going to desert you. [42:04] I’m going to be with you always to the end of the age. [42:08] And then we see elsewhere in scripture that He promises then He’s going to be with us for eternity.

[42:14] Ruling and reigning.

[42:18] If you want to live in submission to Jesus you must understand that the focus is always continually on Jesus. [42:26] Jesus’ hope for this is that He will always be with us. [42:30] The purpose then is to bring everyone’s focus, to bring everyone’s attention to who He is, what He wants, and how He plans to change the world. [42:40] Most of the time though we try to make this very mystical and theoretical so that we can avoid actually doing it. [42:50] You say well I think following Jesus is this. [42:53] Well for me it’s completely different.

[42:56] Well for me it actually looks like walking by a pond and reflecting.

[43:05] No.

[43:07] No. [43:08] Jesus never mentions ponds. [43:11] He just, He didn’t.

[43:14] But what He did mention is submitting to His authority. [43:19] Making Him known through the good news of the gospel. [43:21] Teaching other people how to observe all that He has said. [43:24] Genesis 2 Revelation. [43:26] Don’t be a red letter Christian. [43:28] They’re all the words of Jesus.

[43:33] And then it continues to be about Him. [43:35] And then it never ceases to be about Him. [43:37] It’s always, always, always about Jesus. [43:41] And when it’s always about Jesus it will change your life. [43:44] Because discipleship requires change. [43:47] Living the mission actually requires living the mission.

[43:50] In Acts 2 42 we see a picture of the early Christians. [43:56] They devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. [44:00] Following Jesus is going to require that you actually devote, devote, devote your life to living out your faith.

[44:14] You have to actually learn what it means to follow Jesus through scripture. [44:18] That’s what the Apostles were teaching. [44:21] You have to live in fellowship with other believers. [44:24] You have to gather and share the Lord’s Supper. [44:28] You have to live in relationship to God. [44:32] You have to be and make disciples of other people.

[44:38] Then if we do this, God gives us a vision of what it will accomplish in Revelation 7.

[44:47] Here’s what He says. [44:49] John writes, he says, After this I looked, behold a great multitude that no one could number from every nation, all tribes, peoples, and peoples. [44:58] Languages standing before the throne, before the lamb, clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hand, crying out with a loud voice. [45:10] Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb.

[45:21] In Daniel 7 you saw a vision. [45:24] In Revelation 7 you see that vision completely fulfilled.

[45:32] There are people from all tribes, tongues, and nations gathered before the throne worshiping Jesus. [45:38] How do you think they got there?

[45:43] By disciples who make disciples, who make disciples, who make disciples. [45:49] God is calling us to submit everything so that it goes from our neighborhood to our city to our country to all over the world. [46:01] What prevents that from happening here? [46:05] What prevents that vision from taking root in your life? [46:08] What prevents it? [46:09] And I think the answer is very simple.

[46:12] It is our lack of submission to Jesus and our abundance of submission to other things. [46:20] The question that you need to ask yourself this morning is how will you personally be involved in making disciples? [46:32] How will you personally be involved in reaching people in the world who have not heard the good news of Jesus? [46:39] Because they can’t be made into disciples if they don’t know who Jesus is. [46:43] We must go to make disciples. [46:50] We must send people to make disciples.

[46:55] From missionaries in foreign lands to sending out church planters to other cities to sending people into neighborhoods [47:03] to simply committing to be in a place for the specific purpose of bringing every aspect of your life into submission of the calling of the God who has all authority into saying, [47:15] Yes, I will make disciples.

[47:20] That is what it looks like to follow Jesus, friends. [47:24] And we must be about that. [47:29] As the band comes this morning.

[47:35] Through this season, which is glorious, it’s a time to rejoice. [47:42] It’s a time to to look at our lives and be thankful for everything that God has given us. [47:48] Be thankful for everything we can give to others and be thankful for everything that we receive.

[47:54] But in this, don’t miss the greatest gift that’s ever been given. [47:57] Number one, a relationship with Jesus Christ. [47:59] But the number two, the gift that you have to give everyone in your life and everyone that will ever be in your life. [48:09] That’s the good news that you can be saved.

[48:14] So communion is God’s gift to us. [48:17] A constant reminder when we drink, when we eat. [48:23] The cup represents Jesus blood and the bread, which represents the broken body of Christ. [48:30] When we eat and drink, it represents the life of Jesus going into our lives.

[48:36] This morning, as you reflect, consider, how am I a disciple? [48:45] And then number two, how am I making disciples? [48:49] When you’re ready, come.