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Scripture Matthew 28:16-20 NIV
Then the eleven disciples (Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas,
Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of
James) went to Galilee, to the mountain
where Jesus had told them to go. 17
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age."
Matthew 28:16-20 Message
Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed
for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. 17 The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back,
not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally. 18 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and
gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: 19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far
and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 20
Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with
you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the
age."
Jesus said “ALL AUTHORITY” –
authority = the right to
use power. The root of authority
is author – they have the ability to construct or write your story. Jesus tells us how our story will go. He first establishes his right and ability to
do so – ALL AUTORITY The entire Gospel
of Matthew stresses the authority of Jesus Christ. There was authority to His
teaching (Matt 7:29). He exercised authority in healing in forgiving sins (Matt
9:6). He had authority over Satan, and He delegated that authority to His
Apostles (Matt 10:1). At the close of his Gospel, Matthew made it clear that
Jesus has ALL authority.
When we read the Book of
Acts, we see that the early church operated on the basis of the Lord's
sovereign authority. They ministered in His name. They depended on His power
and guidance. They did not face a lost world on the basis of their own
authority, but on the authority of Jesus Christ
The Greek verb translated go
is actually not a command but a present participle (going). The only command in
the entire Great Commission is "make disciples" ("teach all
nations") Jesus said, "While you are going, make disciples of all the
nations." No matter where we are, we should be witnesses for Jesus Christ
and seek to win others to Him. Acts
11:19-26
Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with
Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message
only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to
Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the
Lord Jesus. The
Lord's hand
was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent
Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God,
he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their
hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great
number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look
for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year
Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The
disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
The term "disciples"
was the most popular name for the early believers. A disciple is one who has
believed on Jesus Christ and expressed this faith by being baptized. He remains
in the fellowship of the believers that he might be taught the truths of the
faith. He is then able to go out and win others and teach them. This was the
pattern of the New Testament church.
The phrase "the end of
the age" indicates that our Lord has a plan; - His plan is to do for
others what he has done for you and to use you to help him do that.
That is a
high calling – a great commission
See this video from General
Secretary of the American Baptist Churches, Roy Medley - http://youtu.be/Mom6DrqxN1o
American Baptist have always
been people on fire for mission. Our
church building has been transformed into a roller coaster theme park as a way
to reach local kids for Jesus. Friday
night, Marsha Eden and I, along with our local ABC church leaders met with Kyle
Williams – new ABC missionary. Some of
our women were at the ABW conference for missions. Our youth are about to
embark on a week-long mission trip across the country. Kim and I will be attending our national biennial
– now developed as a Mission Summit. You will get to hear from two mission
minded men over the next two Sundays. In
2 weeks Rev. Brooks Andrews will speak at our service. Brooks' dad, Rev. Emery
E. (Andy) Andrews, served as a pastor at the Hunt Relocation Camp. His father
had been pastor of the Japanese Baptist Church in Seattle. Since many members
of his congregation were sent to the Hunt camp, he followed them. Brooks lived
with his parents in Twin Falls and went to Lincoln School. Brooks is currently
retired but serving as Interim Pastor of the Japanese Baptist Church. Next
Sunday Clint Webb will preach. Clint accepted
the Lord at Cathedral Pines Camp and several years later received a call to
serve the Lord at Cathedral Pines. Ordained
- 1st Baptist Church – Boise, Pastored 30 years at 1st Baptist Church - Oak
Harbor (Church on the Rock). Director of American Baptist Churches of the
Northwest L.C.C. Mentor Pastors. God is
at work in the mission life of First Baptist Church. But this is just the beginning.
At the mission summit in Kansas City, we will
celebrate three awesome mission experiences in the history of our denomination
where ABC took the lead for the kingdom of God in America and the world. – 175th
anniversary of the emancipation proclamation /
200th anniversary of the Judson’s / 375th
anniversary of the founding of the first ABC in the USA (well not really – even
the current building was erected and first used in May of 1775 a year before we
became the USA). In each of these
celebrations point out that American Baptist have been an adaptive people who
rightly use the authority – the power of Jesus Christ. We don’t do what we do because it has always
been done that way. We look at contemporary society and adapt ourselves by the
power of Jesus to meet needs; not to make people adapt to us. We have always been a people on mission
extending ministry wherever possible.
Do you realize what ministry
will be extended because three of our adults and 5 of our youth are going to a
mission field in Ohio. They will be
staying and working at the Christian Conference Center. It is 8 beautiful acres
in the midst of a depressed residential area.
The center works with dozens of children each summer through day
camps. They have a field that needs
reclaimed for more space for music day camps and volley ball camps that attract
children that no church camp or church could ever reach. We will be going to camp Kirkwood, a camp
that the ABC/Ohio could no longer afford to keep open and several ABC churches
got together and are effectively running that camp today much like our own
cathedral pines. Camps who reach 100’s
during the summer are always in need of laborers to help make their efforts far
reaching. We will be on mission at the
west side free store that provides clothing, food and friendship to those in
the greatest need. We will be working at our host church Hillcrest Baptist that
has been a blessing to the church at large – in a 21 year period sent 20 people
into some form of vocational ministry (I am one of those). They minister to people in this same
depressed poverty stricken area. We will
get our hands dirty working in a community garden that helps people provide for
themselves. We will provide free laundry
and conversation for those people who can’t afford the luxury of a washer and
dryer in their home.
Our church is on mission. If we can stand on the promises of the
Faithbook and serve the under the authority and by the power of Jesus Christ
and accomplish so much in a two week period, what can we accomplish for Christ
in the next two years. Matthew 28:17 The moment they saw him they worshiped
him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves
totally. If you are on mission with
us – praise God. If you are not and you
are just warming a pew – we love you and are glad you are here, just keep your
hands and feet inside your cart because we are in for the ride of our lives. Jesus said,
"All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age."
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