WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:09.599 But if you'd open your Bibles to the book of Matthew, chapter 8, we are continuing our series called The People on Mission. 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:13.119 Usually we do walk through a book of the Bible verse by verse. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:21.359 A couple weeks ago we finished the book of James, and we'll be starting the book of Nehemiah here in a couple weeks after this series. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:23.280 But we'll be in Matthew chapter 28. 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:24.960 Miss Irma's excited about it. 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:26.399 I'm excited too. 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:29.920 But Matthew chapter 28. 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:34.880 If you don't know me, my name is Pastor Sammy. 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:38.240 I'm one of the pastors here at Idawald at the Springs. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:41.920 We are glad that you are here with us. 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:44.960 I want to ask you a question. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:01:01.039 If I came to you today after service, and I said, hey, I have a new believer, a person who's just decided to follow Jesus, could you disciple them? 00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:03.600 Can you teach them? 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:09.599 Can you train them to observe and follow the commands of Jesus? 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:20.640 Maybe someone who was saved through Adopt a Block Ministry or Hope Cafe or someone during the service responds to the message of the gospel and receives it. 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:25.680 Do you feel like you would be able to disciple that person? 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:30.400 Maybe in some of your hearts it's a maybe. 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:32.879 Maybe it's a yes. 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:34.159 Maybe it's a no. 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:36.480 Maybe there's some uncertainty. 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:39.359 I want you to think about a painter. 00:01:39.599 --> 00:01:49.200 Maybe someone who, for a living, they paint houses or paint rooms, and they've been doing this as a profession for maybe 10 years, 15 years, maybe more than that. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:57.519 And imagine me going to a painter and asking this painter, hey, there's someone who needs work, who needs a job. 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:00.480 Can you teach this person how to paint? 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:03.040 What do you think that painter would say? 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:05.200 He'd probably be able to do that. 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:22.080 They have the experience of doing that painting for so long, they would be able to take that person, put them under their wing, and train them and teach them what it means to paint so much so that eventually the person who was trained under him would what? 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:24.159 Be able to train someone else. 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:38.960 But unfortunately, today in the church, if we're honest, there are some of us who have been followers of Jesus, disciples of Jesus for many years, who have never made a disciple. 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:43.680 And if we're honest, we'd say, I don't even know how to do that. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:50.080 And so listen today, this is not a condemnation from the Word of God, this is an invitation. 00:02:51.360 --> 00:03:04.879 That in this passage, you will receive the greatest invitation, the greatest mission to ever exist on this world in making disciples. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:14.960 Because some of us, as we're, as we think about this conversation of sharing Jesus with others or teaching about Jesus in our hearts, there's a lot of uncertainty. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:16.159 There's a lot of doubt. 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:18.319 There's a lot of, am I capable of doing this? 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:19.680 How do I do this? 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:21.280 I've never done this before. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:23.439 Is it even for me? 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:31.759 And so my goal today is not to answer all the questions of how do I share the gospel or what does it look like to make disciples? 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:36.800 My goal for you today is just for you to take the next step. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:44.879 To start taking this call seriously on making disciples of all the nations. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:58.479 And so here in Matthew 28 in our text, just as we may have some uncertainty of this commission and calling the disciples here with Jesus and his final moments, who spend three years with them, is getting ready to go. 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:08.080 And this verse we'll see there is some uncertainty, there is some doubts, and Jesus speaks to them in this moment. 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:15.680 And so the question that our text is going to answer today is how can ordinary people make disciples? 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:21.040 How can ordinary people like you and me make disciples? 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:29.600 And so let's, as is tradition here at the spring, stand in reverence for those of us who are able to for the reading of the word of God. 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:33.439 This is us declaring as a church that we are grounded on the Bible. 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:34.079 Amen. 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:38.000 That everything that we say and we do is from his word. 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:43.920 And so we've come hungry, we've come expectant, ready to receive from the Lord. 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:47.839 Matthew 28, starting in verse 16. 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:55.439 It says, Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:05:00.240 And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:08.639 And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:25.759 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:26.639 Let's pray. 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:31.199 Lord Jesus, we just pray in this moment, asking for your help. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:37.600 I ask for your help as I stand here that I would speak truthfully of what your word has already said here. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:52.079 Lord God, we pray that every person here who is a follower of you would feel the depth and the sense of this commission, this calling, Lord God, that it is for every single one of us. 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:53.040 Lord Jesus. 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:57.040 So we pray that we'd be not just hearers, but doers of your word. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:58.800 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:05:59.680 Amen. 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:01.600 Amen. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:09.759 Here in Matthew 28, we're jumping in the very end of the book of Matthew. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:13.360 Matthew was one of writers of the four gospels. 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:18.720 He was an eyewitness to Jesus and wrote down what he saw as a disciple of Jesus. 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:24.079 He wrote down of the birth of Jesus, the life of Jesus, the death and resurrection. 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:30.319 And now Matthew here writes Jesus' final words in this gospel. 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:34.000 Last words are important, right? 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:42.639 I've asked this question before, but if today was your last day on this earth, you'd have some important last words, right? 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:53.279 To your loved ones, to people you care about, people around you, you would share some meaningful words, last wishes, your final thoughts. 00:06:53.439 --> 00:07:03.199 And so Jesus here, with his dear friends, his disciples, for three years is sharing his final words. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:05.759 Means it's pretty significant. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:07.920 It means we should lean in. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:11.279 What is Jesus about to say? 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:14.079 Starting there in verse 16 of our text. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:21.759 It says, now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mount to which Jesus had directed them. 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:24.720 A reminder why it's 11 and not 12. 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:33.439 Judas, who was one of the original twelve, had betrayed Jesus and ended his own life, and now there's only 11. 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:38.399 And they're following what Jesus had said in Matthew 26, 32. 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:41.360 He had prophesied about this, that he would be raised up. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:46.639 It says, but after I am raised, I will go before you to Galilee. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:54.560 And so there they are meeting Jesus just as he directed them, just as he promised them. 00:07:54.800 --> 00:08:01.920 In verse 17, it says, When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:03.920 But some doubted. 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:05.759 First, we see here they worshiped him. 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:14.639 This is just a reminder, as we saw last week in our passage in Mark chapter 2, that moment with the Pharisees. 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:15.600 Do we remember that? 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:18.560 Where Jesus was able to see within their hearts. 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:20.560 He was able to forgive this man. 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:23.759 And they said, Who can forgive sins but God? 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:29.360 And Jesus identifies himself as God in the flesh, the one who can forgive. 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:32.320 And here again we see the deity of Jesus. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:35.200 That Jesus is worshiped. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:38.799 We have to be careful. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:45.759 Again, this this I mentioned the Jehovah's Witnesses last week, this past Saturday, and all that we were doing. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:51.440 I saw them uh park right down here and get out of their car and start getting ready to go door to door. 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:53.840 And I was praying against them. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:56.480 I said, God, I pray everyone is asleep. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:58.240 I pray every door is closed. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:01.440 I pray that this the heat would be too much for them. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:09.039 You know, not in a you know to be hospitalized, but just you know, to for it to be uncomfortable and to go back home. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:13.840 You know, it reminds me actually that Andrew's here. 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:25.919 We we had a trip, we were in um South Asia, we were going uh to share the gospel and to these um uh mountains um in South Asia where the there was little to no access to the gospel. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:31.279 And when we were there, you know, we saw the Lord move, we saw professions of faith, it was incredible. 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:44.080 And as we were getting ready to leave, we had actually heard the news that there was a group similar to us of going place to place in these villages, but they were preaching a false gospel. 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:48.720 Um, it's actually very prominent in Asia, even some places in the U.S. 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:59.600 I've I've had friends run into some of these uh um uh missionaries for this sect or cult. 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:02.159 Uh they're called the Mother God Church. 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:09.759 They believe that God has a mother who is married, all this stuff, but they also don't believe Jesus is God. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:20.639 And we had heard that as they were going from place to place, uh they got caught and uh arrested and kicked out of the country. 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:32.240 And we would have been really got in trouble for the same thing because the government didn't want us to do what we were doing, but we were freely able to go and to do it, and that didn't happen to us, praise God. 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:34.559 But the reality is this: why am I sharing this? 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:39.919 They worship Jesus. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:49.919 We do not worship man. 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:53.600 Worship, as we just sung, is only for God. 00:10:54.639 --> 00:11:01.200 And they stood there, this man that they saw and lived life with for three years. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:02.960 They worshiped him. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:05.759 He is worthy of that worship. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:07.840 But also some doubted. 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:21.679 This is where we get to see the realness, the humanness of these disciples, that they were just with Jesus, they saw Jesus die and saw Jesus rise from the grave, but they doubted. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:30.559 The Greek word here for Tao isn't so much a doubting of belief, but a doubting of uncertainty. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:32.879 What's next? 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:35.360 What's gonna happen? 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:47.039 And here Jesus sees that and he knows that, and he says these words on top of this mountain to these disciples that would change the history of the world. 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:57.600 Verse 18, and Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:05.759 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:07.840 Here's the first point. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:10.320 How can ordinary people make disciples? 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:14.080 Is this go in Christ's authority? 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:16.240 Go in Christ's authority. 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:19.600 First, we have to break down this here in verse 19. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:22.080 It says, Go therefore and make disciples. 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:23.840 What is a disciple? 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:29.120 It's a term we use in the church that we use a lot, but what is this actual term? 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:34.399 To put it simply, a disciple is someone who follows the commands of Jesus. 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:34.960 Right? 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:39.600 In those days, Jesus was there before them. 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:51.679 So a disciple would someone who, just like the disciples, dropped their nets as fishermen, or who Matthew as a tax collector, his job, dropped those things and went and followed Jesus. 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:58.480 And so for us, Jesus isn't physically here that we follow, but we follow his word, his commands. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:03.039 We live a life being obedient to Jesus. 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:04.960 That's what a disciple is. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:10.639 And so he says, go and make disciples. 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:12.879 What does that mean? 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:19.279 What does that mean that me and you are called to go and to make disciples? 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:20.240 Right? 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:24.080 We spent the past two weeks talking about this as people on mission. 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:40.639 The first week we were in Revelation chapter 7, the vision that John sees of the end of every nation, tribe, and tongue worshiping God, that everything is about that, letting people know that God is worthy of worship and that that vision should be our vision. 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:47.679 And last week we we talked about being like the friends of the paralytic man of bringing others to Jesus. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:51.759 And here I want us to focus on discipleship. 00:13:52.320 --> 00:14:06.639 Making disciples, because the problem within the church is that making disciples has been delegated to the pastor, to the church staff, or the paid person. 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:19.679 But here, as we'll see in our text, and there's so many places we can go, as we've seen, that making disciples is the calling for every single person here in this room. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:24.399 But one place we can see this is actually in verse 20. 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:26.639 Look at verse 19 and 20. 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:36.240 It says, Go therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you. 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:42.879 And behold, right here, listen to this, I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:46.799 Because here's the argument people can say, and people have said. 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:50.639 See, that commission wasn't given to me. 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:53.840 I wasn't on that mountain. 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:55.120 Right? 00:14:55.279 --> 00:15:00.240 That was a commission that was given to these 11 guys there on the mountain. 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:01.440 I wasn't there. 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:04.080 That's not for me to follow. 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:05.840 But I want you to catch something. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:08.480 That last phrase is so valuable. 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:12.159 It says, I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:16.480 Let me ask you this: are these disciples going to be here till the end of the age? 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:21.120 See, Jesus in that moment, he's not speaking to these eleven. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:32.399 He's speaking to the disciples that they would make that this commission, this mission that I'm giving to you will not stop with you. 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:48.960 There will be people 2,000 years later in Tampa, Florida, Sulfur Springs, and a church who will hear the same commission that need they need to hear, I am with you to the end of the age. 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:56.240 This commission wasn't just for these 11, it was for the church, the followers of Christ. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:59.919 So what does it look like to go? 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:03.840 To go in Christ's authority. 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:07.360 Well, first it looks like going where? 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:08.879 We see it right there in verse 19. 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:13.279 It says, to make disciples of all nations. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:17.120 So first we go where the gospel's not gone. 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:22.559 We go to the nations, to the people groups where people have no access to the gospel. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:40.240 And we share, that's why we had a recap video the past couple weeks of Chip, who's in Malaysia, who we sent out, who's here, who is part of our family, who went and spent two months and is still there now, preaching the gospel, trying to plant a church there. 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:49.120 That's why we just heard about Andrew and Emily who spent three years in South Asia now getting ready to go to Japan for to go to the nations. 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:50.639 That's what it looks like. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:17:10.720 And my hope is that that wouldn't just be something that we have someone come up and share about, but here in our midst, our church, that we would send out people to long-term missions who would give their lives and give up everything for the mission of God. 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:17.039 It means going to the nations, but also means going to the neighborhoods. 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:18.880 It means going here. 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:34.799 That some of us here in this place would go across the street to our workplaces, to the areas of our everyday life and preach the gospel and make disciples. 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:37.599 What does that look like to go? 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:40.000 It looks like what we did yesterday. 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:56.240 Or yesterday, this place was packed here, giving clothes and feeding people in the fellowship hall, people who were in need, or people who just needed some clothes that we can help out, but not just care for them physically, but give them the hope of the gospel of Christ. 00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:03.839 That's what it looks like to go, to make disciples, to share Jesus boldly. 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:06.880 But not just to share Jesus. 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:13.839 You know, there's a saying, actually, Andrew's here, so I just remembered it. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:24.160 But there's a saying that uh he would say, I don't know if it was original to him, but sometimes there's a culture within the church where it's we convert and then to the dirt. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:33.039 It's like, okay, this person's made a profession or they believed, and then we forget about them. 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:35.200 No, there's something different here. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:41.599 Jesus is saying to not just share the gospel to but to make disciples. 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:51.119 To make people who are baptized in the name of the Trinity and who observe the commands of Jesus. 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:54.400 But here's what can happen to us. 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:58.160 Here's what I know has already happened during this message. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:00.720 We can be uncomfortable. 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:12.160 We can think I'm afraid or I can't speak well, or I'm too shy, or I fear rejection if I share the gospel, or if I try to come along somebody and teach them about Jesus. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:18.000 Here's the thing, remember that the disciples are feeling an uncertainty as well. 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:18.960 We saw that. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:20.880 Some doubted. 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:25.119 But verse 18, this is so important. 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:27.279 What does it say? 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:28.880 All authority. 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:36.160 Jesus says, In heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:38.640 What does that mean for us? 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:50.079 You are absolutely right to feel uncertain, to feel unqualified, to feel like, you know, that's not for me. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:51.759 Or I can't do that. 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:54.559 You can do it on your own. 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:58.000 But Jesus here, he stands before them. 00:19:58.319 --> 00:20:06.640 He says, All authority, not some, but all authority where on heaven. 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:08.079 In heaven. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:14.640 Meaning the spiritual forces, angels, demons, Satan himself. 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:19.440 He's Jesus saying, Above all these things, I have authority in heaven. 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:25.279 But not just heaven and the things you can't see, but the things that you see. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:30.799 This Roman Empire that seems strong. 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:34.640 I have authority over them. 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:44.799 Over kings, over rulers, over every human heart, over every inch in this universe and in this earth, I have authority. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:50.240 And with that authority, he says, Go. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:52.960 What is he doing? 00:20:53.039 --> 00:21:04.319 It's a general before he gives the command to his soldiers to remind them of his status, to remind them of his authority that he is giving them to go. 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:08.880 Saying, go in my authority, go in my power. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:12.000 And think of it. 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:17.599 They just saw Jesus hanging on the cross. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:22.640 Buried for three days. 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:24.559 And now risen. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.680 Standing before them. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:32.000 I feel he chose a mountain intentionally. 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:35.519 Have a good view of everything before them. 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:39.359 Saying, I have all the authority. 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:41.599 And he looks at you and me. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:44.480 He looks at your doubting heart. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:49.279 And he says, I have the authority. 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:52.880 Here's the thing, guys. 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:59.680 You don't think that for me there's a moment I feel that I know some of y'all see me, maybe in an adopt the block or drive. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:10.160 Been around picking up people and think, man, I just don't ever have uncertainty, I don't ever have doubt, I don't ever have fear. 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:14.480 It's there, it's in us. 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:36.240 But there is a king who's given us authority so that when we come onto the streets of Japan or South Asia or Malaysia or Sulfur Springs, if we're here in Sulfur Springs, we say, I come in the authority of uh Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, they said I can be here. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:44.720 Oh, I come in the authority of Idawell Baptist Church, or I come in the authority of the First Amendment right for me to speak my truth. 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:50.880 No, I come in the authority of the risen King, Jesus Christ. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:55.359 To bring the gospel. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:58.079 He's empowering them. 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:05.920 You know, there was a moment in South Asia when we were trying to teach and train pastors about this Great Commission. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:12.640 Right here, it's a lot easier to share your faith than it is in South Asia, where there is heavy persecution. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:15.519 And we were in a three-hour discussion. 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:23.599 We were walking through the book of Acts, and I was trying to explain to him this is what we got to do, regardless of the consequences. 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:30.640 And he would say this, dear friend of mine, he said, you know, I get it, but I think we should wait. 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:32.319 We should wait. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:36.720 Once the government changes, once the government shifts, then we can start sharing the gospel. 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:38.799 Then we can start making disciples. 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:44.480 And I would just look through Acts and I'm just, this isn't what the disciples did. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:47.759 Listen to this, Acts chapter 4. 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:48.319 I love this. 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:57.920 You get to see Peter and John in this moment that they were standing before Jesus, hearing this commission, now living it out in Acts chapter 4, 17 through 20. 00:23:58.160 --> 00:24:05.839 It says, But in order that it may spread no further among the people, this is the Pharisees, the religious people trying to silence them. 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:13.920 They say this, let us warn them not to speak no more to anyone in this name. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:21.839 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:25.839 They had authority, right? 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:30.799 I mean, they had power to kill them, imprison them, beat them. 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:35.440 This was the rulers of the day in verse 19. 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:37.519 But Peter and John answered them. 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:44.960 Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge. 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:51.599 For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:56.960 This is what it means to go in the authority of Christ. 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:16.240 Second point is this. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:18.480 For how can ordinary people make disciples? 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:23.599 First is go in Christ's authority, second is baptized into Christ's church. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:33.359 It says, Go therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:40.079 We see the first step of baptism, or the first step of making a disciple, is baptism. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.200 It's baptism. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:51.119 The Greek word here, where it says in the name of it, really should be translated into the name. 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:53.920 It is an allegiance to Christ. 00:25:54.480 --> 00:26:10.720 And we would see this a lot in the Middle East or in South Asia or places where people had no problem if you were a Hindu background or you were Muslim background and you were going to church or you were reading the Bible, no big deal. 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:17.279 But the moment that you got baptized, it was crossing the line. 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:20.640 That was when rejection would happen. 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:25.359 That's where you were in danger because they knew that was the moment. 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.960 You were making it public. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:29.519 You are making it real. 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:38.880 And the question for some of you that's so important, and you're walking with Jesus, your own discipleship with Jesus is have you been baptized? 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:42.400 Have you been baptized? 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:46.319 And if not, the good news is you can get baptized. 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.599 You can do that here. 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:51.039 We're doing baptism service at the end of August. 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:53.200 And say, you know what, I've never been baptized. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:56.960 Or I was baptized before, but it was before I was saved. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:59.839 Before I truly understood the gospel. 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:05.440 I'd encourage you to pray, listen to the Spirit of God calling you to take that step. 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.920 But here's the thing we have to understand. 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:12.960 We can't separate making disciples with the local church. 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:15.039 Okay, where do you see this? 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.000 Right? 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:25.039 The one action that you cannot do by yourself, you can try, but we see in the Word of God is in community is baptism. 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:32.480 Someone else, the church of God, would they they would baptize the believers who were there? 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:36.319 We see that in Acts chapter 2, the day of Pentecost, and moving forward. 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:40.079 It's being baptized into a local body, a church. 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.240 We see that. 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:46.960 And we see the the Great Commission. 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.920 What's the result? 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:50.640 Jesus gives them this Great Commission. 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.559 And what happens? 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:54.160 They plant churches. 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.559 That's what they do. 00:27:57.119 --> 00:28:00.559 Fulfilling the Great Commission, you look at the book of Acts, that's exactly what they did. 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:08.880 They went, they shared the gospel, they made disciples, and they planted churches, and they put elders over those churches, pastors over those churches. 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:12.720 They're baptized into Christ's church and to a community. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:14.240 Right? 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:26.640 Discipleship is inviting others to follow Jesus, to make a commitment, allegiance to him in baptism, but it's also an invitation into the community of God, into the church. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:34.160 Third point is this how can ordinary people make disciples teach Christ's commands? 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.920 Look at verse 20. 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:43.119 It says, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:52.480 Share the gospel, be baptized, but we teach them to observe the commands of Jesus. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:57.440 This is a huge problem in the church. 00:28:58.400 --> 00:28:59.759 As I mentioned before. 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:06.720 Where we delegate that discipleship, that teaching about Jesus to other people. 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:09.279 And notice what Jesus says. 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:13.920 Notice, Jesus does not say, teach them all I have commanded you. 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:15.279 What does he say? 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:21.039 Teach them to observe all I've commanded you. 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.960 What's the difference there? 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:33.680 One of the biggest issues and problems in the American church today is the priority of information and facts about Jesus, but not actually living it out. 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:39.599 See, that's the difference of Jesus not saying teach them the commands and write down the list of the commands. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:43.839 I can give you the Ten Commandments, I can give you the list of the do's and the don'ts. 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:45.599 Jesus is not saying that. 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:54.960 Jesus is saying teach them to observe, to obey everything that I've commanded, to follow. 00:29:55.200 --> 00:30:01.200 Discipleship with Jesus is not information based, it is obedience-based. 00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:08.480 And that's a problem because so many of us, week in and week out, even on Sunday, we hear the word, we hear the word. 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:11.519 But we do so little with it. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:13.599 And that's not discipleship. 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:18.799 Discipleship is under Jesus, is observing it. 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:21.359 How can I apply this? 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:25.440 And discipleship is helping others to do that. 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:28.240 Helping others to do that. 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:36.880 Would you be able, as I asked the first question of today's message, to disciple others if I brought a new believer to you? 00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:48.960 One of the markers to know if you are a disciple of Jesus who's growing, is that you are striving to make disciples yourself. 00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:58.640 So let's just talk about some practicals of maybe for some of us, here's the reality: before we can disciple others, we have to be discipled. 00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:01.759 We have to be disciples. 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:04.160 What are some ways to do that? 00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:09.359 First is continue to put yourself weekly under the preaching of the Word of God. 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:26.480 There is nothing more valuable than to come and sit with brothers and sisters and hear the Bible, the open book, Word of God, and hear it and apply it and obey it. 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:29.279 The other thing I would encourage you is Thursday nights. 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:36.400 That's a big focus of our midweek is discipleship for our men, for our women's group, for our children, for our youth. 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:45.200 Where the main focus is rather than just coming and sitting and listening, which is incredible, the next step is coming and sitting and discussing. 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:50.799 Being able to see if we're observing it or not observing it. 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:54.000 Being able to be in each other's lives. 00:31:55.920 --> 00:32:03.519 So I'd encourage you, if that's you, and say, Man, I don't know how to make disciples, or I'm not there and I need to take a next step. 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:06.240 I would encourage you Thursdays to come. 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:10.319 And I would just say, pray. 00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:13.359 Pray to the Lord and ask for help for wisdom. 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:28.079 Maybe there's someone here in this church or someone you know in your life who maybe they've been knowing Jesus a little longer than you have or further in their walk, that you can begin to approach them and say, Would you invest in me? 00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:30.240 Maybe that's a big ask up front. 00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:33.039 Maybe it's just talk at, hey, can we get coffee? 00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:38.240 And say, how do you read your Bible? 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:41.519 How do you I've been struggling with praying. 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:44.880 You have to be discipled. 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:48.640 But you also have to disciple others. 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:51.359 You have to disciple others. 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:53.279 And the same thing is with prayer. 00:32:53.440 --> 00:33:04.640 That there may be some of you in here to begin praying and saying, you know, it's been a long time, or maybe I've never done that before, but I know that I am ready, but I just need a little push. 00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:09.839 Is to pray to God and say, God, would you show me who it is? 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:17.599 Put someone on my heart, maybe today, this very morning, to approach after service and say, Hey, you want to get some coffee? 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:20.240 And say, Hey, how are you doing? 00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:22.079 What's your story? 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:26.160 How can I help you take your next step in Jesus? 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:33.759 Who has God placed around you that you can help? 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:36.000 And this is a challenge. 00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:39.440 There's a lot of barriers in this, and this is why church is so important. 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:41.599 Because maybe you need guidance. 00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:43.920 Well, I don't I don't know what that looks like. 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:48.079 I don't know how I should disciple others, how should I approach that? 00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:51.759 That's why we have a community to lean on one another, talk to one another. 00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:54.480 Where you can come talk to me and say, hey, I want to be discipled. 00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:55.920 I want to disciple someone. 00:33:56.079 --> 00:34:00.400 We can point you in that direction, help you, coach you in what that looks like. 00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:08.960 And a simple one here, a practical to live this out is parents in the room. 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:12.960 So disciple your children. 00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:22.159 To disciple your children, to pray with them, share the gospel with them, teach them the commands of Jesus. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:29.440 Do not delegate the training up and discipling of your children to someone else. 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:34.000 Or to the church or to a school. 00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:41.280 Those are valuable, but you are the main discipler of your children. 00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:44.239 And can I tell you the best way to do that? 00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:49.280 The best way to do that is just to model it. 00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:51.519 To model it. 00:34:53.199 --> 00:35:04.000 Man, I can't tell you how many times I would wake up in the morning and run downstairs excited to watch Saturday morning cartoons. 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:17.360 And as I'm running down the aroma of uh fresh coffee, and my mom's sitting in the corner of the living room with her Bible open. 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:28.639 That speaks so much more than anything of what of what she says is what she does. 00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:37.199 Same thing of knocking on the door, opening the door, and my dad on his knees by the bed, praying. 00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:39.679 His model. 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:40.719 And it's the same thing. 00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:43.599 That's not just with your children, that's discipleship. 00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:47.519 Look at 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 8. 00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:50.480 Paul talking about the to the church at Thessalonica. 00:35:50.880 --> 00:36:01.519 He says, So being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives. 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:06.079 Because you had become very dear to us. 00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:10.480 God's discipleship is relationship. 00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:25.679 It's not just giving facts or information, it's a shared life for you to know what's going on in each other's lives, to encourage, to pray over, to speak the word of God. 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.760 And there's some discipleship. 00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:34.400 Yes, there's maybe a mentorship of what's described as a Paul to a Timothy, but there's mutual with one another. 00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:38.000