Sermon Title: Fulfilling the Church’s Mission
Sermon Text: Matthew 28:16-20
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to demonstrate obedience to the commander-chief’s marching orders to make disciples.
Sermon Proposition: There are 4 major components of the church’s mission to make disciples.
I. The authority of the church’s mission. V.16-18
A. The authority mandates that we answer the call. V.16 (John 3:3-8)
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
B. The authority mandates that we accept the cost. V.17 (Luke 9:23-26; 57-62)
Matthew 10:34 " Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 "For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 "and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
C. The authority mandates that we advertise the character. V.18
1. Obedience 2. Communion 3. Service
4. Will of God 5. Dependence
Matthew 10:24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 "It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
II. The aim of the church’s mission. V.19-20a
A. The 2 characteristics of a disciple. V.19
1. A disciple is a learner of Christ.
2. A disciple is a follower of Christ.
B. The 4 criteria for making disciples. V.20a
1. The uncontrollable aim of going.
2. The universal aim of all people groups.
3. The ultimate aim of identification.
4. The unavoidable aim of conformity to Christ.
III. The ally of the church’s mission. V.20b
A. The ally’s promise of power. (Acts 1:8)
B. The ally’s promise of presence.
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Acts 18:10 "for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."
Acts 23:11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."
IV. The amen of the church’s mission. V.20c
