Jesus gives us our mission: to make disciples of all nations. Have you ever felt awkward or ill-equipped to help other people find and follow Jesus? I have! What if your mission was simpler than you thought?

Transcript

November 2-3, 2019

Pastor Joe Wittwer

You can do this!

Find someone you love

Opening:

“You can do this!”  We say it all the time. 

To our kids when we’re cheering them on at a game.

To a friend when we’re encouraging her to take on a challenging task.

To ourselves when we’re tired or discouraged. 

“You can do this!  You can do this!”  Today, I want to say that to each of you regarding God’s mission.  God wants us to be His hands and feet, to represent Him and do His work in the world.  It feels overwhelming.  “I don’t know how.  I’m not good enough.  I’m not a professional Christian like Joe.”  But…You can do this!  And I’m going to show you how! 

Introduction and offering:

Let’s start with a very important Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20 (p. 857)

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.”

This is called “The Great Commission.” In these final words to His followers, Jesus gives them and us our mission: to make disciples of all nations.  To help everyone everywhere follow Jesus and do what He says.

That is why at Life Center, we say our mission is to help people find and follow Jesus.  This is the mission Jesus gave us. 

But there are two big problems.  First, many Christians are not convinced this is what we should do.  Second, even those who are convinced find it difficult and intimidating.  Let me briefly address those two objections.

First, many Christians don’t think we should evangelize.  Live and let live.  Don’t push your religion on others.  A recent Barna survey revealed that almost  half (47%) of millennial Christians think it is wrong to evangelize (to share your faith with the hope of helping the other person believe).  And it’s not just millennials.  I recently talked with a friend who is a Boomer and a very devoted Christian who said she is not convinced it’s right to try to convert others.  The idea is that we should respect everyone’s beliefs and not try to win them over to ours.  That sounds so…nice!  But let me show you why it’s wrong.

The first reason we must help others find and follow Jesus is because Jesus commands it.  If you are a follower of Jesus, you do what He says—and He clearly says to do this.  Make disciples of everyone everywhere—starting at home.  Jesus says, “Believe,” and we believe.  He says, “Be baptized,” and we get baptized.  He says, “Love your neighbor,” and we love our neighbor.  He says, “Make disciples,” and we say, “I’d rather not.”  Sorry—not how it works if you follow Jesus.  First, Jesus commands it. 

The second reason is more compelling.  It’s love—not only love for God, but love for people.  You all know: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

  Jesus came to bring us eternal life—life to the full, abundant life now and forever.  Without Jesus, without that life, we perish.  There are the two options: eternal life or perish.  Which one do you want?  What do you want for those you love? 

ILL: Have you heard of Penn and Teller—the illusionists?  Recently after a show, a man approached Teller and after chatting briefly, gave him a Bible with a nice note written inside.  Teller said the man looked him in the eye, was kind, respectful, and complimented him on the show.  And then he gave him the Bible.  Now, Teller is an outspoken atheist. What was his response?  It may surprise you!  He said:

“If you believe that there is a heaven and hell and that people c