Tonight, as we wrap-up another Missions Focus weekend here at Grace Immanuel Bible Church, we will examine the Great Commission given by Christ to His church. There are five reasons why the church must keep its focus on the Great Commission.
Because of the emphasis placed on the Great Commission.
The Great Commission is found in all four Gospels.
Christ Himself planned the meeting in Galilee as a pinnacle of His resurrected teaching ministry. (Matthew 26:31-32; Matthew 28:7; Matthew 28:8-10)
The Apostle Paul speaks of the Great Commission in 1 Cor. 15:6.
We were handed a mission by Christ. There is no better plan than His command.
Because of the Authority behind the Great Commission
The resurrected Son of God gave us this commission.
Matthew 28:18 says that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Christ. This is in stark contrast to the humiliation of the cross and the seeming defeat of a man. But, God the Father establishes Christ on His throne, according to His sovereign will.
Ephesians 1:20ff – Christ is seated far above… every name… all things are in subjection to Him.
Implications:
We are obligated to obey the command of the Great Commission.
We can be confident in the plan as we obey the command, because of Christ’s authority.
Because of the clarity provided in the Great Commission
There is one main verb in the passage and several explanatory participles.
The main verb contains the command (v.19): Make disciples. Make learners and followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Matthew 11:29 – Take His yoke and learn from Him.
Key point: The command “make disciples” is more than evangelism. John 8:31 – we must continue to grow in our understanding of the Word and learn how to obey it to be His disciples.
Participles that explain the main verb:
Go: Move out, get on the move. Disciple-making requires carrying the gospel and spreading the message.
Baptize: While no one is saved by baptism, Christ commands that His follower identify themselves in the waters of baptism as followers of Him.
Teaching to observe/obey: Disciples must be equipped so they mature in the faith. As the content of Jesus’ message is taught, we learn to live godly and become doers of the Word (Titus 2:11; James 1:22).
Because of the Biblical application of the Great Commission
The Apostle Paul set out to make disciples in the framework commanded by Christ.
Acts 14:21-23 – He preached the gospel and made many disciples. He strengthened them and encouraged them to continue in the faith, while enduring many trials on the mission field.
Paul executed a nurturing process, so the disciples would be anchored in the truth of God’s word.
Acts 15:36 – Paul returns to places he planted churches to encourage further.
Acts 18:23 – Paul travels back to strengthen all the disciples.
Paul’s applied six elements in the disciple making process of the Great Commission:
Preached the gospel.
Made disciples.
Gathered them into churches.
Nurtured disciples.
Appointed elders/pastoral oversight in the churches.
Commended them all to the Lord.
Because of the Divine Enablement in the Great Commission.
(v.20) Christ will be with us until the end of the age.
This promise encourages:
His divine presence is with us.
His commitment is to always be with us.
His enduring presence is with us to the end of the age.
To obey Christ’s command, we must be involved in disciple making.
We evaluate missions work based on the Biblical command and model, not based on any other criteria.
