The outline of a sermon given at Church of the Highlands on July 24, 2011 by Ryan Miller. God be praised.
MISSIONS, EVANGELISM, DISCIPLESHIP: A Matter of Obedience
-Why are missions, evangelism, and discipleship important?
-Why should the church be involved locally and more important globally?
-What does the Bible say about our own responsibility?
Jesus Commands Us To Go!
Matt 28:19 –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,
Mark 16: 15-20 – 15He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Just as the original disciples, Christians today are still accountable to Jesus’s command and are called to disciple believers and evangelize the lost. This is what is known as …..The Great Co-Mission
Co-m-mission– The act of granting certain powers or the authority to carry out a particular task or duty….great definition!
His mission has become our mission, it is now a “Co” mission! We need to not just soak up the joys of living in God’s kingdom, but also be builders of his kingdom and follow the “floor plan” he has provided! The Word! As Christians no one is exempted or excused, to bring the Good News to the World around us. We must shine like a light before all men, them seeing our good works so they may praise our God in heaven. God has also given us his authority over devils and sickness. Are we walking in that authority? Do we believe in the authority we have from Christ? We have the same power in Christ Jesus as the disciples did, and still can do what they did in yesterday … today. The question first is, are we obedient to that call?
Romans 10:14-15 – 14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
How important was the Good News to you the first time you heard it? I bet you are thankful someone shared it with you? Someone else is waiting to hear. Share the only eternal gift!
3 Perspectives of God’s view, concerning us about missions and obedience
1. God doesn’t need man to accomplish his will, but as Christians we are expected to serve and do his will.
As the disciples praised Jesus as he entered Jerusalem the Pharisees cried out against them. Jesus responds, Luke 19:40 – “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
James 1:22-25 – 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
James 2:26 –“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”
2. God desires all of our being to be his, for he is the one who gives it life.
He is a jealous God who jealous for our affections.
Seeking worshipers in spirit and in truth. The Spirit of Praise and Truth of his Word
Matt 6:19-24 –19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
3. Missions are not about where you are going, what are you doing, or whom you are reaching, the core purpose is bringing glory to God and obeying His word by answering the call wherever he has you go. It is not a matter of IF he is calling you but a matter of THAT God has called you!
Nuggets From the Word To Meditate On Concerning Missions and Obedience
To obey is better than to sacrifice.
If you love me you will keep my commandments.
He is the vine, we the branch, are there other vines are we connected to that bear disobedient fruit in our life?
Don’t be like Cain when it comes the giving God the first fruits of your life.
Are you speaking his truth? From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
How can we love God if we don’t obey him?
How can we obey if we don’t hear and follow his voice?
In our weakness he is made perfect. He is the author and finisher of our faith!
RMM
