Chapter 11

What Message Are We Taking?

Matthew 28:16-20

16 Then the eleven disciples went away to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshipped Him. But some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.


Lessons Learned

There are many groups within the realm of Christianity that claim to have the "Truth" or the "Gospel". However, if there is one truth or gospel, why are there over 33,000 different denominations that claim to have it? There was a time that I asked this question frequently. It caused me to wonder about what  message we are supposed to be spreading. It also caused me to wonder about what it means to be a disciple of this message, the philosophy behind it, and the God who authored it.


THINK ABOUT IT


1. If we are to "Go" as commissioned, where are we going

2. If we are to create  disciples, who are we calling to discipleship?

3. What is the process for creating disciples?



Final Thought

To do what we have to do it is time for us to grow as a ministry. We can no longer stand looking in wonder. It is time to work. That work calls for a recognition and acceptance of the Great Commission. It calls for us to be united as far as our message and our mission. Are we ready to Go?


When Everyone Gets It

Act 2:1-12

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 There appeared to them tongues as of fire, being distributed and resting on each of them, 4 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

5 Now dwelling in Jerusalem were Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, the crowd came together and were confounded, because each man heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to each other, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 How is it that we hear, each in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages the mighty works of God.” 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other, “What does this mean?”


Lessons Learned

Everyone marvels when one player on a team gets in the zone and begins to play phenomenally. However, what is the result when an entire team gets in the zone, the same zone. That is what happened on the day of Pentecost. After much prayer, study, and dialogue, these people were so in tune with God and with each other that when they spoke to the gathering of people from different countries, the Gospel message that came through them was clear enough to be understood in any language. 


The commission was clear. They were to go throughout the world, fearing nothing. The message was clear. They were to share the saving grace of the Son of God. The result would be clear. People from different socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds would get it. They would understand it, accept it, and join the movement.  This would result in the greatest movement in the history of mankind.


THINK ABOUT IT

1. Are we all clear about the mission?

2. Are we all clear about the message?

3. Are we all in the same zone together?


Why Are You Just Looking?

Acts 1:6-11

6 So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or the dates, which the Father has fixed by His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 When He had spoken these things, while they looked, He was taken up. And a cloud received Him from their sight.

10 While they looked intently toward heaven as He ascended, suddenly two men stood by them in white garments. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why stand looking toward heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you to heaven, will come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”


Lessons Learned

The disciples stood transfixed as Jesus ascended into the heavens. They were scolded by the angels because they were focused on the wonder before them rather than the work ahead of them. Jesus had told them they would receive power from the Holy Ghost to serve as witnesses for Him throughout the world. It was time for them to study, prepare, and get to work. However, they could not break away from the miracle of His ascension. Maybe they could not let go of the memories of other miracles, sermons, and interactions. Angels had to be dispatched to call them from their gaze to action.


THINK ABOUT IT

1. What do you think the true work of our ministry is?

2. What wonder do you think has us transfixed, keeping us from engaging in that work?


Introduction

The last great commission of Jesus Christ was for his disciples to take the message of the gospel to the world and create disciples of those they engaged. At that time, the message of Jesus was held dear by a small group of people in a specific region. Now, it is a global phenomenon. There are approximately 2.2 billion Christians on Earth, about 30% of the planet's population. Christian rituals, holidays, artifacts, and narratives are woven into the social fabric of most, if not all, western societies. If we are to follow the Great Commission to take this message to the world, where do we go?

Our Commission Our Commitment