back to index2015-06-14 Make Disciples
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And so they would be like, "Pastor Peter, Pastor Peter!" 00:00:14.560 |
I just wanna say that I'm very appreciative of SBK 00:00:20.440 |
and very thankful for just how he's been coming out to China 00:00:28.200 |
just being a good friend and older brother to us. 00:00:40.120 |
I just wanted to share this one quick little thing. 00:00:45.000 |
It was really good to see all the children up front, right? 00:01:03.520 |
I was like, and then also our parents couldn't pronounce it. 00:01:11.000 |
I've been out in China for the past five years, 00:01:14.520 |
and I noticed that a lot of things in America have changed. 00:01:19.320 |
And one of the things that I noticed was that, you know, 00:01:25.480 |
or as I came back, I would hear just from different friends 00:01:30.080 |
about this word that's been kind of popular these days, 00:01:42.760 |
They say that we wanna live a missional lifestyle. 00:01:55.460 |
And we've heard a lot of these types of terms in the past, 00:02:29.360 |
was specifically defined as Christian ministry 00:02:36.160 |
Missions is about going to a place that is not your home, 00:02:40.560 |
that has a different culture, maybe a different language. 00:02:45.320 |
that you don't know about, that you haven't grown up in, 00:02:52.000 |
Now, if we use this idea missional in our lives, 00:03:01.660 |
And I think that it could also possibly elevate missions 00:03:05.920 |
as this spiritual, highly spiritual activity. 00:03:09.640 |
Because, you know, we say we wanna be missional, 00:03:23.080 |
Or, it can actually lower the idea of missions, 00:03:27.040 |
because we say, you know, we could be missional anywhere. 00:03:31.760 |
and so we don't necessarily need to go overseas. 00:03:34.960 |
In any case, I feel like we don't necessarily need 00:03:41.380 |
We could just use the word that we've always used, 00:03:44.400 |
and that is, we need to be people in a church 00:03:52.440 |
Today's passage comes from Matthew chapter 28. 00:03:55.720 |
If you have your Bibles or your cell phone Bible apps, 00:04:05.000 |
You guys may recognize this passage as a passage 00:04:08.280 |
that's maybe spoken a lot on during like mission send-offs, 00:04:21.380 |
A lot of us know this passage as the Great Commission. 00:04:24.300 |
And we'll find today that the Great Commission 00:04:29.420 |
is actually the work that all churches and individuals 00:04:34.180 |
who are followers of Christ should be involved in. 00:04:50.900 |
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, 00:04:57.780 |
"and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. 00:05:25.180 |
And Lord, and now it's our turn to come before you today 00:05:33.540 |
as we look to your word, that you would teach us, 00:05:37.700 |
and Lord, that we may understand and obey you. 00:05:47.740 |
Before we look at the actual command of this passage, 00:05:55.800 |
I started today's passage by looking at verse 18. 00:06:00.960 |
And a lot of other people, when they speak from this passage, 00:06:06.920 |
and I want us to look at that verse 18 again. 00:06:11.440 |
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." 00:06:19.680 |
to a Jewish community, largely a Jewish community. 00:06:24.840 |
we'll see that, we can see that there are a lot of passages 00:06:30.100 |
There are a lot of references that may make more sense 00:06:33.280 |
to a Jewish audience than to a Gentile audience. 00:06:38.440 |
we see that Jesus is the Messiah that was to come. 00:06:51.720 |
And then he died on the cross, he was crucified. 00:06:57.680 |
we find that Jesus Christ, okay, I have to say this. 00:07:05.060 |
So please excuse me if I stutter a little bit. 00:07:14.240 |
And Jesus comes and appears before all of his disciples, 00:07:18.560 |
and he says, "All authority in heaven and on earth 00:07:24.540 |
"I have conquered sin, I have conquered death. 00:07:52.160 |
and maybe it's what the missionaries do overseas. 00:08:02.520 |
and it's something that we need to constantly 00:08:08.040 |
So what is the command that Jesus gives to us? 00:08:22.880 |
"and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." 00:08:32.180 |
And then it says, it says make disciples of all nations. 00:08:40.780 |
but it doesn't necessarily have to mean that. 00:08:58.640 |
The passage tells us, how do we make disciples? 00:09:00.740 |
It says, "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, 00:09:10.580 |
The first step is that we need to baptize them. 00:09:17.020 |
just like, you know, hey, baptized, boom, you know? 00:09:20.420 |
Baptizing means that you need to go through the process 00:09:25.340 |
of being a witness to people that don't believe yet. 00:09:28.620 |
Baptizing them incorporates this whole process 00:09:38.700 |
and recognized as a believer in Jesus Christ. 00:09:57.140 |
The Great Commission is not just about going somewhere 00:10:07.260 |
Jesus also says, "And teaching them to obey everything 00:10:39.380 |
Every single Sunday, a message, a sermon is given 00:10:47.820 |
And that's why the message, the sermon, is so important. 00:11:00.920 |
and through that, the Great Commission is being fulfilled. 00:11:03.820 |
Because the message teaches us, the sermon teaches us 00:11:09.180 |
how to view this world, how to act in our daily lives, 00:11:13.700 |
how to look at this world through God's eyes, 00:11:25.940 |
not only is discipleship done through the teaching 00:11:37.300 |
through how we live our lives in front of other people. 00:11:46.880 |
Jesus Christ was with his disciples for three years. 00:11:52.780 |
and the disciples followed him wherever he went. 00:12:00.320 |
They saw how he woke up early in the morning and prayed, 00:12:08.660 |
He saw how he, the disciples saw how Jesus Christ 00:12:13.100 |
went to those that were poor, that were sick. 00:12:32.580 |
And so we, all of us here, are making disciples 00:12:49.960 |
but the passage says that we need to teach them 00:12:58.700 |
It's good for us to gain more knowledge of the word. 00:13:05.580 |
and listen to the message, to come on Wednesdays 00:13:07.900 |
or Thursdays or Fridays to gain more knowledge of the word. 00:13:11.400 |
But it's important for us to not only learn about it, 00:13:16.700 |
In James chapter two, verses 14 to 20, it says this. 00:13:21.540 |
What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith 00:13:30.420 |
and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 00:13:37.060 |
yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, 00:13:49.780 |
But someone may well say, you have faith and I have works. 00:14:06.340 |
But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, 00:14:13.400 |
We may have a lot of knowledge about God's word, 00:14:21.180 |
but if you're not carrying it out in obedience, 00:14:26.020 |
We can also see what Christ says in John chapter 14, 00:14:31.420 |
Jesus says, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. 00:14:51.180 |
we need to teach people, even through our life examples, 00:15:03.140 |
making disciples, encompasses the whole process 00:15:08.140 |
of bringing an unbeliever to believe in Jesus Christ, 00:15:22.280 |
all the way to the point of becoming a mature believer. 00:15:25.100 |
This whole process is what the great commission is about. 00:15:41.700 |
are in the process and should be in the process 00:15:56.080 |
nor are we the master teacher of the ones we disciple. 00:16:17.000 |
meaning we wanna cause people to follow Christ. 00:16:20.400 |
The easy part in some ways is bringing a person to Christ, 00:16:42.540 |
and bringing a lot of people to believe in Jesus Christ. 00:16:59.280 |
they have a hard time discipling these people 00:17:07.100 |
One of the huge needs that still exists in China 00:17:10.880 |
is a need for mature older brothers and sisters, 00:17:17.460 |
older brothers and sisters to go and be mentors 00:17:22.760 |
and examples for the many believers in China. 00:17:33.960 |
for two years, three years, you know, less than five years. 00:17:38.880 |
So there's this huge need that still exists in China 00:17:48.860 |
Now, I wanna focus on this idea of discipleship, 00:17:53.800 |
and I wanna come to the first application question 00:18:16.160 |
Whatever you let your ears or your eyes see often, 00:18:26.240 |
I know people that can quote every statistic. 00:18:31.920 |
Always looking at the needs for your children, 00:18:43.960 |
I have a friend right now, on Facebook I saw his update, 00:18:49.280 |
and he was like, "I just started watching Game of Thrones. 00:18:53.360 |
And he kinda did it, I mean, he put it on Facebook, 00:19:14.400 |
Being a disciple is being a student of that person 00:19:23.800 |
in their beliefs, their wants, and their desires. 00:19:35.400 |
before I ask how are you as a disciple of Christ, 00:19:37.320 |
I wanna ask, what else are you a disciple of? 00:19:45.640 |
I had a friend a long time ago, about 10 years ago. 00:19:52.240 |
And he would be like, "Man, you're still using your PC? 00:20:30.480 |
The trouble is not that we don't believe in Jesus Christ. 00:20:36.240 |
The problem is that we believe in Jesus Christ 00:20:46.400 |
You know, I went to India, and we said, like, 00:21:02.080 |
as long as they could find a way to get to their place 00:21:30.320 |
While I was in China, I was leading a Bible study. 00:21:36.160 |
And there were, at that time, there were about eight people. 00:21:48.560 |
And I was teaching them that, you know, like, 00:21:57.480 |
And, you know, like, I was even telling them, 00:22:04.480 |
even before I was married, I used to tell people 00:22:09.600 |
I don't have to get married before Christ comes back. 00:22:18.760 |
I'm so looking forward to seeing Jesus Christ. 00:22:35.600 |
I had to look somewhere else while I was teaching. 00:22:45.640 |
are things that should be surprising to this world. 00:22:49.400 |
These things are things that we need to learn and obey. 00:23:06.600 |
Jesus says, you might not have a place to sleep. 00:23:27.120 |
In Matthew chapter five, it talks about that. 00:23:37.540 |
Are you honest and genuine in your profession? 00:23:49.040 |
In Matthew five, it says, let your yes be yes. 00:23:56.780 |
In Matthew chapter six, it talks about prayer. 00:24:13.760 |
But, you know, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. 00:24:17.320 |
My son does that, he prays the exact same prayer every time. 00:24:20.320 |
It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm asking, 00:24:23.880 |
is your prayer genuine when you pray that prayer? 00:24:39.000 |
one of the hardest things, especially if you've had 00:24:52.240 |
Or maybe your husband or your wife did something recently. 00:24:56.000 |
Or maybe it might be someone in the congregation. 00:25:03.800 |
'Cause Jesus Christ calls us to forgive them. 00:25:09.160 |
You know, is there someone in your past that, 00:25:11.320 |
like every time you see them, you feel like awkward 00:25:13.680 |
around them because of something that happened in the past? 00:25:25.280 |
As a disciple of Christ, are you a good steward 00:25:31.000 |
Or what about overseas, we hear about children 00:25:42.360 |
Are you using your finances to live out your faith? 00:25:53.720 |
In Matthew chapter six also, Jesus Christ says, 00:26:06.880 |
Are you constantly filled with fear about relationships? 00:26:47.960 |
Or are you a disciple of Christ and something else? 00:26:52.680 |
Not only are we called to be disciples ourselves, 00:27:00.560 |
but we are also called to make disciples of Christ. 00:27:15.760 |
But making disciples is not only done through this. 00:27:32.040 |
how to act and react in any given situation as a believer. 00:28:07.000 |
my daughter, Claire, I was sitting with my daughter, 00:28:09.800 |
and then also my mom was there, her grandmother. 00:28:19.680 |
And then my daughter, she saw that, she's only one, 00:28:30.400 |
You know, all of us, we are all, in some ways, 00:28:40.880 |
You know, you could tell by, if you look at siblings, 00:28:43.600 |
sometimes they laugh exactly the same way, right? 00:28:46.120 |
Our parents, you know, they've taught us how to laugh, 00:28:58.360 |
what table manners are, and kids imitate their parents. 00:29:11.720 |
And so, we are able to do the same for others. 00:29:15.000 |
We are able to be an example in that way to others, 00:29:18.760 |
and in this way, we are also making disciples. 00:29:21.760 |
So through your actions, I'm asking you today, 00:29:33.320 |
How are you, as one who makes disciples of Christ, 00:29:40.800 |
what are you teaching, even just through your actions, 00:29:52.680 |
How are, what are you teaching to your coworkers 00:30:05.840 |
It's easy to try to get your way out of a project. 00:30:09.400 |
How are you as a disciple of Christ before them? 00:30:19.800 |
What are you teaching your brother or your sister? 00:30:26.040 |
I mean, especially when I think about my son, 00:30:49.760 |
and he may grow up to do the exact same thing. 00:31:12.840 |
You know, I was gone for five years, and I came back, 00:31:17.600 |
how people's views have changed on same-sex marriage. 00:31:24.360 |
If we think about maybe five years ago before I left, 00:31:27.120 |
or even 10 years ago, I remember that the state 00:31:30.640 |
of California, we voted twice against same-sex marriage. 00:31:41.120 |
This Democrat state voted against same-sex marriage twice. 00:32:03.200 |
And then when we find, you know, like some churches, 00:32:07.480 |
like the PCUSA, they decided that they would recognize 00:32:42.400 |
Is it sports that you talk about all the time? 00:32:48.000 |
Is it complaints about your work or your family? 00:32:53.720 |
Is it the worries of your life about finances 00:33:01.920 |
What are your reactions to people that fight each other? 00:33:11.880 |
that there are these two ladies in some store, 00:33:21.140 |
One of the ladies, she was actually in one of those, 00:33:36.040 |
And then one of the ladies actually had a son with her, 00:33:48.160 |
and the kid was like, yeah, yeah, get 'em, Mom. 00:33:51.720 |
As Christians, if we saw that, what would we do? 00:34:01.700 |
I mean, we're called to be peacemakers, right? 00:34:04.620 |
I mean, I thought it was only happening in China, 00:34:11.180 |
You know when people fight or something happens? 00:34:15.560 |
and they start taking pictures instead of helping them. 00:34:25.260 |
What are the things that you show to the people around you 00:34:56.140 |
Everything that you say and do can carry a message 00:35:00.820 |
to people around you as to what a follower of Christ is. 00:35:11.680 |
but in the end, you are representing Christ as his follower 00:35:15.560 |
and teaching others what a follower of Christ looks like. 00:35:19.400 |
So again, how are you as a maker of disciples? 00:35:43.560 |
I mean, again, like my example about discipling, 00:35:50.900 |
there's like a fine line between like, you know, 00:35:59.560 |
and fits of rage, like, I told you not to do that, right? 00:36:16.760 |
And when I think about it, for me personally, 00:36:25.600 |
that I'm not saying that I know how to do this perfectly. 00:36:42.760 |
I struggle to be a good pastor, or even just a witness. 00:36:49.000 |
I need mature believers around me to help me as well, 00:36:54.800 |
Because I'm not sure that I'm representing Christ 00:36:59.760 |
in the right way, to my coworkers, to my family, 00:37:05.520 |
I'm not sure that I'm representing Christ in the right way. 00:37:27.100 |
Not only do I fail in my actions in front of people, 00:37:30.060 |
but I fail even in my own heart to be pure and holy. 00:37:38.420 |
But then that's where the last sentence is so important 00:38:14.260 |
I already paid the price so that you might live. 00:38:21.980 |
All your sins in the future, I paid for them also. 00:38:26.940 |
whatever errors you make, I paid for them also. 00:38:37.100 |
I am always with you, even to the end of the age. 00:38:45.100 |
You see, in the end, what we see is that being a disciple 00:38:52.100 |
is about understanding and accepting his grace 00:39:09.300 |
our response to grace and causing others as well 00:39:18.100 |
whether it be to non-believers or to believers. 00:39:42.180 |
Father God, I thank you so much for your amazing grace. 00:39:57.420 |
But even as we call ourselves disciples of Christ, 00:40:03.020 |
But I thank you so much that the work on the cross 00:40:09.440 |
And so Lord, I pray for my brothers and sisters here as well 00:40:18.580 |
And Lord, may they be people that make disciples of yours. 00:40:28.660 |
'cause there are times, a lot of times that we fail, 00:40:31.540 |
Lord would you remind us of your amazing grace 00:40:39.640 |
I thank you dear Lord and I pray these things