Sermon: The Great Commission

Matthew 28:16-20

The Great Commission

Cynthia O’Brien

May 21, 2006

^{MT 28:16} Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ 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,

Every Friday morning, lately, I try to get up at an early hour, an unearthly hour, or an ungodly hour depending on how you look at it, get dressed in business attire, and find my way to one of the businesses in Gresham for the weekly early morning meeting of the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce. Being a night person and not a morning person, I only succeed about every other Friday. But something compels me, and I believe it has something to do with Jesus’ call to make disciples of all nations.

Much earlier in the Gospel of Matthew, the 12 disciples were sent out to tell the good news of Jesus to the Jews. We understand in the Old Testament that Israel was the example for the nations of the glory of God. But now, after the resurrection, Jesus tells the disciples to go out and make other disciples, regardless of their nationality. Now all the nations are invited to be God’s people and find salvation in him.

The book of Acts tells how the early group of believers started to learn this. They had to overcome cultural differences and language barriers, which the Holy Spirit helped them to do. We have cultural barriers to overcome when we talk with our neighbors, and even our adult children and grandchildren who may seem to have a cultural world view totally different from yours. We are called to make disciples of all nations.

The Session, your board of elders, is reading this book “The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church” by Reggie McNeal. I heard him speak at a two-day conference last fall and I was very impressed with his passion for helping the church fulfill the Great Commission. One thing he says is that the Pharisees had a very closed community. Their strategy for welcoming new people was, “Come and get it.” If you can jump through all our hoops, and become just like us, you can be part of us.

But Jesus had a different view. He said, “Go into the world.” He went to where the people were and met them. The Pharisees were horrified that he sat down and ate with sinners. But he went out into the world.

That’s one of the reasons I joined the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce a few months ago. Somehow I manage to wake up and go to the “Connect with Success” meeting where about 100 business owners meet for coffee. I am one of three ministers that go; the others are Pastor Keith Evans of Greater Gresham Baptist Church and Chaplain Harold Fuller.

One Friday morning, I knew that Becky Coleman’s ministry My Sister’s House was in a cash flow crisis. When it was my turn to speak, I told this to the group. Then an insurance agent, I think it was Rick Stubblefield, stood up and suggested passing the hat for donations, and he would put in $100 to start it. Over $900 was collected for My Sister’s House that morning.

On another Friday morning, at the end of the meeting, I approached a woman and asked, “How’s your mother doing?” following up on a brief conversation of the previous week. She told me all about the struggles in her family. I’m grateful that she considers me trustworthy.

There were words of praise at last Friday’s meeting for a group from Greater Gresham Baptist who volunteered to do the cleanup for a recent business showcase. I told Pastor Keith Evans later I thought it was great that he helped out like that. He said, “It was easy to do. I want the businesses to know that the church is here to serve.”

I attended two meetings of the Government Affairs Council, which has made me more aware of the problems facing our community. I met the Republican and Democratic candidates for Governor and was able to challenge them, from a religious perspective, about issues that affect us here in East County.

Being involved in the Chamber is one way that I can be out in the community, sharing the gospel. It suits me and I enjoy it.

We are called to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations…

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

I was very pleased to baptize Erica and the Giffords last Sunday, people who were ready to acknowledge God and become followers of Jesus Christ. It’s what we’re about, inviting people to hear God’s call and find salvation through Christ.

Back in the days of the Church Growth Movement in Southern California, we were cautioned against padding church rolls with people lured away from other churches. We were warned that “shuffling sheep” from flock to flock wasn’t building the kingdom of God, it was just sheep stealing. There are good reasons people come here from other churches, but our primary goal is to help others come to Christ.

²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

What are the things Jesus commanded the disciples? The sermon on the mount is a good start. Turn to Matthew 5. These three chapters would be good for you to read tonight and this week. For most of you it will be familiar. Let me skip through it – try to stay with me. These are things that Jesus has commanded us. This is how to live a meaningful life.

^{MT 5:3} "Blessed are the poor in spirit, --

Realize right from the beginning that to follow Jesus is to be counter cultural.

^{MT 5:4} Blessed are those who mourn,

^{MT 5:5} Blessed are the meek,

^{MT 5:9} Blessed are the peacemakers,

¹⁶ Let other people see your light, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

^verse. ¹⁹ Keep the commandments.

^{MT 5:21} Hold to the highest ethical standards. Not only are you not to murder, but you are not even to kill a person’s self esteem.

^{MT 5:23} Be a peacemaker. Don’t expect to worship God if someone has something against you.

^{MT 5:27} Be pure in your thoughts as well as your actions. Be faithful in marriage. Keep your word.

^{MT 5:43} " Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

^{MT 6:2} " give to the needy, and not just for show.

^{MT 6:5} "pray to God, and not just for show.

^{MT 6:9} "When you pray, pray in a way that reverences God and looks forward to the kingdom of God. Ask for what you need. Ask for forgiveness. Ask for guidance. While you’re at it, forgive other people.

^{MT 6:19} "Don’t be concerned about material possessions – think in terms of things that have eternal significance.

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

^{MT 7:1} "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

^{MT 7:7} "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

^{MT 7:21} "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

These are the teachings of Jesus that we are to pass on to others. But how can we do that if we are just learning these things ourselves? Easy. People who are not Christians and not connected to a church don’t have the benefit that you do of understanding these rules for living. If you set aside time for a good conversation, these things will certainly come up. When you talk about them, tell the ways in which you are learning yourself. Be a fellow traveler on the road. Share your struggles. Share what you know.

How has Jesus sent you out into the world? You may have a very busy life right now, working two jobs and trying to raise a family. You tell the good news of Jesus Christ by the way that you interact with people all day long. You write a letter of thanks to your child’s teacher. You speak kindly to the supermarket cashier who has a cast on her arm, and you say you’ll pray for her. At your job, your boss expects you to lie or cover up something, but instead, you find a way to keep your integrity, stand up for what’s right and be a positive example. You are teaching others to obey what Jesus commanded you.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. Jesus promised the disciples that he would be with them always. He will be with you.