Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
April 23, 1989
Matthew 28:18-20
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I. Great Commission.
A. Last and most important words of Jesus.
B. Defines what the Church should be doing.
C. Five commands are given.
II. Go.
A. Aggressive outreach.
1) God is a "going" God.
2) Sent Son into world.
3) Sends Christians into world. (parable of banquet)
B. We resist this.
1) Early church - forced to evangelize.
a) Tendency to stay in Jerusalem.
2) Modern church has same tendency.
a) Ingrown church suffers from backbiting, etc.
b) Solution is outreach.
1> New blood.
2> Jesus orders us to.
C. Needed in churches:
1) Evangelism.
2) Loving care of needy.
a) Look for needs, don't wait for them to come to you.
3) Missions (overseas).
III. Make Disciples.
A. Greek - "make learners."
1) Different from "teach" in verse 20.
a) Only verb that is an imperative (command).
2) Not just taught, but continues to learn.
a) Never too old.
1> West Lafayette man - Don't worry, young preacher,
there's nothing you can teach me. I've heard it
all before.
b) Teachability is the mark of an effective Christian.
3) Not just learning, but obedience.
a) Doing what Jesus expects of us.
b) This church memorizes Bible verses.
1> Good!
2> But does not guarantee or growth.
B. Not enough to have numbers - attendance, finances.
1) Must be depth in believers.
a) Sunday School.
b) Outside Bible studies.
c) Emphasis on personal devotions with God. (prayer, Bible)
1> All believe in it.
2> Few do it.
3> Church is weak as a result.
2) Test - Peter: Be ready to give reason for hope.
a) Someone ask you, would you be able to respond?
b) Would your life back up your testimony.
C. All Nations.
1) Disciple-making does not stop in our neighborhood.
2) Through missions, focus on world.
a) Giving money not enough.
b) West Lafayette -
1> Mission trips.
A> Send adults and kids.
2> Missionary visits. (Tim Long)
3> Personal contact with overseas churches.
IV. Baptizing them in name of Trinity.
A. Incorporation into life of church. (Assimilation)
1) Many come but are ignored.
2) Others deliberately stay on sidelines.
a) Implication - I don't want to be committed.
B. Church is more than conversion and head knowledge.
1) There should be genuine fellowship in the church.
V. Teach to obey everything.
A. Not just popular, accepted beliefs.
B. Danger - manipulated by culture.
1) Nationalism/patriotism.
2) Positive thinking.
3) Health and wealth.
C. True spirituality.
1) Struggle with difficult teachings of Jesus.
2) Give him everything?
3) We never "arrive" till glory.
VI. Know Jesus is with us always.
A. Informed look at church in world is depressing.
1) Social problems (drugs, etc.) not affected by church.
2) Lack of spiritual hunger in West, and among young.
3) Carnality of Christians.
B. Reason for hope.
1) Things have always been tough.
a) Early church.
1> Peter's denial.
2> Ananias and Sapphira.
3> Church fights in Paul's letters.
2) Jesus never promised a rose garden.
a) Kingdom comes by him, not by us.
b) But we should try and make a difference.
VII. Conclusion:
A. Do what we can.
B. Trust in Jesus for all things.
1) He is a sufficient Savior.
C. Stress on "all":
1) All authority.
2) All nations.
3) All things.
4) All time.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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