Message: “Carrying out the Great Commission” from Pastor Joe

Joe Summers - March 6, 2022

Carrying out the Great Commission

Carrying out the Great Commission Evangelism and Witnessing Lesson Objective: To continue to understand the importance of evangelizing and how we can utilize our gifts to teach and make disciples using small groups as one of the desired methodologies. Scriptures: Matthew 28: 19-20; John 21:6; Matthew 9:17 Memory Verse: Matthew 28: 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Is evangelism and witnessing the same? Evangelism is communicating the teaching of Christ, called the Good News or The Way. Witnessing tells others what that information has done for you in your life Witness in the court room can not say what he/she heard. Must say what they have first hand knowledge The Great Commission (Matthew 28: 19-20) and the Great Commandment(s)( Mark 12: 30-31) are seen by most Christians as the commandments for action foundations for which comes our beliefs. Definition of Disciple- any follower of Christ. (a member of the Disciples of Christ a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; follower: . to convert into a disciple B . There are several requirements for we as Christians in-order to carry out the Great Commission We must accept change in our lives: Christ discussed putting new wine in old wineskin- Matthew 9:17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." We must understand that sometimes we need new direction in our lives – John 21:6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number Christ discussed with Nicodemus the need to be born again- John 3: 1-4 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” We must be willing to change our priorities -Matthew 19: 20-22 All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Accepting the Holy Spirit Day of Pentecost- Acts 1:4 and Acts 2:4 Acts 1: 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a]as the Spirit enabled them. Holy Spirit received by accepting the word of God- Acts 10: 44-48 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[a] and praising God. Then Peter said,47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. Using our God Given Gifts We all have gifts for the uplifting of the kingdom 1 Corinthians 12: 3-11 God expects us to use our gifts (talents) – Matthew 25: 14-30 Fruit is similar to gifts- Galatians 5:22 ( entire Chapter) Christ words to Peter the same to us- John 21: 15-19 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep Examples of sharing God’s word thru small groups: Acts 2: 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts Chapter 10 - Peter and Cornelius Acts 18 7Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. 24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor] and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. In another case, Paul reminded the Ephesian elders that he had exhorted them both "publicly and from house to house." (Acts 20:20) In this passage, "publicly" probably refers to the school room of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9). But Paul did not limit his speaking ministry to the large meeting place, even though one was available. He also worked “from house to house.” For your reading pleasure… Researched info: Why small study groups… Both New Testament example and principle argue for small home-sized groups as a key feature of the local church. In the area of biblical example, Acts 2:46 states that the Jerusalem church met "in the temple" and "from house to house . . ." Concerning the meetings in the Temple, we know that Solomon's portico was probably quite large, and could have accommodated even the several thousands that were a part of the Jerusalem church. Thus, in Jerusalem, they held both large and small group meetings. Clearly, they did not feel the large meetings were enough by themselves. It should be obvious that an impersonal atmosphere will result if we only hold only very large meetings. The local church should encourage a network of close relationships in its congregation because real community must be based on close relationships. Smaller group meeting formats such as those described in this passage would be ideal for fostering such relationships. Paul apparently refers to several home churches in the city of Rome (Romans 16: 4, 10, 11, 14, 15,). In I Cor. 14:35 he mentions “churches” in the plural, after having already referred to “the church of God which is at Corinth,” (I Corinthians 1:2) in the singular. Excerpt below and also give you things to beware: Jesus met with non Christians: Although his own ministry had been specifically to Israel,[15] Jesus sent his apostles to the Gentiles with the Great Commission and ascended to heaven while a cloud concealed him from their sight.[16] Jesus often met with society's outcasts, such as the publicani (Imperial tax collectors who were despised for extorting money), including the apostle Matthew; when the Pharisees objected to meeting with sinners rather than the righteous, Jesus replied that it was the sick who need a physician, not the healthy (Matt 9:9–13). According to Luke and John, Jesus also made efforts to extend his ministry to the Samaritans, who followed a different form of the Israelite religion. This is reflected in his preaching to the Samaritans of Sychar, resulting in their conversion (John 4:1–42). Summary Evangelism and witnessing must be a mainstay of a Christian.