Embracing the Mission
October 25, 2023
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, October 22, 2023.
Sermon text: Matthew 28:18-20
1.) Jesus Christ has ALL authority in heaven and on earth.
- This is important because at that moment, it didn't look like this was the case. [EXPLAIN]
- Read Aloud 1 Cor. 15:3-4 & 20-28... Christ's authority is historically reliable. V. 24 specifically says, "Then comes the end, when he delivers the Kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power."
- An Ecclesiastes connection... live with the end in mind! When Jesus Christ conquered sin and death on the cross, God the Father gave Jesus ALL AUTHORITY. And between that time and the time that Jesus returns to take us home, He will destroy EVERY other rule, authority, and power. This immediately reminds me of Joshua saying to the people "Choose this day whom you will serve"! Why serve any authority or power or rule that can and will be destroyed?
2.) The mission of the church is defined by the authority of Christ.
- What is the therefore, there for? This is a pattern seen regularly in Scripture. What God's people are supposed to do is ALWAYS preceded by who God is, what God has done and is doing.
- 1 Cor. 15:14 says, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is in vain and our faith is in vain." (Here we go with more vanity!) BUT because he has authority even over death... because he has been raised... Christ's authority gives our preaching power, and our faith value and meaning. In those moments when we wonder if we are actually accomplishing anything and if anyone actually cares about the Gospel, when we are struggling to stay motivated in evangelism, when we wonder if our children are really being rightly affected by the Gospel, when we struggle with our own sinful tendencies and our own conflicting thoughts, we can embrace the mission that he has called us to because HE IS IN CONTROL.
3.) Based on His own authority, Christ Himself states our mission.
- Go... We go because Christ conquered death and sin. Rather than having an inward focus, we lean out toward others. To go is to consider that Jesus has a plan for you in every step forward. Understanding who Jesus is will lead you to be willing to make greater sacrifices for His Kingdom. Faith in His authority over you will help you to be patient in tribulation. An inward focus will make us complacent people who seek comfort over faithfulness.
- Make Disciples... The only reason that Jesus has not yet returned is that He is still destroying every rule, authority, and power in the souls of individuals who belong to Him, but do not yet know it. Romans 10:14-15 says, "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" It's not about just having a bigger building! It is about embracing the mission from God to save souls and make disciples. We cannot be indifferent about a lack of seats or a lack of parking or a lack of classroom and nursery space. Until Jesus returns, God has placed His church on mission to draw lost souls out of darkness and into marvelous light through the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ. We need more healthy leaders and more healthy churches because disciple-making is not optional.
- Baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit... Why is baptism important? There are at least two reasons. First, Jesus was baptized. And when he came up out of the water the Spirit descended as like a dove and the heavens opened up and the voice of God said, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased." Many of you sitting here today have had this experience whether you realize it or not. When you accept the grace of God in Christ as a gift, and you are baptized and come up out of the water, God says to you too, "This is my son in whom I am well pleased! Who else needs to hear that? To hear that they can be accepted by God and pleasing to God because of the authority of Christ? Second, baptism is important because it is an appeal to God for a clean conscience. Who do you know whose conscience is seared by sin and the flesh... who is uncertain of their eternity... who needs someone who loves them enough to call them to repentance and toward Christ?
- Teaching them to observe all that Christ has commanded... Conversion is not enough. It is disciples that we are after. It is one thing to tell people to observe Christ's commands. But it is much higher and more involved process to TEACH them to observe.
- Beholding Christ's eternal presence with us... Our Lord has not set some cosmic process into motion and then left us to figure out the details. Romans says that nothing separates us from the love of God. Acts 1 says that we have power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. This isn't just an idea, but a promise from the one in whom all authority in heaven and earth rests... "Behold, I am with you..."
Discipleship Questions:
- Why is it important that we understand the authority of Christ as we ADVANCE as a church?
- How, specifically, does the authority of Christ inform how you will move in the season?
- In what ways do you see Jesus currently destroying every other rule, authority, and power?
- What areas of your life do you struggle with entrusting to Jesus? How does the reality of his complete authority inform that?
- Who do you know that needs the Gospel? In what ways is the Great Commission currently informing your schedule, budget, prayers, and attention?
Giving Questions:
- Does your money intersect at all with your faith? What does that look like?
- What are your feelings concerning money? What informs your feelings towards money?
- What in your family background contributes to this feeling?
- How do you feel about giving? Why?
- How have you seen a generous person experience a blessing?
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, July 6, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 5:5-7 Main Idea: God opposes the proud This is a warning that should shake our souls. There is a way of living that draws God’s opposition. Proverbs 3:34 "Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor" "Be not wise in your own eyes." Garden Connection. No guidance. No exaltation. No refreshment in our souls. God gives grace to the humble The grace of guidance The grace of peace that exceeds understanding The grace of lifted burdens God cares for us Application: You who are younger, be subject to the elders Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God Consider what it means to place yourself under the mighty hand of God! It is to lay hold of the reality that God is actively involved in the details of your day. It is to surrender the false and flawed thinking that we are in control. Cast your anxieties on God Being told, "Don't be anxious," can often feel the same as being told, "Don't be tall... or short.... or bald...." Some may say, "That's just who I am..." "One cannot truly humble oneself under God’s protection while racked with fear. Handing over fear to God and humbling oneself under his mighty hand happen together." -Barnett Anxiety is a form of pride Discipleship Questions: Why should we tremble at the reality that there is a way of living that draws the opposition of God? Anyone want to share about experiencing this? How would we know if God was opposing us? What are some things that will be seen in a life that is truly marked by humility? What is the difference between trying to do humble things and clothing ourselves in humility? What are the specific burdens/cares/anxieties that you are carrying that you need to cast upon the Lord? What are some actual action steps that would indicate that we are casting our anxieties on God? Why is anxiety a form of pride? How does humility change our relationships? Recount the deeds of the Lord! What are some ways that God has cared for you and your loved ones?
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 29, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 5:1-4 Gen. 1:1-2 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Churches should be led by a plurality of elders. Acts 11:30, Acts 14:23, Acts 15, Acts 16:4, Acts 17:1, Acts 20:28, Acts 21:17, Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 4:14, 1 Timothy 5:17, Titus 1:5, Titus 1:7, James 5:14 Instructions for Pastors: Shepherd God’s flock The words “God’s flock” remind the elders that the congregation does not belong to them. It is God’s church, and they are given the privilege and responsibility of shepherding it. -Thomas R. Schreiner Exercise oversight Oversee willingly (not under compulsion) 1 Cor. 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! Oversee eagerly (not for shameful gain) 2 Cor. 2:17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. Lead by example (not domineering) Strive for Humility 1. Pure Christian humility disposes a person to take notice of everything that is good in others, and to make the best of it, and to diminish their failings. - Jonathan Edwards The Chief Shepherd is Coming Shepherds God’s flock Exercises oversight 1 Peter 2:25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Oversees willingly (not under compulsion) Oversees eagerly (not for shameful gain) 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. Leads by example (not domineering) Hebrews 2:8b-9 we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Discipleship Questions: What are some of the benefits of having multiple elders? How would you define the job / responsibilities of an elder? If you were to move to a new area tomorrow, what would you be looking for in a new church? Why, do you think, the “younger” are specifically instructed to be subject to the elders? How does someone who is “clothed in humility toward one another” behave in the church? Out of the five pastors at Crosspoint, who is your favorite? (just kidding, don’t ask that).
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:12-19 We shouldn’t be surprised when we encounter suffering John 15:18–20 [18] “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. [19] If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. [20] Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. 2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted We can rejoice knowing we are sharing in Christ’s suffering Matthew 5:11–12 [11] “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. We don’t bring glory to God when we suffer for doing wrong We should choose to glorify God instead of being ashamed We should live in light of the coming judgment of God “Peter shows the meaning of our suffering from two sides. First, our suffering for Christ finds its significance in Christ’s suffering for us. We share now in suffering for him as we shall one day share in glory with him (4:13; 5:1). Secondly, our suffering does not destroy us, but purifies us. The fire of God’s judgment that we endure is not the fire of wrath that will consume the unbelieving.” —Edmund P. Clowney, The Message of 1 Peter We can entrust our souls to our faithful Creator Discipleship Questions: Why is it our tendency to be surprised when we encounter suffering? What are some reasons for rejoicing when you encounter suffering? Why is it so tempting to classify all suffering as persecution, even when we suffer for doing wrong? How can you resist feeling ashamed when you suffer for being a Christian? How do you think God uses suffering to purify His church? How does entrusting your soul to God help you find hope?
