Embracing the Mission

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:

1. Why is it important that we understand the authority of Christ as we ADVANCE as a church?
2. How, specifically, does the authority of Christ inform how you will move in the season?
3. In what ways do you see Jesus currently destroying every other rule, authority, and power?
4. What areas of your life do you struggle with entrusting to Jesus? How does the reality of his complete authority inform that?
5. 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:

1. Does your money intersect at all with your faith? What does that look like?
2. What are your feelings concerning money? What informs your feelings towards money? 
3. What in your family background contributes to this feeling?
4. How do you feel about giving? Why?
5. How have you seen a generous person experience a blessing?