Church Notes Dec 27th - The Mission of The Church

Summary: Resolving to make changes can be healthy and good, active focus on the great commission this year. Challenge us as a Church. Pastor Joe's resolution: disciple making is a priority in 2022.

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

As followers of Christ we have a purpose: disciple making, and glorifying Him. We also have a promise.

Point #1 - We have a - purpose
A. Disciple Making is - active, requires effort, there is no "Roomba vacuum automatic" for disciple making , 2 Cor 5:20 we are ambassadors for Christ,
Question: What effort are you putting forward in disciple making?
The vast majority of Christians put no effort into disciple making
Acts 1:8 - You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Ends of the Earth, Near and Far.... reach out to those that look different, think different than us, burden for the unreached starts with unreached neighbors.

B. Disciple Making is - aiming (Disciples) (not just conversions) not hungry hippos where we get as many in the hippo as possible. Not getting people to pray a prayer type of thing, Not the 4 spiritual laws with Cru, a Disciple is a Mathetes a learner.
- Matthew 28:18, Isaiah 52:2; 2 Corinthians 5:20, Acts 1:8,
- Covenants goal is to seek the lost and guide the saved,
- We want to see our children grow more like Jesus every year,
- Teach them to observe all that I have commanded - not perfect but obedient to the Word of God. John 1:12 - born of God, will is changed. Obedience to God is the result,
- Maturity in the life of a Christian is greater obedience to His word, (not perfect we are not perfect but there is a difference between growth and willful disobedience)
- Matthew 12 - Make you fishers of men, they were pursuing others,
- We follow through His Word, encouragement to commit to a devotional as individuals and families,
- Biblical literacy - Disciples that make disciples that make disciples,
- We want to see Gospel growth not transfer growth. Are you living a life of Obedience?

Point #2 We Have a: Promise.

A. Jesus is the basis of our disciple making
- The see Jesus and some doubt can you imagine, notice they are worshiping Jesus, it is the foundation of this calling, the overflow of Love and gratitude to make disciples. If we do not see or hear that we will see it a drudgery rather than delight.
- Raking leaves doesn't seem like making progress, it can seem tedious, disciple making feels like a duty not a delight, WE are MISSING the point. Our hearts might not be in it, Jesus saying make disciples: 1 Cor 9:16 No grounds for boasting- woe to me if I fail to preach the gospel,
- ALL Authority on Heaven and Earth has been given to me. ALL of Jesus's authority. Not optional to be a disciple maker, that authority is over you as well, we don't get to decide on it or veto, it's a command. The great co-mission - Co-mission (together with Jesus til the end). We are representing the Sovereign one, our lack of disciple making is sin in our life.
- It is disobedience, it is not optional, the bless

B. Jesus is the - Blessing in our disciple making
- Jesus with us is where we find our power for disciple making,
- Don't need to be clever, we don't do it in our own strength, Acts 1:8, Ephesians 1:13, God has not set us up for failure,
- Jesus is with us in disciple making, it is not a DUTY, we are not doing it on our own, he is with us. Psalm 23, I will fear no evil you are with me,
- Does his presence calm or excite you? We get to do it along side of our savior,
- What if you knew you were dying? What words would you impart to those around you? Loved ones to your family and friends, what advice would you give them? Think of this: The eternal Son of God: Make disciples, and teach them focus our lives on making disciples, not rah rah,
- Parents commit to disciple making: clear process, family devotional, read, pray, be involved, dads take your children out individually check in with your children how are their souls?
- Pick a neighbor you will pursue, not to come to covenant but to become a believer in Jesus,
- You as individuals be disciple makers, as a Church greater advantage of the Y, more evangelism training, maybe God will lay something on your heart, 2 Timothy 4:7, We have fought the good fight finished the race, now there is in store a crown of righteousness.