Making Disciples

Recently I was in Scotland with my grandson and as we were walking about in a particular city.

I saw the sign.

I think we have it in front of us that it is. This is a Episcopal Church in Scotland and underneath it said social club is not just the feelings that might have that the Presbyterians of Baptists, independent churches in Scotland out on the decline and some of them are being used as reassurance, dance halls all kinds of things and even those that would say that was still the church. They have lost their focus. So the church of Jesus Christ is known primarily in this case as a social club is tragic isn't it, George is not a social club. It is not a recreational center is not a political action group is not even that an educational center. Although we do believe in education as you just prayed for their teachers. It is the church of the living God is something which our Lord Jesus Christ loved and gave himself for and he himself said I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. I realize it's very very easy to criticize any local church. Just as it's very easy to criticize Eddie. Eddie manage any individual that we are afraid and fallen people I know local church including Calvary church is not a perfect church that is true, but it is the church of the living God, and we exist to glorify God. Our mission here at Calvary is to be unmade authentic followers of Jesus Christ. If I say that once I say the thousand times and I'm saying it again today. We exist as a church to be and to make authentic followers of Jesus Christ. Why is that so important to us, why, why do I say this often want to turn into a familiar passage as we come to the end of of Matthew and see that this comes from there… Of our Lord Jesus Christ invite you to turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 28 in the last verses were looking at verses 16 through 20. And this is the final message in the series in Matthew, my Executive Assistant tells me that I finished 83 messages on Matthew. I think that is a lot so thank you for your patience during this long silly thing is the longest series I preached at Calvary. Matthew 1128 chapters and other priesthoods on the counter, you people often see a maze that I see people in the congregation.

Well, if you can see me.

I can see you that some of you know here this morning and we will be talking later in the week, but you were the beginning of the football season. By that time in American football. I thought there are some parallels between this congregation, and football. No, you may not be familiar with football terms and put them up in the screen one is called the backfield in motion we sent you sometimes do that, that's making a trip to the Galleria during the service, usually by those of you who sit in the front and that the backfield becomes in motion and then there is a draw play. I mean we give these gas cards we give envelopes encourage giving and that some of you do draw on them. That is the draw play and not just my children, we understand little kids obviously of lesser concentration during the magnificent preaching and spend your time and then there are the benchwarmers are quite number of them are your those who sit as a leader you impregnate on Sgt. Debbie apparently don't do anything, but you are a great bit bench warmer and then there is the two-minute warning that the point of the congregation land that you realize the sermons almost over. There should be over and you begin to gather up your things are your Bibles and your children. II just can see it you think. When is he going to stop and that so we have the two-minute warning and then the sudden death that what that's what that's what happens when I go over 11 o'clock Sunday and then there is the end run getting editors quickly without speaking to anyone and then you send me nasty little email saying when a friendly church mean, come on. And then there is the blitz that is those who can't wait for the closing benediction and is amazing.

You can't wait to the end of the service and your rushing out as if you're trying to get the quarterback and all you're doing is making you wait your life group so you can gobble down a couple of donuts before anyone else comes and then there is this what all of this staying in the pocket. That's what times the lot of money. They should be given the Calvary church is so easy whenever this is to do with Matthew's gospel absolutely nothing other than this other than this.

Through this series. I'm an observer of human behavior and I can see everything that is going on is that right well enough of that unit from Matthew chapter 20 verses 16 through 20. And here are the gospel of Matthew is coming to an end is coming to a climax.

Matthew 28 x 69 11 disciples went to Galilee, to the mind into which Jesus had directed them and when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. Jesus came and said to them are here these magnificent words all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father the end of the sun and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. And behold, I'm with you always, to the end of the age and Matthew ends his gospel in this brilliant way with the very words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is a familiar passage through to many of us in our trust, we can look at and effectuate. First of all, the command that to say the obvious is to go the risen Christ. Remember he dies first, since he's voted Matthew sold is raised from the dead, and he is alive is about to ascend to his father and his God, and before he goes. He says to his followers, and therefore to you and me if we profess to be followers of Christ, as most of us would do this morning.

He tells us to go go – 19 go therefore this is what we call the great commission and it appears in different forms in all of the Gospels and also in acts one verse eight, and what is this in our study of Matthew would listen to the Lord Jesus Christ and I he he says come to me that's the gospel we heard the testimonies of those who had Christ and Christ says come to me and I'll save your kind you will forgive your give you eternal life.

And so that's the wonderful offer in the gospel to come to Jesus Christ, we come to Christ. But now he commands us to go all into all the world to display and proclaim the Lord Jesus. Jesus said to his disciples in John 17 and John 20 as you sent me is referring to his father as you sent me into the world so I have sent them my disciples into the world as the father has sent me, even so I'm sending you great love the father sends his son into the world to seek and to save the lost. Another says Jesus is my father sent me. Now I am sending you that is an authentic follower of Jesus Christ doesn't exist in a kind of little holy huddle isolated from our world.

We certainly out of fellowship. That is absolutely essential. But we must penetrate and engage the culture in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one who loves us the one who died for us.

The one who rose again the one who ascended the one who is coming for us. The one with whom we will spend all of eternity now says to us go go there came one of the basic messages of Matthew that this one. Jesus is not only the king of the Jews is the King of Kings and Lord of lords is King Jesus and I were dictating about his instant obedience is illegal is not difficult for little children and CDC. The goal for all children difficult for us as adults and you want to argue with Jesus Christ you want to delay you want to hesitate.

He's telling us to go. That's a command expects instant obedience while you know going notice what happens in verse 17 when they saw him they worshiped him. Of course they did their worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ is God incarnate Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, but now their worship of Jesus is to lead to their old pigeons to Jesus, a follower of Jesus is not only our worship are but is also a witness wonderful to come like this and to worship God magnificent and were commanded to do it were commanded to go and to worship the Lord. This is absolutely essential. But not only are we to worship God.

We are to be a witness for God and authentic worship not just made a motion but biblical worship leads to transformation of life that it makes a difference as to how we live tomorrow and Tuesday morning and Saturday nights.

This is not just something we experience for another two and a Sunday and it doesn't impact how we live. That's not being an authentic disciple worship leads to witness where the wonderful example in Isaiah 6. Isaiah the prophet goes into the temple and is overwhelmed by God who is there any kind located on the set of FEMA they had and that there saying, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts and their IDCs the Lord high and lifted up and see things happen. First of all these tremendously humbled by their worship of God humble you doesn't out worship of God lead to holiness is overwhelmed by the holiness of God, and it also leads to abrasion so that Isaiah says, I send me the sudden experience of God, you come to Christ, your sins are forgiven.

Transform you not going to be mute so you never going to tell anyone about what the Lord Jesus Christ has done. He humbly confesses his sin will always amazes and then as he receives the forgiveness of God says here my sins. Jesus said if you love me you will keep by commitments. Today we want a kind of Christianity today that looks on Jesus just as a friend almost a kind of kindness a lot. I kind of therapist was there to help us get through troubled times.

What a small God that is just one of friends want to save your 21 a God who can do the impossible know every love Christ this it regions is not an option go students leaving the home going off to college some of that there there to get a good education that's true, but that an ambassador for Christ, the going with the gospel, as some of you have recently changed employment and go from one area of influence to another. Are you there to witness for Christ. Some of you have changed your location you sold your home when you moved into different apartments and your meeting different people are your there to tell others about Christ know this is not just for the full-time missionary. This is not just for those who are going on missions trips. This is for all of us and this command has not been rescinded and comes to all of us. Jesus says let's verse to the end of the age go go going involved in telling others about Jesus, to give you three opportunities here at Calvary church may not be for everyone, but there are for some of you we have ESL teaching English as second language. We have nations wall of the world and they come to Calvary church to learn English. We need teachers, we need assistance so he retired you say well I'm said no one reading my Bible all day. Well it is a reverently stop reading your Bible and start obeying the Lord what you doing you doing with your life sitting around comfortable life is 11 and I work hard this command comes to those who retired it comes to student become so little boy who's received Christ it comes to each one of us whatever we are in our neighborhood dinner in our work situation. Yes, God does call and we pray he will from this congregation. Man and woman who will literally leave Charlotte's and go overseas or go to some other part of North America. But this comes to all of us go. This command what are we to do notice. Secondly, the authority is Jesus Christ. Verse 18 Jesus came and said to them all and thought a day in heaven and on that has been given to me. The commanders go there thought a day is Jesus Christ.

I'm not telling you to do this is Jesus Christ.

He has all authority. There's no higher authority. They there's no greater name the Jesus Christ.

There's no appeal court, you can so I don't think I like that I'm going to appeal to a higher authority is no higher authority than Jesus Christ is God over the whole universe makes this clear over heaven and and all of God's authority is mediated through his son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Think of the authority that Matthew has told us about. Think of his authority in his teaching that he spoke with authority and not as the scribes and the Pharisees think of is a thought today that he commanded the storm to be still think of his authority day that he says Lazarus come forth in a man who'd been dead four days comes for think of his authority and walking on the water that is no one else that is none like him, nor will there ever be anyone like him.

There can be no debate. No argument about this. This is the supreme authority, and it is this one who says to his disciples, his followers go tell everyone about me. I praise God for the minute Calvary will be this command. Certainly many missionaries was a good missions trips, but also those who go across the street to tell the neighbor. Those who speak to a fellow student. Those of you who are engaged in the light. Those of you who work with a good news club and by the way, we still need more people amazing that we can as followers of Jesus Christ go into the public schools.

Yes, and have these good news clubs and we as a church could go into more schools if more of us volunteered to be part of that. What wonderful opportunity to go on Saturday there's an Indian festival in Cebu Russia plan our Indian pastor for internationals and for local outreach is organized, takes a team and you say no Indian. I don't know if I can relate to the Indians. Cebu will train you will help your going along go with the team to tell others about Jesus Christ. Think of the opportunity just going to say well that's that's known for is not for me. Think of this authority is Christ not being nonagency non-organization, but Christ himself was all authority says go. Thirdly, the task is to make disciples. This is key. Verse 19 go therefore and make disciples grammatically.

That's the main command that the imperative for this to make commands make disciples as you growing your making disciples so our primary goal at Calvary church and please listen to this. Our primary goal at Calvary church is not humanitarian is not medical or educational or political or social primary combat. Our primary mission in our primary goal is obeying the words of Jesus is to make disciples that Christians have always led the way for church history and feeding the poor. The poor in helping the oppressed and going into prisons and going overseas and helping people medically and educationally and bringing water and all kinds of help to poor communities throughout the world. Christians have done that and continue to do that and we have missionaries that we support good involved in that, but the primary goal. Please notice I'm using the word primary.

The primary goal based on this passage of Scripture is to make disciples. That is to display and proclaim Jesus verbal and visual lips and lights over teachers at CDC they know this, you can say all you want about the love of Jesus to four-year-old little Johnny but unless he experiences that love for teachers is kind of worthless and some of you were raised in homes where you were where your parents claim to be followers of Christ, but there was no love there was no trace is both his as we go we are living ambassadors of Christ we are to display Christ as we grow to be more like Christ. But not just displaying. Also proclaiming presenting the gospel that Jesus Christ as we heard in these testimonies died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day rose from the dead, and I know this also in the text was involved in making a disciple. First of all, people have to be presented with the gospel. But man says Jesus.

Go therefore verse 19 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit as we did today is did you notice the name of God in the Old Testament you never read that the father the son of the Holy Spirit together. Yes, the truck Dragon guard is from everlasting to everlasting would hear from the lips of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have a clear declaration of who God is, he is the triune God is God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit. And when would baptize. We are baptized into that name though. In translation them reading from the ESV, it says to baptize them in the name in Greek is a little Lord ice which means into Silverlight doesn't really make much sense in English. I understand that but think of this, we are being baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is clear from this section is clear from the way the early church may disciples that baptism was a key part in their evangelism and eyes would baptize as a full work today. They were names baptize them into the name, one name of God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit to try you and God. When I was born. Like you, I was given the name John Hayden. Roy didn't choose it or things a pretty good night, and I've always answer to that name in my home, at school and work, I am John Monroe. This was my nemesis. My identity remember I must've been about 16.

We lived overseas and we moved back to Scotland and I went into court in America would be called a junior.

My junior year. Not easy transition coming from a small boy school overseas into a large public school in the in Scotland and that they had in those days, as I did all my school days we had to wear a uniform.

I wasn't particularly too happy about going to confirm with high skill didn't know anyone about parents brought me bought me some great treasures black blazer and the school time that I decided that I was not with the school time little bit of rebellion I guess I thought I get off of it so problem with times. By the way, just don't tighten so much to me. Usually uncomfortable with the time and no I don't, I will is almost born with a timeline so I've no problem were Tyson's four years old going to school we were ties. Anyhow, I member walking in the corridors of the shoe school and the assistant head teacher was a woman very tall and very very aggressive woman. I would love any of these on staff at CDC, no tall, but she stopped me the whole and said who are you :-) no I said that I said I'm John Monroe, are you in the school mission of the school you where the school time they wanted us outside the school little time misbehaving people knew you were part of them from on high school. It was an identity for the next day. What I do. I board the school time.

It was a symbol. But I John Monroe was a students at Dunfermline high school. Shortly after that is a 16-year-old boy. I was baptized and I was baptized yet.

Still, John Monroe, but I'm baptized into the name of God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit. A visible sign in the gist of my tie was a sign that I was part of that school, Dunfermline high school. Now there's a far greater sign. This was assigned to all that John Monroe's identity is main identity was not that I was a student of the environment has go was not even that I was a Monroe sadly wasn't that I was Scottish. My main identity now is that I'm a follower of Jesus Christ being baptized into his name.

That is my identity and all of the benefits of Christ's not minding the hymn says I am his and he is mine. Wonder of this symbol of baptism, but this is an identity get a follower of Christ and Paul's favorite expression for a follower of Christ is not Christian or Christian only appears three times in the New Testament and usually in a pejorative sense know his favorite expression is that you are in Christ and be baptized into Christ inseparable union that there is that he holds me and you will never ever let me go. This is what baptism means isn't never been baptize. I would say why have you not had the sign that Jesus gives you your follower of Christ. Not only are we to baptize would also to teach verse 19 go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, was involved in being a disciple, receiving Christ coming to Christ being baptized. So if you're not baptized, and then being taught. We teach people not only notice the Lord doesn't say teaching all the I've commanded you. He says teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you that I speak, I say to those of you who are teachers or pastor's life. Leaders are teachers at school the teachers at CDC. Those of you who the Bible studies notice what your to do your to teach to. It's not just good in a Bible study leaving a life group spending a day or two looking at the common trays and get a piece out of this, train up inside of that common trait and then sing the people here is your lesson going to do that.

Just give them a book.

I don't need someone and you don't need someone just reading a book to your we could read the book ourselves. We are to be taught as a disciple to observe yesterday to go to youngest man kids to go bowling good desiderata work to do the house and all that you I'll take but the place is absolutely packed Sweden within gettable and I didn't drop bowling and understanding some education is the church, the US, you can actually get a degree in bowling.

I don't know if that's too but go bowling that's opposing you're an expert bowler and I'm not and you tell me minus it was bowling his brothers is a £0.10 I think so. And then there's a big ball and roll it and you not during these prints and then the pop up again and you roll it again. Sounds exciting and you tell me about that. I can understand that my ready to bowl no. What do you do you take me to the bowling alley and you say no this is how it's done and you demonstrate that you give me a lesson and I see you doing it's and then you say John that was your turn. I say difficult to be. I think this ball and ends up in the lobby, whether it's called your teaching me to observe or develop a degree. I go to practice. I think I know law of law. I did a lot of law. I learned that studies heart law coming out of my ears, but no, here is a practical problem of the clients and the experience lawyer says that John, this is how we watch I watch him in court. Watch him how he speaks the clients what my doing.

He's teaching me to observe real life situations and if you teaching the word of God, please, please don't just dump information on people unbelievers can do that. This is the living word of God and before it comes to someone else. You have to understand that and be living it in your own heart, so that God's truth inspired by God is coming into your life into your heart and the spirit of God is then taking that word in and through you that you are teaching people to observe the word of God to get that, you know, it might be good for a week or two. If all those of us who are teaching and preaching and Bible studies everything in a sense if we didn't even look a common trait that look anything you do just from this book. Is this enough. I love coming to the glacier's Libra left to study, but that is no substitute visit for God speaking to you in his word so that you are a living demonstration of the truth that you are seeking to impart to others. This is a ongoing process is an excellent number for the extent as to all the nations.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, glorious challenger Savior gives us but the gospel is not just for Americans.

It's all nations is for nations who are friendly to the United States and is for nations which hit the United States. It includes not out, not just our own children, but all the children of the world.

Not one person is excluded because Jesus comes as the Savior of the world's love embraces the whole world and I really think I'm going yes is going to send this but in the spirit of Jesus to live in these people, but I want you to go. These 11 disciples have another one in acts one, but I want you to go and I want you to go to all the nations is sovereign over the whole universe thought her casket, we are to make disciples of all the nations use for child delivered. Adds.

This is our command. We take the gospel to everyone to Jews the Gentiles the Muslims the Hindus to those with disabilities to the homeless of the rich to everyone, irrespective of the of the skin color or nationality or religious heritage. Not one person is excluded God so loved the world that wonderful wonderful and that he loves Christ loves all the nations, and we are to love them good privilege living in the city of Charlotte magnificent city. People asked me you know you like living in Charlotte good and I absolutely love it. We lived in many many different places. This is a wonderful place to live. I just wish I was a bit more rain and it was cooler but is a great place to live and he is one of the things I love about Charlotte and I really didn't understand it when I when we first came here that in Charlotte there are people from all over the world over some of you mutinies know that that's bad. RRC is changing. I'm glad is changing. I'm glad that we in the center of the city with this campus without resources with the gifts and callings that God has given us that we are able here to bring the gospel to all the nations on the nations. A month ago with four young men who came into the sanctuary. The came to the reception was good and I haven't and we just ourselves and is always there were people from different countries or something from to bother someone from Mexico.

There are some there from Honduras. Someone from around, and then there were these four young men sit in on the corner and I thought, I don't think they are raised in Charlotte and I don't think the raised in Scotland but there's a lot of other options.

So I called in the they were from Saudi Arabia for young men to some of them studying here and they came and they sent, and they had the gospel that explained the gospel to them in the group spoke to them afterwards and I thought how wonderful no one here can go into Saudi Arabia with the gospel of Jesus Christ currently would be stopped going to start evangelizing in Saudi Arabia and how wonderful that probably these four young man who told me the they were practicing Muslims that they come here wonderful and probably for the first time in our lives, they hear the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ that God loves them and that Christ sent his son to forgive them and to free them and if they come to Christ will have eternal life. Wonderful that we have these opportunities here at Calvary rights and that's why were. That's why were passionate about ESL. That's why were passionate do all we can to reach these different nationalities with the gospel of Jesus Christ's. Let me read you the wonderful scene in Revelation 7.

John says Revelation 79 after this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number from every nation, every nation, yes, including Saudi Arabia, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice. Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the lab.

Wonderful, wonderful picture of the future fifth and last the power is the presence of Christ you love this piece of John.

This is an impossible task. It is in our own strength wonderful that Jesus says the ends and the whole with you always, to the end of the age.

Jesus is always with us.

That's what we take courage.

That's why were not afraid that Christ is with us. Matthew told us that in chapter 1 that when Jesus comes, is given this wonderful name of Emmanuelle, which being interpreted means God with us. Who is Jesus is God with us 100% God 100% man.

He is no with us so you go with the gospel. You go and speak to your parents with unbelievers studies is you go when you speak to your brother or your sister. You go and you speak to your neighbor, you go and you speak to that difficult supervisor at work was an atheist and you say that's pretty daunting. I'm not sure if I can do that no but remember this, he is with to the end of the age. And when you're doing the will of God. That is the safest place to be is interesting that we are often afraid to do the right thing.

People say to me, I'd love to get baptized but I'm just afraid. I'm afraid of standing up there freight you should be afraid when you're not doing God's will is a time to be afraid when you are communicating the gospel whether it's through a family member or or someone from a different nationality. No need to be afraid Christ is with us. We have the presence of Christ and his power. All we do in obeying this command must be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

One of the recurring themes of Scripture is that when God calls you to do something he equips you for the task are CDC staff and teachers. God will give you all of this trend. All of the help you need to fulfill your responsibilities. I love that he's with us his promise all I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. That means, of course, when you're doing God's will is not a new country manager. If your following your own will, but when we do what Christ does when we go as he commands us when we tell others.

We can claim this I can do this through Christ. Spurgeon says if you never go anywhere but what Christ leads the way, you need not be afraid of storms, for they will beat up on him more than upon you shelters us.

He protects us obey the command.

He promises his presence and his power. He will build his church yesterday Satanic opposition.

Yes, the door might be shut in your face. Yes, that person that you're telling about Jesus Christ may turn on. You may isolate you at friend that you thought you had me reset, but no more time for you that's true, but that does not stop us continuing to obey the command pulses are God is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us the power of Christ's presence.

When we have a command is to go the authority is Christ's. The task is to make disciples extent is all nations.

The power is God's presence we go because Christ commands us. We go because he's with us. We go because we have a love for all of the nation's we go because we believe that souls can be won or lost for all of eternity. We go because there is no higher privilege than making disciples of all the nations we go because God is glorified as we obey him as all of the nations, and worship him that this church called Richard truly would be a house of prayer for all of the nations.

And just think, in heaven. Just think, in heaven of meeting someone that you had the joy of pointing to Jesus Christ you heaven will be to heavens in the manuals.

Let's pray father, we thank you for study of Matthew over these months. We thank you that he's king. We bow before him, and I pray for some here. He may not yet be safe maybe calling to Savior and to give us boldness, father, give us courage.

Thank you for all of the open door to give us a Calvary and in our personal lives and beyond the doors of this church that you will guide us. The POTUS and give his godly cottage strengthen and help us. We ask in Christ name