What in the world are we supposed to do? Matthew 28:16-20

Do you know who this man is?

Larry Harmon The Original Bozo the Clown

“I live to make more Bozos. I want Bozos to be around forever “I live to make more Bozos. I want Bozos to be around forever. You can never have enough Bozos.” (Feb. 22, 1996)

Which sounds like a higher calling to you? “I live to make more Bozos.” “I live to make more disciples of Jesus Christ.”

What in the world are we supposed to do? Matthew 28:16-20

The Great Commission “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

What is the main verb in this sentence? Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20)

The main verb . . . Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20)

What is the mission (purpose) of the church stated in two words?

MAKE DISCIPLES

What is the mission (purpose) of the church stated in seven words?

MAKE MORE AND BETTER DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

On a Mission Businesses exist to make ___________.

On a Mission Businesses exist to make MONEY. Churches exist to make ____________.

When the Lord Jesus said “make disciples,” what did He mean? Matthew 28:16-20

To get a well rounded understanding of the disciple making process we can . . . Look at what is directly stated within the Great Commission Look back to the disciple making ministry of Christ Look forward to what the apostles did in response to receiving the Great Commission

Some of what is involved in making disciples is described within the Great Commission itself Go (ing)and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, . . . and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20)

The Disciple Making Process Involves 1. Evangelizing - going and making contact with non-Christians and EXPLAINING the Gospel to them with the hopes they will accept Christ’s offer of an eternal relationship with Himself 2. _______________________________________ 3. _______________________________________ 4. _______________________________________ 5. _______________________________________ 6. _______________________________________

The Disciple Making Process Involves 1. Evangelizing 2. Baptizing - ceremonially immersing a believer in Christ in water to publicly SOLEMNIZE one’s love and loyalty to Jesus Christ and His followers 3. _______________________________________ 4. _______________________________________ 5. _______________________________________ 6. _______________________________________

The Disciple Making Process Involves Evangelizing Baptizing - __________________________________________ Christianizing -helping believers get every FACET of their lives going and growing in the direction of God’s will 6. _______________________________________

What’s two words are missing? Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Disciple making is about life transformation, not just increased knowledge of the Bible. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20)

To get a well rounded understanding of the disciple making process we can . . . Look at what is directly stated within the Great Commission Look back to the disciple making ministry of Christ Look forward to what the apostles did in response to receiving the Great Commission

Looking Back: Jesus Evangelized Matthew 9: 35 -- Jesus went through all the towns and villages (in Galilee), teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom…

Looking Forward: The Disciples Evangelized This (evangelism) went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord. (Acts 19:10)

Looking back: Jesus Baptized The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John (the Baptizer) . . . (John 4:1-2)

Looking Forward: Disciples Baptized Those who accepted his message were baptized . . . (Acts 2:41) See also Acts 8:12-13; 8:35-38; 9:18; 10:44-48; 16:14-15, 25-34; 18:8 etc.

Looking Backward: Teaching “Christianizing” Crowds 1000s 70 12 3 1

Looking Forward: Disciples Christianized (Teaching)   We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect (a finished product) in Christ. To this end I labor, . . . (Colossians 1:28-29)

To get a well rounded understanding of the disciple making process we can . . . Look at what is directly stated within the Great Commission Look back to the disciple making ministry of Christ Look forward to what the apostles did in response to receiving the Great Commission

The Disciple Making Process Involves Evangelizing Baptizing - Congregationalizing – gathering believers into local CHURCHES for the purposes of spiritual growth and advancing the Lord’s work of making more and better disciples of Christ. Stabilizing Christianizing Mobilizing -

Looking Back: Congregationalizing The Lord did not start churches He did gather people around Him It was a prototype of sorts

Looking Forward: Disciples Congregationalized

The Disciple Making Process Involves Evangelizing Baptizing - Congregationalizing Stabilizing - NURTURING new believers until they can spiritually stand on their own two feet (follow up) Christianizing _______________________________________

Looking Forward: Disciples Stabilized (follow up) Acts 13:42-43; 14:21; 15:36, 41; 18:23; 20:1-3, 20, 28-32 etc. Acts 14:21-22: They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the (new) disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.

The Disciple Making Process Involves Evangelizing Baptizing - Congregationalizing Stabilizing Christianizing Mobilizing - helping believers discover their God-given GIFTS and CALLINGS with which to serve Him and others

Great Commission Itself: Mobilizing Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20) Cyclical Nature of Commission

Looking Back: Jesus Mobilized These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' (Matthew 10:5-7) After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. (Luke 10:1-2)

Looking Forward: Disciples Mobilized It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. . . From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

What in the world are we supposed to do? (in 2 words) MAKE DISCIPLES What in the world are we supposed to do? (in 2 words)

What in the world are we to do? (in 7 words) MAKE MORE AND BETTER DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

What in the world are we to do? Evangelize Baptize - Congregationalize Stabilize Christianize Mobilize

What in the world are we to do? WE MAKE MORE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST Evangelize Baptize Congregationalize WE MAKE BETTER DISCIPLES OF CHRIST Stabilize Christianize Mobilize