Sermons

People with a Mission

BY THERESA MCCONNELL | MAY 22, 2005
Matthew 28:16-20

16 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. 17 The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.

18 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: 19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 20 Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

- from The Message

Go – get moving!

But “I don’t know how to do that!” “I don’t want to go about judging who ‘is and is not a disciple’!” “I’m not trained and I wouldn’t know what to say!”

Certainly, training has something to do with our ability to respond.

When I was just starting out in ministry I had opportunity to attend a retreat. We were all walking down to the pool for an afternoon swim during a break. One little boy was with us and about 4 years of age. He was so excited that he ran ahead of his mom and jumped into the water without any floaties or life jacket! He couldn’t swim. As I watched his head go under the water several times, I did what came naturally to me and jumped into the water with the lifesaving jump and pushed him up to his mother who was right behind me. The young man is now in his early 20’s and every time he sees me, he says, “You’re the one who saved me”!

That’s what we’re about as Christians, isn’t it. Saving folks! But I couldn’t have done this without the preparation… the training. You see I began swimming lessons at the recreation center in our town, when I was 5 years of age. I think my mom just wanted something for me to do in the summer months and I’d always taken swimming lessons, so I got to take Life Saving three times because there were no more classes available and I was too young to get a job! But I was trained for this accident with this little boy years later.

As Christians it is a bit un-nerving to be confronted with someone with a real problem and wondering what we are to do as Christian people? What do we offer to those we know who are dealing with depression? With marital difficulties? With the death of a loved one? With confusion and lack of direction? With the need for support? With chronic, debilitating illness?

For we can’t just barge into someone’s life without having established a relationship with them. What saving word do we have to offer? As the children in the Word with Children said, “We are kind and make friends.” That’s what everyone needs,,, friend of faith … people who will provide support and strength, who will pray for us, who will help us grown in out faith. Christian faith is not something we do in isolation.

We have to be willing to “GO”. We owe our denomination to one who was willing to “Go”.

Ever wanted to take a peak into someone’s diary? Ever find your child’s diary and struggle with whether to read it or not? Well, today we will have a glimpse into a diary from the 1700’s… it is an excerpt from John Wesley’s journal, written after he returned to England from his missionary trip to America (check it out at www.umc.org and look for Wesley’s Journals).

11. In my return to England, January, 1738, being in imminent danger of death, and very uneasy on that account, I was strongly convinced that the cause of that uneasiness was unbelief, and that the gaining a true, living faith was the one thing needful for me… So that when Peter Bohler, whom God prepared for me as soon as I came to London, affirmed of true faith in Christ, (which is but one,) that it had those two fruits inseparably attending it, "dominion over sin, and constant peace from a sense of forgiveness," I was quite amazed, and looked upon it as a new gospel. If this was so, it was clear I had not faith. But I was not willing to be convinced of this.

And accordingly the next day he came with three others, all of whom testified of their own personal experience that a true living faith in Christ is inseparable from a sense of pardon for all past, and freedom from all present sins. They added with one mouth, that this faith was the gift, the free gift of God, and that he would surely bestow it upon every soul who earnestly and perseveringly sought it. I was not thoroughly convinced, and by the grace of God I resolved to seek it unto the end: — 1. By absolutely renouncing all dependence, in whole or in part, upon my own works or righteousness, on which I had really grounded my hope of salvation, though I knew it not, from my youth up. 2. By adding to the constant use of all the other means of grace continual prayer for this very thing — justifying, saving faith; a full reliance on the blood of Christ shed for me; a trust in him as my Christ, as my sole justification, sanctification, and redemption.

13. I continued thus to seek it (though with strange indifference, dullness, and coldness, and unusually frequent relapses into sin) till Wednesday, May 24th. I think it was about five this morning that I opened my Testament on those words: [note: here follows a line of Greek] "There are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, even that ye should be partakers of the divine nature," 2 Pet. 1: 4. Just as I went out, I opened it again on those words: "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." In the afternoon I was asked to go to St. Paul's. The anthem was, "Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice. O let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint. If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it? But there is mercy with thee; therefore thou shalt be feared. O Israel, trust in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his sins."

14. In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate-street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

Because of Bohler’s and his friends willingness to “GO,” Wesley experienced his heart “strangely warmed”!

I God seeks “AVAILABILITY” NOT so much “ABILITY."

We do not go into the world on the basis of personal merit, intelligence, or abilities. We go to make disciples by faith under God's authority… power.

Luke 12:11-12

11 "When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."

II Once we “GO” we What? “Make” DISCIPLES

Not just new converts, disciples. Not just new members, disciples!

People who follow Christ!

People who seek the will of God!

Just because we call ourselves Christians doesn’t mean we are followers of Christ!

80% of the people in the nation say they are Christian- you see 80% of those folks in church this morning? We’ve become more like the people who go out and buy jogging shoes with a great desire to exercise. You know what? Percentage of American's who own running shoes but don't run: 87%! We need to help folks get beyond the purchase to the program!

We buy-into becoming Disciples… but don’t get with the program! What is your program for discipleship? Personal prayer, Bible study, participating in public worship? Here’s what one young man did.

In the 1880s a young man who was an earnest Christian found employment in a pawnshop. Although he disliked the work, he did it faithfully "as unto the Lord" until a more desirable opportunity opened for him. To prepare himself for a life of Christian service, he wrote on a scrap of paper the following resolutions: "I do promise God that I will rise early every morning to have a few minutes--not less than five--in private prayer. I will endeavor to conduct myself as a humble, meek, and zealous follower of Jesus, and by serious witness and warning I will try to lead others to think of the needs of their immortal souls. I hereby vow to read no less than four chapters in God's Word every day. I will cultivate a spirit of self-denial and will yield myself a prisoner of love to the Redeemer of the world."

That’s one version of the program.

That young man was William Booth, who later led thousands to Christ and founded the Salvation Army. Daily Bread, June 28, 1989.

III “Teaching them all that I have commanded you”.

How to live effectively. How to pray. How to love one another.

That’s our job church!

IV “I will be with you.”

Thank God we do not do this alone! The way is prepared for us and we are accompanied on the journey with the abiding PRESENCE & POWER of the one RAISED from the dead.

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