As You Go

Jesus not only came to save you; He came to send you.

The bible is not about you – it's about God and His glory on earth.

Matthew 28:16-20 NIV

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

I. What is the command in the Great Commission?

Make disciples

disciple - one who follows Jesus visually, verbally, and voluntarily each day

Christianity is not an event; it's a lifestyle.

A disciple lives with one eye on earth and the other on heaven.

"Discipleship is the glad and glorious embracing of suffering to accomplish life-change."

"When Christ calls us to follow Him, He bids us to come and die." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Galatians 5:22-26 NIV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

A disciple lives a life of being both in this world but not being of this world.

II. How do you make disciples?

1. As you go

2. Baptize

3. Teach others

Growth Marks of Discipleship:

1. consumer - "you feed me"

2. contributor - "I feed me"

3. creator - "I feed others"

Faith grows when it's passed on to others.

John 12:24 NIV

24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Acts 6:1 NIV

1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Acts 12:24 NIV

24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.

Acts 9:31 NIV

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

III. Where does the power come from?

Matthew 28:19 NIV

19 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,

Matthew 28:18 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

authority - legitimate power to rule

Acts 1:8 NIV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Philippians 1:21 NIV

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.