Called to Make Disciples – Teaching Notes
(Mt. 28:16-20; Acts 1:6-8; 4/28/19; Pas. Baines, Jr.)
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Click here to read Mt. 28:16-20; Acts 1:6-8
Introduction: A key idea in today’s Sunday School material is that God wants His disciples to be witnessing disciple makers. Prayerfully, we will be challenged to work on our witnessing and disciple making.
Body:
Read Matthew 28:16-20
I. Commission in Matthew. The eleven disciples go to the mountain in Galilee that they were told about. Although they saw and worshipped Him, some doubted. Jesus commissions them to go and make disciples with the assurance that He is with them.
Applications –
– Moving forward with eleven. Notice in vs. 16 that the eleven disciples were moving forward. Remember that it used to be 12, before Judas betrayed the Lord and killed himself.
First, some of those we think so highly of may prove to be so disappointing, before we get to the end of the story. They may not end with us. Second, those who are still with the Lord should work together to do God’s will. Too many people get so distracted by who fell by the way side that they stop doing what they can do with those who are left. Let’s do what we can with who we have.
– Faith filled worshipping disciples. Notice in vs. 17 that some of the disciples were doubting worshippers. First, we should be disciples of Christ. We should make sure that we are saved by faith in Jesus’ death for our sins. We should be focused on understanding and living by God’s word, in every area of our lives.
Second, we should worship God. He is so worthy of our worshipping Him with our lips and lives. Third, we should move past any doubts that we have by prayerfully studying and obeying God’s word with the support of other disciples. The more we study and obey Him, the more we will see that we can trust Him. Let’s work on being disciples known for our faith in and worship of God.
– God’s authority. Notice in vs. 18 that Jesus announces that He has all authority. It is good to know that God is not a weak God. He has the authority and power to do whatever is needed to meet our needs and work things out for our good. Let’s live like we believe that God has all authority. This kind of living should be known for obedience and confidence.
– Making disciples. Notice in vss. 19-20 that Jesus commissions His disciples to go and make disciples with the assurance that He would be with them.
First, God is still calling us to make disciples. This means that we should be doing what we can to help people get saved and grow in their understanding of and obedience to God’s word. We can all at least invite and try to bring people with us to the worship and study periods, so we can grow in our discipleship together.
Second, even though most Baptists use the trinity formula in baptism, instead of the “Jesus only” formula, the greater point is to live like we have been resurrected to live for Jesus. Baptism without a change of behavior is just getting wet.
Third, we should be thankful that no matter what is going on in our lives, Go is with us and will be with us until the end of the age. When others leave us, God will still be with us and still take care of us. Let’s work on making disciples like we trust that God is with us.
Read Acts 1:6-8
II. Commission in Acts. Those around Jesus ask about the restoring of the kingdom of Israel. Jesus says those matters belong to the Father. He tells them that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them. And they will be witnesses for Jesus from Jerusalem to the ends of the Earth.
Applications –
– Being in sync with God’s will. Notice in vss. 6-7 that the disciples asked about the wrong type of kingdom, and Jesus redirected the conversation.
First, the disciples should have known by the time of the text that Jesus was concerned with a spiritual kingdom more than a military kingdom. In like manner, we should strive to understand what God is focused on in our lives. Prayerful study of God’s word with a mind to obey it and with the support of other disciples will help us with this application.
Second, we should learn from Jesus’ example that there are times to redirect the conversation from things beyond our control to what God is calling us to do. This calls for wisdom, courage, and tact. Thankfully, God can supply all of this. Let’s work on being in sync with God’s will for our lives.
– Being local and global witnesses. Notice in vs. 8 that the disciples were to be empowered witnesses from Jerusalem, through Samaria, to the ends of the Earth.
First, saved people don’t have to wait for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We already have Him living in us. We don’t have to feel Him. We need to obey Him.
Second, as in the text, God is calling us to be a witness – tell what we know to be true. We should know that Jesus is our savior and Lord. We should know that we are forgiven and living under the leadership of God’s word.
We should know that God is graciously working things out for our favor. We are already witnesses. Therefore, we should strive to be great witnesses, instead of poor witnesses about the goodness of God.
Third, as important as our immediate vicinity is, we should remember the call to be a witness to the entire world. Even if we don’t go personally, we can support those who are going. Let’s work on being effective empowered witnesses of the goodness of God.
Conclusion: Let’s work on our witnessing and disciple making. God has much for those who obey His will.