Study Guide: "The Great Commission -- Part One"

Text: Matthew 28:16-20

Open:

This ‘great commission’ was given to the disciples collectively.  It was told numerous times during the 40 days between Christ's resurrection and his ascension.  It was obviously utmost on the mind of Christ.  In fact, version of it appears in every gospel and in the book of Acts.  Here in St. Matthew's Gospel, it is the last thing Jesus said before ascending back to heaven.  

A couple of interpretive mistakes are often made with this text:

1) Interpreted as a commission to individuals.  Not one time was the commission given to an individual, always to a group of disciples.  In other words, the great commission is not for individuals, it is for the church.  Is every believer expected to make disciples of all nations?  Impossible.  Was Jesus speaking facetiously?  Never.  The church has this task.  Every person plays their part according to their spiritual gifts.

2) Thinking that the imperative in the Great Commission is "Go."  Normally only used in missionary contexts. 

Illus:

Many great missionary pioneers were motivated by Christ's commission:

"The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.  If I had 1,000 lives, I'd give them all for China" — Hudson Taylor, pioneer missionary to inland China

"To know the will of God, we need an open Bible and an open map. Is not the commission of our Lord still binding upon us? Can we not do more than now we are doing?" — William Carey, pioneer missionary to India

"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice? Sympathy is no substitute for action." — David Livingstone, pioneer missionary to Africa

- Actually, a literal translation reveals quite a different emphasis and calls for a radically different interpretation:

"As you go, therefore, disciple all the peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to guard all things whatsoever I did command you. And lo, I myself am with you all the days until the consummation of the eon."

- There is only one imperative in the Greek, but it is not "go." Instead, the one imperative is "make disciples." Matheteusate.  The imperative means "to turn into disciples" and it's aorist form conveys the thought that this is actually to be done. The other three participles are auxiliary to the main verb and describe how this is to be done: going, baptizing, teaching.

Christ makes it clear that the church’s one task plain and simple is to make disciples.

C. S. Lewis (known by many today as the author of Chronicles of Narnia, but considered the greatest Christian thinker of the 20th Century):

"..the Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs.  If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time.”

Great Commission:

Extending the kingdom of God by making disciples everywhere we go. Kingdom Growth, not church growth. These are  not mutually exclusive terms; however, the Bible does not speak of methods to help a church grow numerically.  It's concern is expanding/ extending the kingdom of God throughout the world and among all the people's of the world.

I. Extending the Kingdom is a Matter of Lifestyle.

"As you are going..."

As you go about the ordinary business of your lives and as you have contact with people that come under your sphere of influence.

  1. Disciple making is a relational activity.

- Shouldn't surprise us since we were created for relationship.  Made in the image of God who lives in perpetual relationship with himself-- Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

- Each of us is responsible for our sphere of influence. I help change the world one relationship at a time. Never lose sight of the power and responsibility of who you are.

  2. This is not positional authority, but personal influence. 

II. Extending the Kingdom is Every Believer's Responsibility.

  1. Inclusive -- every believer's responsibility. 

- Dispel clergy/laity distinctive. 

- Spiritual gifts based versus program based.

III. Extending the Kingdom Places a Distinct Priority on extending. 

1. Vital congregations consist of vital Christians who are living as salt and light among their sphere of influence.

2. Kingdom extension follows a natural and prescribed order.

- To reverse the order is to experience frustration and decline.

- Natural Order is always outside in: Influence people to Christ without, provide a nurturing environment within. Church is primarily to be a Safe place to grow, stumble, learn, love and be loved. 

Close:

Great Commission:

Extending the kingdom of God by making disciples everywhere we go.  Our concern is expanding/ extending the kingdom of God throughout the world and among all the people's of the world.

- We do this one person at a time.

- The size of our church does not guarantee nor limit our success if we understand our role the way Christ defined it.

Key Questions:

Can you identify your sphere of influence?

Are you consciously attempting to influence these individuals toward Christ?

As a church, do we understand this as our Christ-given mandate?

(Dr. Dane Fowlkes)