WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.940 While I get settled here, let me invite you to join me in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 28. 00:00:05.940 --> 00:00:20.500 Last week I began preaching a series of sermons expressing our need to build a resilient church culture. 00:00:21.400 --> 00:00:30.780 Last week was the overview, the summary, at which time I made the case that we live in days of growing soft totalitarianism. 00:00:30.780 --> 00:00:42.219 This is largely a problem concerning the very definition of mankind and as making inroads into our culture at a sweeping pace. 00:00:42.859 --> 00:00:50.579 For the sake of time, I'm not going to remake that case to you, but I would encourage you to go back and listen to that recording or request my notes. 00:00:50.659 --> 00:00:52.280 I'll be happy to send them to you. 00:00:52.280 --> 00:01:02.480 I began last week with three prerequisite statements that I would like to repeat in brief this morning before we proceed any further. 00:01:03.960 --> 00:01:09.500 Number one, as a general practice, we preach expositional sermons at Christ Family Church. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:17.799 Most simply put, this means that we take for the sermons point or points, the main point or points of that week's text. 00:01:17.799 --> 00:01:21.799 And most regularly we walk through a book of the Bible together. 00:01:22.599 --> 00:01:28.879 We want to be especially careful not to read into a text what we want that text to say. 00:01:29.039 --> 00:01:32.819 And many errors have arisen through such a practice. 00:01:33.620 --> 00:01:40.319 So as we approach a text topically, I want each of you to be especially discerning. 00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:44.439 Secondly, I am not trying to be an alarmist. 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:51.980 That said, your elders feel a burden to prepare you for challenges that we believe are here and are coming. 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:54.819 We love you very much. 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:59.719 And we want good for you and we want great glory for our God. 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:09.439 And third, the six total weeks we will spend thinking about building a resilient church culture will not be nearly enough to exhaust the topic. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:15.039 Nor will each week's consideration of steps that need to be taken do that either. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:21.039 So we will need to talk more about it, both formally and informally. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:33.900 We need to ask questions, push at one another's thinking, and most importantly, spend time with the Lord in His Word as we consider the days in which we live. 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:39.180 So, how do we build a resilient church culture? 00:02:39.300 --> 00:02:44.480 A church that will stand against the rising tide of soft totalitarianism. 00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:46.740 We will have to build it. 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:48.319 It won't just happen. 00:02:49.060 --> 00:02:52.840 We will have to be strong because the tide will be destructive. 00:02:52.840 --> 00:02:58.780 And it will have to be cultural, ingrained into who we are as a church. 00:02:59.860 --> 00:03:06.300 Well, this morning we will consider the first of five things your elders believe we need to be working on. 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:08.780 I gave these to you in summary last week. 00:03:10.379 --> 00:03:13.020 Quite by accident, they spell the anacronym CRASH. 00:03:13.259 --> 00:03:15.819 So we're on clear mission this morning. 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:17.240 The first of those. 00:03:17.939 --> 00:03:19.460 See, and really I didn't do it on purpose. 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:22.800 So see, clear mission. 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:27.659 What is the mission of the church? 00:03:28.379 --> 00:03:36.640 If we are not crystal clear on why we exist, then we will always be distracted by some lesser purpose. 00:03:37.260 --> 00:03:41.680 Not necessarily bad things, but lesser things. 00:03:41.780 --> 00:03:44.500 Not the purpose of the church. 00:03:44.500 --> 00:03:50.139 And we will need to readily identify what battles we ought to engage in. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:54.520 And what the war is that we cannot avoid. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:04:01.659 So we're going to look together today at Matthew chapter 28, verses 18 through 20. 00:04:01.819 --> 00:04:03.719 The closing of the gospel of Matthew. 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:08.219 Before I read it, beloved, let me remind you that this is God's word to us. 00:04:08.300 --> 00:04:10.860 And it was written for his glory and our good. 00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:18.020 And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and to obey its commands. 00:04:18.540 --> 00:04:20.980 Matthew 28, beginning in verse 18. 00:04:20.980 --> 00:04:24.980 Jesus came and said to them, 00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:30.200 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:04:30.980 --> 00:04:34.180 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, 00:04:34.780 --> 00:04:38.439 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 00:04:39.100 --> 00:04:42.280 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:47.800 And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:53.300 Now in considering this text and asking the question, 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:56.079 What is the mission of the church? 00:04:56.639 --> 00:05:03.800 We must first consider the amazing Christological statement that Jesus makes concerning himself in verse 18. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:09.800 We can't ignore, we can't rush past this to the application. 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:11.560 Because he says, 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:17.819 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:05:18.540 --> 00:05:23.180 We have to stop for a moment to steep in this reality. 00:05:24.020 --> 00:05:27.480 Jesus is totally in charge. 00:05:28.340 --> 00:05:32.500 There's not a single thing in this world that escapes his power. 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:35.319 Our Lord reigns. 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:40.300 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Christ. 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:43.740 This episode, as Matthew records it for us, 00:05:43.819 --> 00:05:46.879 takes place just after Jesus' resurrection. 00:05:47.699 --> 00:05:52.139 He has lived the perfectly righteous life that we cannot live, 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:53.659 but that is required of us. 00:05:54.300 --> 00:05:57.240 He has died a most gruesome death on the cross. 00:05:57.339 --> 00:06:00.719 And above that, he has paid the penalty for our sin. 00:06:00.719 --> 00:06:04.980 He received the wrath of God in himself that was due us. 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:10.879 This was a debt that with all of our penitents could not have been repaid. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:14.659 And Matthew 28 tells us, 00:06:14.719 --> 00:06:17.560 He has risen from the grave. 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:19.319 He has defeated death. 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:24.019 He has guaranteed that for those who place saving faith in his person and his work, 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:28.339 we will one day ourselves be resurrected. 00:06:28.339 --> 00:06:35.319 It is this Jesus, right, that is speaking to these 11 disciples that he's gathered on a mountain top, 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:37.319 Matthew tells us, and says, 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:42.779 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:06:43.799 --> 00:06:47.279 What must his disciples have thought? 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:51.779 What an astounding thing for him to say. 00:06:51.779 --> 00:06:57.199 Perhaps our minds were drawn to a text like Daniel chapter 7, 00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:03.039 where we see this title given of who we now realize is the Christ, the Son of Man. 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:05.459 And Jesus calls himself this again and again. 00:07:05.559 --> 00:07:08.799 And Matthew is careful to record that for us. 00:07:08.919 --> 00:07:12.939 And Daniel records a vision in chapter 7 and verse 13, 00:07:13.119 --> 00:07:13.500 where he says, 00:07:13.500 --> 00:07:18.079 Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man. 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:22.459 And he came to the ancient of days and was presented before him. 00:07:22.699 --> 00:07:23.740 Now listen, verse 14. 00:07:23.860 --> 00:07:28.759 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:33.100 that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:37.500 His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, 00:07:37.500 --> 00:07:41.779 and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. 00:07:41.779 --> 00:07:45.919 This would have been a good text for the disciples' minds to go through, 00:07:45.979 --> 00:07:48.159 and we can't be sure that it's where it went. 00:07:48.299 --> 00:07:50.539 But Jesus is certainly riffing off this. 00:07:50.679 --> 00:07:51.119 He's saying, 00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:52.579 This is me. 00:07:52.819 --> 00:07:54.199 I am the Son of Man. 00:07:54.299 --> 00:07:55.939 I am the Christ. 00:07:56.039 --> 00:07:59.299 And I have been given all the power. 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:03.839 And if their minds just happen to go to a text like this, 00:08:04.659 --> 00:08:09.119 then Jesus' following command would not have been a surprise to them. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:15.620 Because Daniel 7, 14 says he's been given dominion and glory and a kingdom. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:16.240 Why? 00:08:17.220 --> 00:08:21.560 That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:26.840 And so just after Jesus says that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him, 00:08:26.899 --> 00:08:27.500 he says, 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:32.940 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations. 00:08:32.940 --> 00:08:41.120 Because I have all authority in response to what I have just told you of my authority. 00:08:42.160 --> 00:08:42.640 Go. 00:08:44.560 --> 00:08:50.420 Now, this Greek word that we find in our English as a two-letter word, go, 00:08:50.640 --> 00:08:52.680 is much more complicated in the Greek. 00:08:53.040 --> 00:08:55.840 Surprise, as the Greek often is. 00:08:56.600 --> 00:08:57.860 I'm going to try to pronounce it for you. 00:08:57.860 --> 00:09:01.539 I don't know if I'll pronounce it correctly, but I believe it's poru fentes. 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:06.800 Which means to go or to travel, right? 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:09.019 So that's why we get the English go. 00:09:10.379 --> 00:09:14.539 That's why this text is most classically used as a missionary text. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:15.879 And it is that, right? 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:18.560 It means go to the ends of the earth. 00:09:18.560 --> 00:09:23.120 The text itself says that we're to make disciples of all nations. 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:27.220 But it is not only that. 00:09:27.860 --> 00:09:28.919 It is that. 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:32.279 But it is not only that. 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:37.379 And we can know this as we look into the Greek a little bit more. 00:09:38.060 --> 00:09:42.639 First, this Greek word is in the aorist verb tense. 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:48.080 In this case, not indicating a particular moment of going. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:52.320 This is not a singular getting on a plane and going. 00:09:52.580 --> 00:09:56.480 But it is a constant activity of going. 00:09:56.480 --> 00:10:08.980 It's also in the passive grammatical voice, which means the subject applied in this case as you, you go, is being acted upon. 00:10:08.980 --> 00:10:13.120 So a fair translation of go. 00:10:13.340 --> 00:10:15.920 And hear me, I'm grateful that it's translated this way. 00:10:15.920 --> 00:10:23.779 But we could expand it by saying, in your God-ordained going, make disciples. 00:10:23.779 --> 00:10:31.480 Wherever the Lord sends you, be about this work of making disciples. 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:35.519 Jesus gives us a command. 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:37.240 It's not just for these 11. 00:10:37.620 --> 00:10:40.720 We now have this text and it speaks to us as well. 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:46.100 He gives us this command to make disciples in our God-ordained going about. 00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:52.159 Which I want to be clear may include packing up and spending your life in a remote place. 00:10:53.060 --> 00:10:57.060 Or it may include commuting to a thankless job. 00:10:57.700 --> 00:11:03.180 But wherever you are sent, you ought to be part of this disciple-making endeavor. 00:11:03.179 --> 00:11:12.579 You see, even as Jesus has all authority, he is pleased to use secondary means to bring about his purposes. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:14.979 And praise be to God for this. 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:20.099 We get the opportunity to join our Lord in his mission in this world. 00:11:20.439 --> 00:11:25.799 We get the joy of being involved in what it is that he is accomplishing. 00:11:25.799 --> 00:11:32.539 But because Jesus has the authority, it is an empowered command. 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:35.179 And he does not want us to miss this. 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:40.979 It's not, I have all the authority, and so I'm just going to command you to go and good luck in the going. 00:11:41.859 --> 00:11:48.039 He doesn't want us to miss that he intends to empower it, which is why he says in the last half of verse 20, 00:11:48.419 --> 00:11:50.979 And behold, which means pay attention. 00:11:51.319 --> 00:11:52.299 He's grabbing their attention. 00:11:52.699 --> 00:11:54.299 Hear this thing I'm about to say to you. 00:11:54.299 --> 00:11:59.219 I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:10.899 Jesus possesses all the authority, commands us to make disciples, and promises to accompany us with his authority. 00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:16.839 And beloved, this ought to embolden the listener to Jesus' words. 00:12:17.839 --> 00:12:23.359 We have nothing to fear for if God is for us. 00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:25.659 Who can be against us? 00:12:26.219 --> 00:12:30.419 Regardless of where we are sent divinely by our Lord. 00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:36.979 Charles Spurgeon once said, half our fears arise from neglect of the Bible. 00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:43.120 We need to rightly understand text like this. 00:12:43.899 --> 00:12:47.019 All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. 00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:50.560 Behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:55.279 And there exists in between these two things, bookended by the power of Christ, 00:12:55.279 --> 00:13:01.199 a command to go and make disciples of all nations. 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:06.299 A promise to empower the work with his authority. 00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:10.339 But what are the means for this disciple making? 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:12.579 He's told us to go and make disciples. 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:14.379 Are we to go about willy-nilly? 00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:19.139 What are we meant to be doing as we go and make disciples? 00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:23.679 And if you are an astute listener, you may have gathered where I am going with this. 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:30.419 As I have posed the question to us this morning, what is the mission of the church? 00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:37.659 The means for the command to make disciples of all nations is the church. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:41.740 This is the mission of the church, to make disciples. 00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:46.039 Now, how do I arrive at that from this text? 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:50.279 Because I see two activities here expressed in our disciple making. 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:53.919 Number one, we see the activity of baptism. 00:13:54.659 --> 00:13:59.079 We're to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:01.400 and of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:07.400 Bobby Jameson in his book, Understanding Baptism, defined baptism in this way. 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:07.940 Quote, 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:14.020 Baptism is a church's act of affirming and portraying a believer's union with Christ 00:14:14.020 --> 00:14:16.520 by immersing him or her in water. 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:21.820 And a believer's act of publicly committing him or herself to Christ and his people, 00:14:22.520 --> 00:14:28.320 thereby uniting a believer to the church and marking off him or her from the world. 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:31.600 Baptism is an ordinance of the church. 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:35.820 The word ordinance from the Latin ordinate, which means to put in order. 00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:39.860 Baptism is the membership ordinance. 00:14:40.060 --> 00:14:45.200 It's how we mark off who is part of the church and who is not part of the church. 00:14:46.540 --> 00:14:51.220 We don't have time to prove this definition out from the word this morning. 00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:54.280 I'd love to spend some time with you thinking about this together. 00:14:54.279 --> 00:15:01.019 But we believe that baptizing individuals in the name of our triune God is this welcoming ordinance 00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:02.699 of the church. 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:07.439 Normatively, churches baptize. 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:10.080 We can find an exception. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:17.080 The case of the Ethiopian eunuch being sent home as the only Christian to a people who had yet to hear the gospel. 00:15:17.300 --> 00:15:20.580 But this is not normative in the Bible. 00:15:21.040 --> 00:15:24.680 It's normative that churches are baptizing. 00:15:25.780 --> 00:15:32.280 Second, we see in the text teaching, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:38.659 The church is given the ongoing work of teaching the ways of Jesus. 00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:46.559 And this happens both in the formal gathering of the church and in the informal relationships with the church. 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:48.699 Let me show you that from Ephesians chapter 4. 00:15:48.959 --> 00:15:49.899 You could turn there if you'd like. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.480 If not, I'll try to read it carefully for you. 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:55.419 Beginning in verse 11 and following. 00:15:55.419 --> 00:16:03.319 And Christ gave the apostles, the prophets, which I would argue is the word. 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:05.479 We now have the apostles and the prophets in the word. 00:16:06.099 --> 00:16:12.179 The evangelists, the shepherd teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry. 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:14.839 For building up the body of Christ. 00:16:14.959 --> 00:16:19.839 You see both a formal thing happening and the equipping of saints for work of ministry. 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:24.839 Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:26.080 To mature manhood. 00:16:26.280 --> 00:16:30.200 To the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:37.100 So that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine. 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.600 By human cunning. 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:40.980 By craftiness and deceitful schemes. 00:16:41.800 --> 00:16:46.300 Rather, speaking the truth in love. 00:16:46.560 --> 00:16:47.100 Which is what? 00:16:47.180 --> 00:16:49.259 It's this work of us teaching one another. 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:53.320 We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head into Christ. 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:56.320 Christ from whom the whole body joined and held together. 00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:58.160 Every joint with which it is equipped. 00:16:58.260 --> 00:17:00.140 When each part is working properly. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:04.940 Makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:08.580 The church, both formally and informally. 00:17:08.820 --> 00:17:16.860 Gathered and sent is meant to be about this work of teaching disciples to observe all that Jesus commanded. 00:17:16.859 --> 00:17:22.639 And this work will not be over until Christ returns. 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:27.679 We need to be taught and taught and taught. 00:17:28.179 --> 00:17:30.519 Because we're not just learning information. 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:35.759 We're learning to observe all that Jesus has commanded us. 00:17:35.959 --> 00:17:38.179 We're learning to be obedient. 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:45.320 This is not a work that will be finished until Christ returns. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:48.660 I am building a house right now. 00:17:49.560 --> 00:17:52.920 This task will not be completed until the house is completed. 00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:56.240 I cannot say that I have made a house yet. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:58.799 I'm in the process of making a house. 00:17:59.320 --> 00:18:03.920 I cannot merely break ground on the job site and say that I have built a house. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:05.360 I'm in the process. 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:08.300 It is being built. 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:11.259 This text is a command to make disciples. 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.220 People who follow Jesus. 00:18:12.340 --> 00:18:15.120 Not merely converts, but disciples. 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:21.560 Teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded us. 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:24.460 This task will not be done. 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:26.980 Ephesians 4.13 00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:31.680 Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:38.220 To mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 00:18:39.360 --> 00:18:43.519 What a work ahead of us while the Lord tarries. 00:18:43.860 --> 00:18:46.700 While we await Him making disciples. 00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:52.440 Seeing people come into the faith and seeing them toward maturity in Christ. 00:18:53.600 --> 00:19:00.039 Now, I want to take a step away from our text, Matthew 28, for a bit to consider this further. 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:06.399 Jonathan Lehman, the editorial director for Nine Marks, is characterized in numerous publications, 00:19:06.619 --> 00:19:10.539 but most recently in a new little book entitled, What is the Church's Mission? 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:12.180 How timely and fitting. 00:19:13.159 --> 00:19:16.899 He's characterized five different types of churches. 00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:19.440 Each with a different mission. 00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:24.480 And I want to read you a brief excerpt from this little book to kind of help us wrap our minds around 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:30.400 the potential dangers of not having a clear view of what the mission of the church is. 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:35.000 So only one of these five is commendable, to be clear. 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:43.960 Quote, church number one emphasizes the great commission and Jesus' command to make disciples. 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:49.120 Yet when they say make disciples, they mean make converts. 00:19:50.340 --> 00:19:54.140 So church number one gears everything in the church toward non-Christians. 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:58.600 As if local churches basically exist for the sake of evangelism. 00:19:59.340 --> 00:20:06.340 They talk about Christian growth some, but their programs focus on individuals, not the corporate body or family. 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:12.720 They don't see the connection between their evangelism and being a vibrant, united, otherworldly family. 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:19.519 Based on church number one's mission playbook, let's call it Seekers Church. 00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:23.759 Church number two is similar to church number one, 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:28.319 but it appeals less to middle class longings for things like purpose 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:32.380 and more to basic human desires for health and wealth. 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:36.960 Join their service on Sunday and you'll hear about God's desire to bless us. 00:20:37.380 --> 00:20:39.200 If only we would have enough faith. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:44.960 Based on its playbook, let's call church number two, Prosperity Church. 00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:50.559 While churches number one and number two emphasize how Jesus is here for us, 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:56.279 church number three and number four emphasize how we are here for Jesus. 00:20:57.460 --> 00:21:00.539 Church number three, we can call Justice Church. 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:03.580 Join them on Sunday and you'll hear the preacher say, 00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:08.079 we should care for the downtrodden, wake up to the nation's structural injustices, 00:21:08.659 --> 00:21:12.500 attend to the environment, and generally do good in the world. 00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:17.299 Church number four is another version of church number three, 00:21:17.419 --> 00:21:21.919 but it focuses on the structural injustices that concern political conservatives, 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:25.639 like abortion, same-sex marriage, and religious freedom. 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:29.360 Call it Righteous Nation Church. 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:34.620 It wants to save the nation from moral decay and make it safe for Christianity. 00:21:36.040 --> 00:21:40.740 At best, both Justice Church and Righteous Nation Church focus on discipleship, 00:21:40.900 --> 00:21:43.960 the moral shape of Christians, and the command to love our neighbors. 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:49.680 At worst, they risk sliding a foot or at least a toe into Phariseeism, 00:21:50.300 --> 00:21:54.660 meaning they would lay down laws and political certainties where Scripture doesn't. 00:21:54.660 --> 00:22:00.040 Members leave church on Sundays not so much thanking God for His grace in their lives, 00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:05.160 but feeling superior to other people because of their moral and political convictions. 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:10.300 To be sure, many churches occupy a couple of these examples. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:17.000 I'm simply outlining stock types, not trying to caricature your church so that we can all be more careful. 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:21.480 Furthermore, I trust that some variety between churches is God-given, 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:25.819 just like an individual Christian working on Wall Street and one teaching in a run-down school 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:27.460 will have different daily ministries. 00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:30.900 So a church in the suburbs might have a strong counseling ministry, 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:34.860 while a church next door to a refugee camp might excel in serving the poor. 00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:36.740 Praise God. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:42.980 Still, there's a difference between being sensitive to the economic waves and political winds surrounding us 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:46.140 and being driven by those waves and winds. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:51.079 When churches are driven, their playbooks, their sense of their mission 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:56.000 easily succumb to biblical imbalances and worldly agendas. 00:22:57.420 --> 00:23:00.240 Seekers' church show signs of having succumbed to consumerism, 00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:02.539 prosperity church to materialism, 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:05.319 justice church to political progressivism, 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:07.939 and righteous nation church to nationalism, 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:12.919 even if all four have orthodox statements of faith. 00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:16.839 And you can see with all of these caricatures, 00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:19.519 seekers, prosperity, justice, righteous nation, 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:23.079 that there's some good and some truth at the base of it all. 00:23:23.159 --> 00:23:27.379 But when it becomes the point, when it becomes the mission of the church, 00:23:27.419 --> 00:23:29.899 it can go horribly awry. 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:32.800 This is why I'm trying to make this case, right? 00:23:32.840 --> 00:23:35.580 We need to have a very clear view. 00:23:36.300 --> 00:23:38.220 What is the mission of the church? 00:23:38.320 --> 00:23:41.160 Otherwise, we will be distracted. 00:23:42.860 --> 00:23:45.740 Lehman goes on to speak of the church he believes is most biblical. 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:48.720 That is the church I am making a case for today. 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:51.100 By asking two important questions. 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:55.820 Number one, what is the mission of the church acting all together? 00:23:55.819 --> 00:24:00.299 What do we do as Christ family church? 00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:07.359 And secondly, what is the mission of the church members sent from that church throughout the week? 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:14.599 Or what is our mission and what is your mission? 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:18.500 And I think this distinction is helpful. 00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:22.339 And I think this is something that we need to be chewing on and thinking about together. 00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:26.519 He answers these two questions simply. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:28.119 And I think this is right on. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:31.099 Number one, what is the mission of the church acting all together? 00:24:32.159 --> 00:24:36.099 Acting together as a church, our mission is to make disciples. 00:24:36.399 --> 00:24:38.119 That's what we do as a church. 00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:43.539 Number two, what is the mission of church members throughout the week? 00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:50.159 Living as individuals, church members throughout the week are to be disciples. 00:24:50.659 --> 00:24:52.960 Be followers of Jesus Christ. 00:24:53.960 --> 00:25:00.019 So the church acting together reads the Bible, preaches the Bible, prays the Bible, sings the Bible, 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:04.079 and sees the Bible in the ordinances of baptism and communion. 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:07.579 We do so by the prescription of the Bible. 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:11.639 We do what the scripture tells us to do when we gather as a church. 00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:19.540 This disciple making together will include things like sending you to your respective spheres to share the good news of Jesus, 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:23.940 teaching you to be faithful husbands and wives, parents and children, 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:28.220 equipping you to work as unto the Lord and not for men. 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:34.340 It may also include things like starting a biblical counseling center or a pastoral residency, 00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:38.180 planting new churches or starting a school. 00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:47.660 But the efforts of the church acting together must always be aimed at making disciples of all nations, 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:50.420 baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:55.120 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 00:25:56.259 --> 00:26:04.880 There's so much in this world that wants to drag our attention away from this primary, singular purpose of the church together. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:12.360 And if we do this well, church members then will be equipped to be salt and light in their respective spheres, 00:26:12.780 --> 00:26:16.880 always with a mind to the collective work of the church's mission to make disciples. 00:26:18.020 --> 00:26:22.880 This means that you may be led into other types of ministry work. 00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:26.720 But what is the mission of the church? 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:34.819 Now, we have decided as a church to be about the work of church planting because we know at some level, 00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:38.480 we've known this, this is not new information for most of you, 00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:41.339 that the mission of the church is to make disciples. 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:45.500 After all, the church is not merely an evangelistic outreach 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:48.640 or a place for therapeutic lessons 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:51.720 or a lecture or concert series. 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:56.000 The church is not only meant to be your social network, 00:26:56.100 --> 00:27:00.220 although it's good that you know people here and you're networking together, 00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:01.579 but it's not just that. 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:05.120 The church is not a theological club 00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:07.980 where it affirms your reading of the Bible 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:09.160 and you feel better about yourself 00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:12.100 because we're all on the same page theologically, 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:15.120 which is a good thing to be on the same page theologically, 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:17.960 but that's not why it exists primarily. 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:21.960 The church has a mission 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:24.500 and the mission of the church 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:26.559 has a guaranteed outcome 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:28.860 because it's empowered by Christ 00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:30.680 who has all authority 00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:33.720 and will be with us always. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.620 Turn back a couple of pages 00:27:36.620 --> 00:27:39.940 in the Gospel of Matthew to Matthew chapter 16. 00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:43.220 I'll begin reading in verse 13. 00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:47.579 Jesus came along with his disciples 00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:49.500 into the district of Caesarea Philippi. 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:52.400 He asked those disciples, 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:56.360 who do people say that the Son of Man is? 00:27:58.079 --> 00:28:00.160 The reason I went to Daniel chapter 7 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:03.920 was because I think that the backdrop of Matthew 28 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:05.579 has Matthew 16 in mind 00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:07.100 where Jesus asked this question, 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:10.059 who do people say that the Son of Man is? 00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:11.559 And they said, 00:28:11.659 --> 00:28:13.099 some say John the Baptist, 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:14.440 others say Elijah, 00:28:14.639 --> 00:28:17.519 and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:22.240 They've misunderstood that old text. 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.639 Jesus says to them, 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:27.519 but who do you say that I am? 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:31.379 And one of the rare instances that Peter speaks up, 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.200 he gets it right. 00:28:33.139 --> 00:28:34.039 Verse 16, 00:28:34.700 --> 00:28:35.879 Simon Peter replied, 00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:38.320 you are the Christ, 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:41.640 the Son of the living God. 00:28:42.040 --> 00:28:43.840 What a revelatory moment. 00:28:44.260 --> 00:28:46.000 You are the Christ. 00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:46.880 You're the promised one, 00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:47.760 the deliverer, 00:28:48.280 --> 00:28:49.980 the Son of the living God. 00:28:50.520 --> 00:28:51.820 And Jesus answered him, 00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:52.960 blessed are you, 00:28:53.100 --> 00:28:53.960 Simon Barjona, 00:28:54.780 --> 00:28:55.780 for flesh and blood 00:28:55.780 --> 00:28:56.880 has not revealed this to you, 00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:59.600 but my Father who is in heaven. 00:28:59.800 --> 00:29:01.220 This is grace that you would understand 00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:02.220 and recognize this. 00:29:02.620 --> 00:29:03.340 And I tell you, 00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:05.720 you are Peter and on this rock, 00:29:06.139 --> 00:29:07.379 not Peter, 00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:09.639 but on the truth that he's just proclaimed, 00:29:09.899 --> 00:29:10.799 on that rock, 00:29:11.439 --> 00:29:14.899 I will build my church. 00:29:15.159 --> 00:29:16.419 That phrase is significant. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.959 Jesus will build his church. 00:29:19.459 --> 00:29:21.240 We are secondary means 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.679 as we go through the effort 00:29:22.679 --> 00:29:23.919 of making disciples. 00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:24.659 Secondary. 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.519 He is primary. 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:27.079 We are secondary. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:29.139 I will build my church 00:29:29.140 --> 00:29:30.960 and the gates of hell 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:33.580 shall not prevail against it. 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.780 I don't know how I missed 00:29:35.780 --> 00:29:37.540 in my Christian living 00:29:37.540 --> 00:29:39.200 the significance 00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:41.640 of the last part of verse 18. 00:29:42.120 --> 00:29:44.020 I don't know how in my thinking 00:29:44.020 --> 00:29:45.600 I've constantly thought of the church 00:29:45.600 --> 00:29:47.220 as on the defense 00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:48.720 in a hostile culture. 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:49.740 In this culture, 00:29:50.040 --> 00:29:51.940 this tide of soft totalitarianism, 00:29:52.020 --> 00:29:52.780 I don't know how 00:29:52.780 --> 00:29:54.100 because it's so very clear 00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:55.620 right here in the text. 00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.600 And praise God for the day 00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:57.039 that I went, 00:29:57.399 --> 00:29:57.740 wait, 00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:00.799 hell is in the defensive position 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:03.500 and the church is on the advance. 00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:05.259 Praise God. 00:30:05.399 --> 00:30:06.719 And we don't do it on our own. 00:30:07.199 --> 00:30:09.519 It's because Jesus goes with us 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:11.279 and he has all authority. 00:30:11.459 --> 00:30:12.279 It is guaranteed. 00:30:12.459 --> 00:30:13.219 He's going to build the church 00:30:13.219 --> 00:30:13.959 and the church is going to 00:30:13.959 --> 00:30:15.579 knock down the gates of hell. 00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:16.679 And look how, 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:19.079 look how the church does it. 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.159 Verse 19. 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.980 Don't miss this. 00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:22.740 Verse 19. 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.719 I will give you the keys 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:26.880 of the kingdom of heaven. 00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:29.019 And whatever you bind on earth 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:29.920 shall be bound in heaven 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:31.039 and whatever you loose on earth 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:33.420 shall be loosed in heaven. 00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:35.259 There's an extended authority 00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.039 given to the church 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:37.539 to make disciples. 00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:39.600 If you jump a couple of chapters later 00:30:39.600 --> 00:30:40.779 to Matthew chapter 18, 00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:42.059 we see the process 00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:43.460 for church discipline. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.079 Right? 00:30:44.420 --> 00:30:45.700 Carefully correcting those 00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:47.259 who claim to be in Christ. 00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:49.299 Helping them to repent and believe. 00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:50.140 And if they're unwilling 00:30:50.140 --> 00:30:51.019 to repent and believe, 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:52.960 to see them out of the church. 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:54.519 And it's right after that text 00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:56.240 that again this phrase is repeated. 00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:57.420 To you has been given 00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:59.940 the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:00.579 Right? 00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:02.259 We have a mission 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:03.460 and it's guaranteed 00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:05.259 and Christ accompanies us in it 00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:06.120 and he's given us 00:31:06.120 --> 00:31:08.340 an authority to make disciples 00:31:08.340 --> 00:31:09.920 that he has promised 00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:11.039 to empower. 00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:14.180 If we are not 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:17.140 crystal clear on why we exist, 00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:19.779 then we will always be distracted 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:22.660 by some lesser purpose. 00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:25.000 Something maybe you need 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.960 to be involved with, 00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:28.279 but perhaps the church doesn't. 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:30.019 We will need, 00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:30.700 as a church, 00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:32.039 to stay the course 00:31:32.039 --> 00:31:32.960 against the tide 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:35.000 of soft totalitarianism 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:36.420 by recognizing 00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:37.779 and reminding one another 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.559 that the church 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.539 has a mission 00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:40.559 to make disciples 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.940 of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:43.600 by the power that belongs 00:31:43.600 --> 00:31:45.880 to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:46.000 Christ. 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:47.700 And beloved, 00:31:47.840 --> 00:31:49.560 this will take sacrifice 00:31:49.560 --> 00:31:51.100 on our behalf. 00:31:52.260 --> 00:31:53.600 It won't be easy. 00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:55.720 We are not called 00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:57.640 to a peacetime mentality, 00:31:57.880 --> 00:32:00.460 but to a wartime mentality. 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:01.080 Right? 00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:04.120 Our weapons are love 00:32:04.120 --> 00:32:04.960 and hospitality 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:06.800 and the word boldly spoken. 00:32:07.760 --> 00:32:09.200 It's going to take sacrifice, 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:11.559 but the reward 00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:14.100 will be great. 00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:15.559 It's worth it. 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.840 It's worth every ounce 00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:17.299 of sacrifice. 00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:18.360 Anything that we could give 00:32:18.360 --> 00:32:19.200 in this life 00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:20.640 is going to be worth 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:21.880 the Christ we will gain 00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:23.019 for eternity. 00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:26.180 Thomas Brooks wants to, 00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:27.059 this is on your bulletin, 00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:28.860 Christ dwells in that heart 00:32:28.860 --> 00:32:30.740 most imminently 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:32.759 that hath emptied itself 00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:34.440 of itself. 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:36.220 Let's pray together.