It's my pleasure this morning to welcome with us Reverend Rory Stott. He's Minister in Fort Throes in the Black Isle.
! Myself and Rory, we began studies in the Free Church College as it was known then, which is now the Free Church Seminary, back in 2008.
And we went through college years together, so it's a privilege, a delight to welcome him to the Pope.
But he's never preached here in Stornoway before, but he's got close ties with Stornoway.
He actually met his wife, Kirsteen, on a trip over to Lewis, and we're delighted that Kirsteen is able to be with us today as well.
So please do speak to him if you come through to the hall afterwards.
Himself and Kirsteen, they'll be delighted to meet with you as well.
So my pleasure to hand over to Rory now to lead us in our worship.
Thank you so much. It is such a privilege to be with you today, to worship God.
Shall we just listen to the Word of God in Isaiah in chapter 40?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might, he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted.
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings like eagles.
They shall run and not be weary.
They shall walk and not faint.
Let us worship God.
And we're going to sing in Psalm 103.
And sing Psalm 103, verses 1 to 11.
Let's sing to God's praise.
Amen.
Praise God, my soul, with all my heart.
Let me exalt his holy name.
Forget not all his benefits.
His praise, my soul, in song proclaim.
The Lord forgives you all your sins.
And heals your sickness and distress.
Your life he rescues from the grave.
And crowns you in his tenderness.
He satisfies your deep desires.
From his unending source of good.
So that, just like the eagle's strength.
Your beautiful vigor is renewed.
The Lord is known for righteous acts.
And justice too, down-trodden ones.
To Moses he gave known his ways.
His mighty deeds to Israel's sons.
The Lord is merciful and kind.
To anger slow and full of grace.
He will not constantly reprove.
For in his anger hide his face.
He does not punish our misdeeds.
Forgive our sins, their just reward.
For the Lord.
How great is love as high as hen.
To hearts of those who fear the Lord.
Let us pray.
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You are worthy of all praise and honor and glory.
Father, we confess our sins before you this morning.
We have sinned against you in thought, word, and in deed.
Forgive us for all our shortcomings.
We thank you that in Jesus Christ there is forgiveness and there is hope.
We do thank you and we praise you for the hope that we have in the gospel.
We thank you again, dear Lord, for your creation.
We thank you for the beauty that surrounds us.
And as we look out on such a glorious morning, we cannot help but worship you and praise you.
We thank you for the mountains and the seas.
We thank you for the birds, the singing birds.
We thank you, Lord, for all that reminds us of your goodness and your mercy and your love and your power, your creativity.
We thank you for all these things.
Lord, we long to hear from you.
So help us to put aside all that distracts us and to focus on you.
And we pray this in Jesus' name and for his sake.
Amen.
Okay, boys and girls.
Now, I don't really know how many boys and girls are here.
I can see as I look out, I can see a few young faces.
And I wonder, boys and girls, if I had to ask you what a missionary is, I wonder if you would know the answer.
What is a missionary?
And I don't think in this church that you would shout out, would you?
But if I had to ask you what a missionary is, and a short answer is that a missionary is, say, somebody who is sent out to tell people about Jesus Christ.
Now, I wonder if you enjoy Paw Patrol.
Paw Patrol is a great program.
And I wonder who your favorite Paw Patrol dog is.
Now, I've got to confess that my favorite is Chase.
And there are a couple of reasons for that.
Chase is always dressed in blue.
You know that.
And Chase is just very cool.
He's normally wearing his police hat.
And he goes out and he helps rider.
Otherwise, there's Rocky or Zuma or Sky.
Sky is very cool.
If you like pink, then Sky is for you.
Sky goes up in the helicopter and does everything that rider asks her to do.
Now, what I really love is when there's a problem and the Paw Patrol are called via their pup pads.
And their pup pads sort of make the sound and they all go together to the center.
And rider says, there's a problem.
We need you to help.
And he's always a really, really organized rider.
And he says, you go, Zuma, you do this.
And Chase, you do that.
And Sky, I want you to do this.
Really, really good planning and well organized.
But rider sends them off with their instructions.
He sends them off.
And they all know exactly what they have to do.
And they, oh, it's just so cool.
When they go down that slide and they fall into these very smart Paw Patrol vehicles.
And they've all got their unique vehicles.
And they go out and they do their thing.
But they're sent out, aren't they?
And the Bible tells us very, very clearly that God's people are sent out into the world to tell people about Jesus.
Now, everybody is gifted in different ways.
And so they can use their gifts to help in that work.
Somebody might be really good on the computer and they can help with that.
Or they might be good at speaking.
Or they might be good mechanics or whatever it is.
And they can serve God in that way.
Paw Patrol reminds us that Jesus tells all his children to go out and tell people about him.
Boys and girls, thank you so much for listening.
We're going to say the Lord's Prayer together as we pray together.
Our Father, which art in heaven.
Amen.
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation.
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom.
The power and the glory.
Forever and ever.
Amen.
I'm going to sing again in Psalm 40.
Psalm number 40 and sing psalms on page 50 of the psalm books.
Psalm 40 verses 1 to 8 on page 50.
I waited long upon the Lord.
He heard my cry and turned to me.
He raised me from the slimy pit.
And from the mire he pulled me free.
Let's sing to God's praise.
I waited long upon the Lord.
He heard my cry and turned to me.
He raised me from the slimy pit.
And from the mire he pulled me free.
He raised me from the slimy pit.
And from the mire he pulled me free.
He set my feet on solid rock.
A place to stand bold, firm and broad.
He put a new song in my mouth.
A joyful hymn of praise to God.
Many will look with godly fear.
And on the Lord alone rely.
Blessed are they who trust the Lord.
Who shone the proud and gods that lie.
Thou wonders you have a full heart.
How many and how great they are.
You and sorrows are far beyond.
Their power to number or declare.
You did not ask that cast or goats.
He brought a sacrifice for sin.
But you have opened up my ears.
You did not seek burnt offering.
Please, if you are,
Pure will, my God, pure love is in my heart and soul.
Thank you.
Shall we turn in our Bibles, turn with me to Matthew's Gospel and chapter 28.
Matthew's Gospel and chapter 28, last chapter in the Gospel of Matthew.
And this is a chapter about the resurrection and the famous words of Jesus to his disciples
in that last little section of the chapter, what we call the Great Commission.
And that's what we're going to be thinking about this morning.
So let me read the whole chapter, Matthew and chapter 28.
Now after the Sabbath, towards the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and
the other Mary went to see the tomb.
And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven
and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow.
And for fear of him, the guards trembled and became like dead men.
But the angel said to the woman, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where he lay.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead.
And behold, he is going before you to Galilee.
There you will see him.
See, I have told you.
So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them and said greetings.
And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshipped him.
Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid.
Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.
While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.
And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said,
Tell people.
His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.
And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.
So they took the money and did as they were directed.
And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
And when they saw him, they worshipped him.
But some doubted.
And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
Amen.
This is God's inerrant word.
And we pray his blessing on that reading.
Friends, shall we again just bow our heads and pray?
Let's pray.
Father, we do thank you for that great commission to go out and make disciples of all nations.
We bless you, Lord God, that your desire is that all would be saved.
And we thank you that you use the ordinary to bring about transformation and change in people's lives.
Father, this morning we are conscious of those who are saddened, of those who are grieving.
And we do pray that you would be with those who are mourning the loss of loved ones.
We reflect on the tragedy that took place on Friday evening and a family that is heartbroken.
We pray for that family.
We pray, Heavenly Father, that you would be very close to them at this time.
We thank you, Lord, for the promises of your word that tell us that you are close to the brokenhearted.
But, Lord, not only those who are grieving, but there will be some who have received difficult news this last week.
We live in a broken, fallen world.
And life is full of uncertainty and pain and suffering.
And so we pray, Lord, for those who are suffering this morning.
We thank you for the fact that your church is a spiritual hospital.
We come here not because we have everything together and our lives are all rosy.
We come here because we are broken and those who are needy.
We thank you, dear Father, for your grace.
We thank you for your mercy.
And we thank you that you are the great comforter.
So be very near to those who are in particular need of you this morning.
And we pray for your people.
We pray, Lord, that you would give to your people the joy of the Lord, whatever their circumstances.
That they would have that deep assurance of faith.
That they would have that peace which surpasses all understanding.
We do pray for the communion services coming up this week.
We pray for those who will be leading the services and involved in the services.
We pray that your blessing would be on them.
We pray that you would give to your people an expectation that they would hear from you and not the wisdom of man.
And so work by your Holy Spirit amongst your people this week.
We pray, Heavenly Father.
We pray for those who do not know you.
We pray, Lord God, that you would open eyes.
We pray that you would bring people to the end of themselves.
That they would turn to you and repent of their sins.
We ask these things in Jesus' name and for his sake.
Amen.
Okay.
Let's sing again in Psalm 130 on page 421.
Psalm 130 on page 421.
Lord, from the depths to thee I cried.
My voice, Lord, do thou hear.
Unto my supplication's voice give an attentive ear.
Let's stand to sing to God's praise.
Amen.
Lord, from the depths to thee I cried.
My voice, Lord, do thou hear.
Come to my supplication's voice give an attentive ear.
Lord, who shall stand if thou, O Lord, should smile in me with thee.
But yet with thee forgiveness is that fear thou mayest be.
I wait for God.
My soul doth wait.
My hope is in his word.
More than may that for morning watch.
My soul, which part the Lord.
I say more than may that to watch.
The morning light to see.
Let Israel open the Lord.
Lord, for with him mercy is dear.
And plenty as redemption is ever found with him.
And from all his iniquities Israel shall redeem.
Amen.
Well, shall we turn back to the passage that I read earlier, Matthew's Gospel in chapter 28.
And Matthew 28 and verse 18, we read,
And Jesus came and said to them,
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
Well, Billy Graham, the famous evangelist, whatever our thoughts about him,
he had great influence on many, many people.
And at one of his meetings in 1954 at London's Haringey Arena,
someone asked him just before he was going to go out and preach,
somebody asked him,
What would you like to come out of this?
Well, said Billy gravely,
among other things, at least a thousand missionaries.
A thousand missionaries.
And eventually, as we know,
the influence that he was to have on so many people,
he was to realize that and so much more.
The Great Commission.
This is maybe the main passage in the whole Bible,
but it's not the only passage in the Bible
that tells us to go out and tell people about Jesus.
It tells us about mission.
Now, remember the context here is that the resurrected Jesus
is speaking to his disciples.
The disciples and many people have witnessed the power of God.
They have been witnesses to the extraordinary power of God at work.
As Jesus stands there after having died for three days
and risen after three days,
he stands there and says to his disciples,
I want you to go out.
I want you to make my name known.
I want you to make disciples of all nations.
And what we might say the greatest movement in human history,
not might,
this is the greatest movement in human history.
And that movement continues to this day.
As people share about Jesus Christ in all nations,
throughout the whole world,
and as their lives are transformed.
And so we know in the book of Acts,
this ripple effect that goes out into all the world.
As people go out and tell people about Jesus.
And what we need to remind ourselves this morning
is that mission is part of the church's DNA.
Whether we're the free church or whatever church we are,
that mission is part of the DNA.
It is part of who we are,
that this ripple effect goes outside of us.
I want to notice two things,
and maybe a half point after that.
But two main things this morning.
The first one, as we think about mission,
is the authority of mission.
Very, very simple.
But we're taking from the passage here.
What is the authority?
Who is the authority of mission?
The authority of mission is Jesus Christ.
And he uses that word authority.
All authority has been given to me.
So I want to jump very quickly,
just for us to get this idea of the authority of Jesus.
And if you know your Bibles,
you will know John 17,
is that high priestly prayer of Jesus
as he prays to his father.
And he says,
he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said,
Father, the hour has come.
Glorify your son,
that the son may glorify you,
since you have given him authority
over all flesh.
There's the hymn, the words of the hymn,
Rock of Ages,
cleft for me.
There is that solid foundation
of Jesus Christ.
Notice a couple of things.
The unmistakable authority of Jesus Christ.
And we turn to that,
if you know your Bibles,
Daniel 7 is a key chapter in the Old Testament.
And we have the prophecy
of the Messiah who will come into the world.
And we read in Daniel 7 and verse 13,
I saw in the night visions
and behold,
with the clouds of heaven,
there came one like a son of man
and he came to the ancient of days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion,
authority,
and glory,
and a kingdom
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
which shall not pass away
and his kingdom,
one that shall not be destroyed.
And so,
the unmistakable authority of Jesus.
Notice there,
in Matthew
and in Daniel,
we see that he was given this authority.
That doesn't mean that he didn't have authority before
in the Trinity,
in the Godhead.
But what it does mean
is that in his role as mediator,
he has given this authority
over all people.
And so,
it's an unmistakable authority,
but it is also an unending authority.
We've already seen that in that passage in Daniel.
It is an everlasting authority
as we think about the kingdom of God
and the kingdom of Jesus,
which is everlasting.
It is eternal.
Thinking here about authority,
about the power that Jesus has.
Think for a moment about
the power that there is
in the world.
Chairman Mao Zedong,
the famous dictator,
communist dictator,
he famously said,
power grows
out of the barrel
of a gun.
And Alfred Nobel of Sweden,
he introduced dynamite
to the world
in 1866.
And he called it,
ironically,
he called it security powder.
Isn't that ironic?
And the idea behind it
was to promote peace
and stability across the world.
And so,
there are two versions here
of the power
that is found in the world.
And somebody said this,
from the Babylonian,
Greek,
and Roman empires
through to present tyrannies,
we have come to recognize
that every apparatus of state
dedicated to keeping a people
docile and obedient
to a doctrinaire system
has a limited lifespan.
And all I'm doing here
right now
is I'm comparing
power of the world
to the power of Jesus.
A contrast between
these two things.
And because Christ
is behind mission,
it is a powerful force.
It is the most powerful force
in the history of mankind.
Because he has authority
and because he has power,
it is a powerful force.
Powerful things happen.
Powerful things happen to people.
Lives are transformed
because of the authority
of Jesus.
Think of Central Asia
without naming any countries.
But there are things
happening there
that the people,
that the leaders
in those countries
don't want people
to hear about.
But the gospel is at work
and lives are really transforming
because of who Jesus is.
The gospel is flourishing.
Lives have been transformed.
Many of you know
what I'm talking about here
because your lives
have been transformed.
And so the authority
of mission,
we think of the power
of Jesus.
And if you are a disciple
of Jesus this morning,
if you are a follower
of Jesus Christ,
the reason you are able
to take those moments,
although we always struggle,
don't we,
but take those moments
and boldly share about Jesus
and perhaps take the opportunity
and tell somebody about Jesus,
the reason why you're able
to do that
is because of this power
that Jesus has.
We have the Holy Spirit
inside of us.
And so there is
the authority of mission,
but then we notice secondly
the mandate for mission.
So what are we to do?
What is the church to do?
The mandate is
that you are to go out
and make disciples
of all nations.
It's very simple,
isn't it?
You are to go out
and make disciples
of all nations.
Let's notice a couple of things
again about this mandate.
First of all,
the scope of the mandate,
you are to go to all nations.
I love it.
You are to go to all people groups
and tell people about Jesus.
And we have here
the inclusivity of the gospel.
That simply means
that the gospel message
is for every human being
in the whole world.
The inclusivity of the gospel.
Isaiah 42, 6 says,
I, the Lord,
have called you in righteousness.
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you
and make you
to be a covenant
for the people
and a light for the Gentiles.
Another word for nations
is that word Gentiles.
It was, I believe,
the understanding
of David Livingston
when he went out into Africa.
It was the understanding
of Eric Little
after his exploits,
after winning gold.
And he had a call from the Lord
to go to China
and tell people
about Jesus Christ.
It was the understanding
of William Carey
to go into India
and tell people
about Jesus,
to go out
into all parts of the world.
And so they had this understanding
of the message
that the gospel message
is for all people
because he says,
go to all nations
and tell people
of the gospel.
We are in the Black Isle
and we are in Highland Council.
Now, the Highland Council,
the administrative area
of the Highland Council
is very limited.
It's a big area,
but it's very limited.
The administration
takes place
within a certain
geographical area.
They don't do anything
outside of that area.
It is only
in the Highland Council,
in those villages
and cities
within the Highland Council
that that administration
takes place.
The gospel is different.
Mission is different.
We told you
that the mandate
is to go to all nations.
We see it in the Bible.
The psalmist
in Psalm 117,
O praise ye the Lord,
O all you nations.
The Bible tells us
that God would have it,
that all would be saved,
but not all will be saved,
but that all hear
the good news
of Jesus Christ.
And there is the scope.
The scope is to go
to all nations
and then we have
the nature.
What is it
that the church
is to do?
What is
Stornoway Free Church
to do?
Well,
we are to
make disciples.
The original
language there used
basically translates
to
teach
all nations,
to teach
all nations.
Now,
there are two things
that are involved here.
First of all,
to preach the gospel.
And we know that
because Mark tells us
at the end of his gospel
that that is the way
that we make disciples
is that the gospel
is proclaimed.
That that is a call
to people
to repent
of their sins
and to turn away
from self
and turn
to Christ.
And by the way,
there will be some people
who have never,
ever bowed the knee
to Jesus Christ
this morning.
And you need to know
this morning
that you are
separated from God.
And the only thing
that is going to
bring you
into relationship
to God
is to repent
of your sins
and to turn away
from yourself
and to turn
to Jesus Christ.
That is the gospel message.
You are
in danger.
You will be
judged for eternity
if you do not
turn to Jesus.
But the good news
is that through
Jesus Christ,
you can have
a relationship
with the creator
of the whole universe
and receive
all the blessings
that comes
with having
that relationship
with Jesus Christ.
And so that is
a challenge for you
if you do not know
Jesus this morning.
But that's the first thing,
to preach the gospel.
And the second thing
is to baptize.
Baptize.
To go out,
make disciples,
and to baptize.
Now,
what is the
prerequisite
for baptism?
It is faith,
isn't it?
It is faith
in Jesus Christ.
And now we
as a denomination,
this church,
believes in infant
baptism.
But there are
some perhaps
who don't,
who believe
in adult baptism.
That's absolutely fine.
There may be people here
who believe
in adult baptism.
But what is important
is that you are
a follower
of Jesus Christ,
that you are
baptized,
whether as a child
or as an adult,
that you are
baptized.
And that is one
of the two sacraments
that we celebrate.
The Lord's Supper,
which you're going
to be celebrating
next weekend,
and baptism.
And so baptism,
go and make disciples
and baptize
in the name
of the Father
and the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
The Belgic
confession
about baptism
says,
in this way,
he signifies
to us
that just as water
washes away
the dirt
of the body
when it is poured
on us
and also is seen
on the body
of the baptized
when it is sprinkled
on him,
so too
the blood of Christ
does the same thing
internally
in the soul
by the Holy Spirit.
It washes
and cleanses
from its sins
and transforms us
from being
the children
of wrath
into the children
of God.
Now,
we need to be clear
when we talk
about baptism
that not all
are called
to preach the word,
not all
are called
to administer
sacraments,
but what is
really,
really important
is that we are
all called
to be missionaries.
I love,
actually,
there's a church
in Lewis
with a sign
above the door
as you go
out of the church,
above the door
is the sign
you are about
to enter
a mission field.
You are about
to enter
a mission field.
I love that.
I love that
because it takes away
this fallacy,
this idea
that mission
takes place
only in places
like India.
and actually
what we are
reminded this morning
is that mission
takes place
on your doorstep.
What are some
of the things
that we can do?
We can pray
for mission.
I'm pretty sure
that you do that
in this church.
In fact,
I know you do.
you pray
for souls
to be converted.
You pray
for missionaries
on the mission field.
So you can pray.
You can get involved
with mission.
You can support
mission
financially.
And maybe God
is placing
on your heart
this morning
a call
to go
and tell people
about Jesus Christ.
Maybe this is
just one of the
various ways
he is knocking
at your door
on your heart
for you
to do something
about the mandate
that has been
given to his children
to tell people
about Jesus Christ.
Now,
we need to be
very aware
that not all of us
are called
to go to India
or to China
or to Africa
or to the mainland
and actually
verbally
tell people
about Jesus
although we are
all to
always be ready
to give a reason
for the hope
that is inside of us.
Hopefully,
there's something
that is bubbling
out of us
because of what
Christ has done
for us
on the cross.
But there are
various ways
in which we
can get involved.
I love the
missionary organization
MAF,
Mission Aviation
Fellowship.
And what comes
from the work
of MAF
is that
mission
is not
necessarily
speaking on
the street
corner
or on a church
and actually
verbally telling
people about Jesus.
You can go
if you're a pilot
or a mechanic
or if you have
administrative skills
or you are good
with technology.
We have a family
in our church
in Fort Rose
who were
in Papua New Guinea
and he was
a specialist
in IT
and he was
supporting
the work
of Wycliffe
with his skills
in technology.
And I think
when we think
about mission
I think it's
good for us
to dream
a dream
of what
the Lord
can do
through
a bunch
of ordinary
people
like you
and I.
And so let's
dream for a moment.
Imagine
the highlands
and islands
and that's
the Lord's
people
evangelicals
bought into
the priority
of mission.
The priority
of telling
people
about
Jesus
Christ
and increasingly
became
burdened
to either
pray
or give
financially
or be
involved
in some
way
even
coming
to the
elders
and say
you know
I was
really
challenged
by what
was said
there
about
mission.
Is there
some way
that I
can serve
the church
in this
field?
Are there
missionaries
that you
as a church
support?
You know
I'd actually
like to be
involved
with that
because I
see that
it is
biblical.
I see
that the
Lord Jesus
Christ
has given
us the
mandate
to do
that we
became
burdened
to equip
people
for
mission.
In
Fort Rose
we're getting
really excited
about the
first holiday
club that
we're having
in a long
time there
on that
section of
the Black
Isle and
we're having
a holiday
club in
early August.
I wonder
if you can
pray for
that.
And what
I'm saying
to our
people is
just imagine
for a
moment
30
young
primary
school
kids
who
have
never
darkened
the
door
of
a
church
who
will
hear
about
Jesus
Christ
for the
first
times
in
their
lives.
I wonder
if you can
pray for
that
with us
and pray
for the
organization
and pray
for that
holiday
club.
You're a
big
congregation
and there
are all
sorts of
things going
on in
this
congregation.
Wonderful.
Because we're
doing what
we're called
to do.
Now there
is a lot
more to
this passage
which I'll
say in
just a
moment.
Go and
make
disciples of
all nations.
Baptize
them.
But also
to teach
them what
I have
taught you.
So discipleship
comes into
it as well.
And so we've
seen the
authority of
mission.
We've seen
the mandate
of mission.
But we need
to see as
well the
extension of
mission if
you like.
I'm just
using that
as a way
to describe
discipleship.
We become
disciples of
Jesus Christ
when we
are new
creations.
When we
are being
transformed by
God the
Holy Spirit.
We then
become
disciples and
we need to
be discipling
each other
and growing
in our
faith.
And so we
can't talk
about the
great commission
without mentioning
the importance
of discipleship.
Verse 20
tells us what
it is.
Teach them
to observe
all that I
have commanded
you and
behold I
am with you
always to
the end
of the
age.
The
authority of
mission,
the mandate
for mission,
and the
extension
of mission.
Again,
let's dream
just for a
moment.
A dream
that ETS,
the college
in Edinburgh,
continues to
equip people
to minister
in Scotland
and all
over the
world.
And that
ripple effect
of the
great commission
as we see
in Acts
continues to
go out.
And we
in a very
small way
are involved
with that.
Pray for
ETS and
the work
of ETS
as men
are being
equipped to
lead the
church and
to go.
Men and
women are
being equipped
to go and
tell people
about Jesus
Christ in
Scotland and
to the ends
of the
world.
Dream just
for a
moment that
this congregation
becomes
increasingly
burdened to
obey the
great commission
and tell
people about
Jesus Christ.
Dream just
for a
moment that
in ten
years time
people would
look at
this congregation
and see
that the
Lord has
blessed this
congregation
and they
have grabbed
that burden
to go out
into the
world
with the
good news
and that
you would
continue to
do that
and as
God's word
is preached
here that
as you are
equipped to
be disciples
you are also
equipped to
tell people
about Jesus
the great
ripple effect
of the
gospel.
Let me
finish
going back
to Billy
Graham
and there
is an
organization
called
African
Enterprise
and African
Enterprise
engages
in evangelism
and relief
work in the
great cities
of Africa.
Now African
Enterprise
is truly
African
in being
led and
African
inspired
but African
Enterprise
began in
Madison Square
Gardens with
a young
white South
African by
the name
of Michael
Cassidy.
Michael
Cassidy was
under the
preaching of
the gospel
and he was
fired up
and he
sensed a
call by the
Lord to
go into
Africa and
evangelize the
cities of
Africa.
And there
are a couple
of lessons
in that for
us this
morning as
we finish
off.
The first
lesson is
this, that
the preaching
of the
gospel touches
lives and
goes throughout
the world.
It is the
greatest human
movement in
human history
and the most
powerful human
movement in
human history.
And so that's
what happens
when people
tell people
about Jesus,
when people
gossip the
gospel to
their neighbors
and when the
gospel is
preached in
a church like
this.
And so there
is that ripple
effect.
But another
lesson is this,
that there is
a whole army,
more than an
army, of
people who
are not
recognized like
Billy Graham
or Michael
Cassidy or
Callum
Motto Smith
or James
McKeever
who are
God's
soldiers
who are
transforming
lives.
Again, you
don't need to
be a preacher.
We are all
the soldiers
of God who
have been
given a
mandate.
Whether we
can give
ten pounds
a month
to mission
or whether
we can help
in administration
or whether
we can serve
in a church
like this
whose mandate,
part of their
mandate because
this is a
biblical church
to go out
into all
the world
and support
missionaries
and do
something on
the mission
field.
However small
it is,
however big
it is,
perhaps you
won't be
recognized for
what you do,
but the Lord
recognizes you
and the Lord
knows what you
are doing
and he is
pleased.
If we are
involved with
mission and
you will arrive
hopefully and
the Lord
will say,
well done
good and
faithful servant.
You know,
the rest of
the people,
many people
didn't know
what you
were doing
but I
see what
you're doing.
Well done
good and
faithful servant.
Let's pray.
Father, we
thank you
for the
authority of
mission.
We thank you
for Jesus.
we thank you
for the
mandate for
mission and
we thank you
for the
event which
allows us
to tell
people about
Jesus.
We thank you
for his
death and
resurrection on
the cross and
we thank you
for your
amazing grace
that you
poured out on
your people
by sending
him to die
for our
sakes.
Father,
help us to
die every
day to
ourselves and
to live
to Christ
and bless
your people.
Send them
out to
serve you
in whatever
small ways
that may be,
whether it's
prayer,
whether it's
financially,
or whether
it's actually
going.
Lord,
equip them
and send
them out,
we pray.
We ask it
in Jesus.
Amen.
Shall we
conclude our
service by
singing in
Psalm 126?
Psalm 126
and verses
126.
Psalm 126
on page 171,
when Zion's
fortunes God
restored,
it was a
dream come
true.
Our mouths
were then
with laughter
filled,
our tongues
with songs
and news.
Psalm 126
on page
171,
the man
who bearing
seed to
sow
goes out
with tears
of grief
will come
again with
songs of
joy
bearing
his harvest
sheaf.
Let's stand
to sing
to God's
praise.
song 126
when Zion's
fortunes
got
restored,
it
was a
dream
come
true.
Our
lives
were then
with
laughter
filled,
our tongues
with songs
anew.
The
nations
said
the
Lord
has
done
great
things
for
Israel.
The
Lord
did
mighty
things
for
us
and
joy
our
hearts
knew
well.
restore
our
fortunes
gracious
Lord
like
streams
in
desert
soil.
A
joyful
harvest
will
reward
the
weeping
sowers
tall.
The
man
who
bearing
seed to
sow
goes
out
with
tears
of
grief
will
come
again
with
songs
of
joy
bearing
his
harvest
sheep.
now to
him
who
is
able
to
keep
you
from
stumbling
and to
present
you
blameless
before the
presence
of his
glory
with
great
joy
to
the
only
God
our
Savior
through
Jesus
Christ
our
Lord
be
glory
majesty
dominion
and
authority
before
all time
and now
forever
Amen
just
up
there
voy
!
voy
!
voy
!
voy
!
voy
!
voy
Thank you.