Today we look at two of the principle tasks that we have identified as being critical to fulfilling the vision of CrossPointe Church: to impact every neighborhood in Austin and beyond with the transforming love of Jesus Christ.”  These missions are 1) To share the gospel with those who don’t know God and 2) To make disciples.  The first one generally is recognized by those who follow Christ (we agree with it, even though we struggle with doing it!). The second one is one that we rarely think about. Jesus told us to make disciples. How do we do that? What is a disciple? Isn’t’ God supposed to call men to follow Christ, to be disciples?  Is it really our job? This morning we are reminded that simply telling people about Jesus does not fulfill the command Jesus gave us in Matthew 28:19-20:  It’s much bigger than that.

(Acts 14:19-23 NIV)  "Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.

The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. 21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust."

(Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)  "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.""

(Mark 1:17 NIV)  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

(1 Corinthians 9:22-23 NIV)  I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

(Ephesians 1:3-4 NIV)  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love

(Romans 9:10-13 NIV)  Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad--in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls--she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13 Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

(Romans 10:11-15 NIV)  As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

(Matthew 9:35-38 NIV)  Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

(John 15:8; 16 NIV)  This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. . . .   16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
 
Digging Deeper

1.  Each of the following verses gives us the same command or calling, but uses a unique picture or word to do so: Matthew 4:19; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20. What does each picture add to the call Jesus gives us in Matthew 28:19-20? Is this a new command from Jesus or has it always been the heart of God that His people proclaim the good news?  Read verses Isaiah 49:5-10; Psalm 96:1-5; Psalm 71:14-16. How does each of these verses help us see how important this is to God?

2.  Read the following verses: John 6:44; Romans 8:28-30; Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Ezekiel 11:19-20; 2 Corinthians 4:4-6. What does God do in each case? Can we do that? How do you reconcile the tension of our being told to “go and bear fruit” (John 15:16) with the work only God can do? The same man (the apostle Paul) wrote the following two passages: Romans 9:13-16 and 1 Corinthians 9:22-23. Don’t these contradict themselves?  Yet one man, under God’s inspiration, wrote both.  So how do we live our lives in light of these two great truths?

3.  Read Matthew 28:19-20 again.  What does Jesus ask us to do?  Often we think of this passage as simply asking us to share the good news that forgiveness is found in Christ (Acts 16:30-32).  But is that all He asks? What does it mean to “make disciples?”  (2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1; 2 Corinthians 3.3).  Is it really our job? Is that really what we are supposed to be doing? If so, why aren’t more people doing it? Are you making disciples? Have you ever made a disciple? Are you willing to make disciples? What will it take? What one thing will you do this week to build into someone’s life (in other words to help make them a disciple)?

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