Final Words of First Importance - Matthew 28:18-20
Posted on August 3, 2014 by Unknown
Change is hard. Loss is hard. There is uncertainty. It brings our own struggles right to the front. Right now our church is also dealing with such a time. So in that light.
**1. A Word About Power**
> "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
There are different types of power.
The power of position… The boss says do this, or else…
The power of personality … Jesus speak years with his disciples. His manner of speaking, his way of walking were all part of that.
The power of character … You will get more from a man who knows your character and trusts it.
Jesus walked powerfully in all these ways. Even his enemies said he spoke with authority.
During a time of change, perhaps the most common question can be, "Who is in charge?"
This point isn't just about church governance, though this is an important topic. In the matter of not just the church but the world, the answer to this is singular. Christ is King. He is in charge and we are to submit to that authority for God's glory and our good.
**2. A Word About a Person**
>"And Jesus came and said…"
Jesus had authority, yes. But this is more than a statement from a book. If Jesus is who he said he was, and God is true to his word… Then we worship.
This isn't a election we vote in, God is either who he or isn't. We all answer the question. What will you do with the person Jesus Christ? Faith ultimately isn't just about the fact of Jesus either, but is about Jesus as a person, and about our relationship to him. We commune with him, with worship him. He advocates for us, He keeps us. We trust in him, for he as the God-Man is worthy and able.
**3. A Word About Priorities**
"What is going to happen?" we ask. The disciples were asking this same question after the death of Jesus, and here Jesus gave his disciples a list of priorities to work on.
There are several priorities that God leaves for us:
- Make disciples. This isn't just those who hang out at church. It is to follow Jesus in all our life, not just when we show up. We cannot make disciples if we are not a disciple ourselves.
- Baptize people. This is a command straight from the Bible. Note too, that this is a celebration of the mystery of the Godhead. It is a proclamation of the Trinity. This is the way that
- Grow disciples. This comes from diligently studying the Word of God, and through prayer, and the application of what we learn in our lives. We are to
>"teach them to observe all that I have commanded you."
- Jesus's presence - This is the encouragement for what is to come. Jesus is alive and lives still. We are not alone and he has not left us.
>"And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No Response to "Final Words of First Importance - Matthew 28:18-20"
Leave A Reply