Eastside Missionary Baptist Church

THE MASTER’S MANDATE FOR A MISSION MINDED CHURCH Matthew 28:16–20

INTRODUCTION: These verses, known as the Great Commission, are Jesus' final instructions to His disciples before His ascension into heaven. They appear at the very end of the Gospel of Matthew, forming the climax and conclusion of the entire book. Everything in Matthew's Gospel has been building to this moment: the King has come, lived, died, risen, and now sends His followers to carry His message to the entire world. The setting is a mountain in Galilee where Jesus had arranged to meet the eleven remaining disciples after His resurrection. “THE MOUNTAIN THAT MADE MISSIONARIES” Picture it with me, The Galilean sun is sinking low - that golden glow you love - turning the hills into honey and the lake into liquid gold. Eleven dusty disciples climb a mountain Jesus Himself “appointed.” Not twelve. Not a crowd. Just eleven men with trembling hearts and resurrected hope the Church = The Greek word for church is ἐκκλησία (ekklesia), meaning "a called-out assembly." Jesus gathers his original ekklesia/church to give them the church its Greatest Commission. Today however - The Great Commission Has Become The Great Omission. The Great Commission is not for the lazy, the lukewarm, or the laid back - it is for the mountain climbers, the burden bearers, the gospel goers, the soul seekers, and the Spirit filled soldiers of the cross. This mountain becomes the launchpad of Christianity, the command center of missions, the birthplace of evangelism, and the summons of the Savior. And today, we climb it together. As we go an exposition verse by verse in Matthew 28:16-20!

I. THE MEETING ON THE MOUNTAIN Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

A. The Place - A Divinely Designated Destination

B. The People - A Reduced but Ready Remnant

Greek Word Study “Eleven” - Greek hendeka A number of incompleteness, yet Jesus uses them to complete His mission.

II. THE WORSHIP AND THE WAVERING Matthew 28:17  

And when they saw him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted.

A. The Bowing - Their Worship Was Real

B. The Battling - Their Doubt Was Real

III. THE MAJESTY OF HIS MIGHT Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

A. The Sovereign Authority - Unlimited Power.

Greek Word Study: Exousia - “authority, jurisdiction, right to rule.” Not dunamis (explosive power) — but exousia (legal authority).

B. The Supreme Assignment - Authority Before Activity “The Great Commission is like a diet plan-everyone agrees it’s good, but very few actually follow it.” Spurgeon: “Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.”

IV. THE MASTER’S MANDATE FOR A MISSION MINDED CHURCH Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

A. GO - The Call to Pursue Souls Matthew 28:19 - “Go ye therefore”

1. The Motion - A Gospel That Moves Greek Word: The Meaning of “GO” The word translated “Go” is not a command in the strict grammatical sense.  Greek: πορευθέντες - poreuthentes Meaning: “Having gone”, “As you are going”, “While you are on the move”, “In your going” It is an aorist passive participle attached to the main verb mathēteusate (“make disciples”). So, Jesus is literally saying: “As you are going MAKE DISCIPLES.”

2. The Motivation - Because He Has All Authority

B. GATHER - The Call to Produce Disciples Matthew 28:19 “Teach all nations” The Scope - All Nations, No Exceptions                    The Strategy - Making Disciples, Not Just Decisions Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,” Jesus didn’t say, “Go make church members.” He said, “Go make disciples.”

C. GROW - The Call to Publicly Identify Believers Matthew 28:19 - “Baptizing them”                                         1. The Symbol - Baptism Declares Identity

Greek Word Study: Baptizō - “to immerse, to dip, to submerge.”

2. The Signature - The Triune Name Greek Word Study: “Name” - onoma - singular. One God, three Persons.

D. GUARANTEE - The Call to Persevere in Obedience Matthew 28:20 - “Teaching them to observe all things”

1. The Content - All Things, Not Some Things Some Christians treat the Bible like a buffet: “I’ll take some Psalms and Proverbs but hold the Leviticus.”

2. The Comfort - “Lo, I Am With You Always” Hebrews 13:5-6

CONCLUSION: “LIVING THE GREAT COMMISSION TODAY”

1. Be a Witness Where You Walk Your workplace is your mission field.

2. Be a Disciple Who Makes Disciples Not just church attendance-life on life mentoring.

3. Be a Christian Who Carries Christ Glow with the gospel. If you are lost - Jesus says, “Come unto Me.” If you are saved - Jesus says, “Go for Me.” If you are wandering - Jesus says, “Return to Me.”