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The Great Commission

January 31, 2016 Preacher: Series: The Abrahamic Covenant: The Mission of God Declared

Scripture: Matthew 28:16–20

Key Truth: Because of Jesus’ divine sovereignty and ongoing presence with us, we are commissioned to make disciples in the image of Christ alone for God’s glory alone in fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant.

 

Introduction:

 

Q: What most affects your obedience to the commands of the Lord?

“Jesus’ Great Commission extends the intention and is the final form of the Abrahamic promise…Thus the end of our Gospel (of Matthew) connects with the beginning of our Bible….”

Frederick Dale Bruner, Matthew, A Commentary: Volume 2: The Churchbook, Matthew 13-28

 

The Resurrected Christ: Of Worship and Doubt:

Matthew 28:16-17

“…the last time these eleven disciples had seen Jesus was as they ran away from him in Gethsemane; so what sort of reception could they now expect from the master they had deserted? The conflicting instincts to worship the risen Jesus and to avoid a potentially embarrassing encounter make very human sense in this context.”

R.T. France, The Gospel of Matthew

Q: Do you ever doubt God’s love for you because of your own fears and failings?

 

The Son of David: Of Universal Sovereignty and the Divine Nature:

Matthew 28:18-19

“Before relating that the office of teaching was committed to the disciples, Matthew says that Christ began by speaking of his power; and not without reason. For no ordinary authority would here have been enough, but sovereign and truly divine government ought to be possessed by him who commands them to promise eternal life in his name to reduce the whole world under his sway, and to publish a doctrine which subdues all pride, and lays prostrate the whole of the human race. And by this preface Christ not only encouraged the Apostles to full confidence in the discharge of their office, but confirmed the faith of his gospel in all ages.”

John Calvin, Matthew

Q: What impact does Christ’s divine sovereignty and lordship have on your obedience?

 

The Son of Abraham: Of Disciple Making and Immanuel:

Matthew 28:19-20

“A disciple is someone who, with increased intentionality and passing time, has a life and ministry that looks more and more like the life and ministry of Jesus. They increasingly have his heart and character and are able to do the types of things we see Jesus doing.

Mike Breen, “Why the Missional Movement Will Fail (Pt 2)”, Verge Network

Q: Is this an accurate description of you as a disciple of Christ? What are some ways in which we as a church are fulfilling the Great Commission? How can we improve?

 

Application:

 

Matthew 28:16-20 teaches us that:

-our failures in faith and flesh do not disqualify us from inclusion in the mission of God

-Jesus’ divine sovereignty and presence is the ground for our inclusion in the mission

-we are commissioned to make disciples in fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant

 

“So Matthew ends where he began, speaking to us of the God who is with us, who is Immanuel. Having made a promise to Abraham and to David, he has fulfilled that promise. He came to save his people from their sins, and he has done so. Having all authority in heaven and on earth, he commands his people to go into all the world, to make disciples of all the nations, that his salvation might to the end of the earth.”

Mark E. Ross, Let’s Study Matthew

 

(Slides from the End of the Service)

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