Text: Matthew 28:20, Title: RRB 5: Teaching To Observe, Date/Place: NRBC, 7/19/09, AM
Opening illustration: “Jesus did not say, ‘Teach them all my commandments.’ He said, ‘Teach them to observe…’ You can teach a parrot all of Jesus’ commands. But you cannot teach a parrot to observe them. Parrots will not repent and believe, and worship Jesus, and lay up treasure in heaven, and love their enemies, and go out like sheep in the midst of wolves to herald the kingdom of God.” “Religious systems have long specialized in the transfer of spiritual knowledge, but they have an equally long heritage of producing enlightened followers whose lifestyles remain unchanged by that spiritual knowledge.” Minatrea in Shaped by God’s Heart,
A. Background to passage: no real need to remind you of the context. But by way of exegetical intro, remember that the only verb that is in this passage that is not a participial form is “make disciples” The primary task give the twelve, and the church was to produce followers of Jesus. That is the meaning of the word: adhering to the teachings or instructions of a leader and in promoting the cause of such a leader. So the main word of application for us today is: are we putting forth people who walk like Jesus, talk like Jesus, live like Jesus, love like Jesus at New River.
B. Main thought: in the message today, we will note three things about authentic faith
A. It’s Knowledge and Practice
1. Jesus commands us here to have a teaching ministry as a church. Both knowledge and practice are affirmed here. One must have the knowledge before he can put it into practice. The word “observe” can also be translated to guard or keep, and it means to watch carefully or narrowly. But even though knowledge is required, it is not the goal. Living faith out loud is the goal. Allowing the world to see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.
2. John 14:23, 1 John 2:4,
3. Illustration: “In the bible, faith is not something you possess, but something you practice,” Jesus does not seek to impart information but to awaken commitment to himself. “The new life of a disciple is a life of obedience to Jesus’ commandments or it is not a new life at all. It is worthless to acknowledge the Lordship of Christ in baptism and then ignore his commandments. So all disciple-makers must be teachers and disciples must be continual learners.”-Piper,
4. Sunday School teachers, VBS teachers, RA/GA, Mission Friends, etc, you are carrying out the direct command of Jesus to teach, as long as you make application, and demonstrate with your lives. “If you want to encourage a man to study the bible daily, invite him to meet with you and see how you do it…Otherwise he will become tragically dependent upon others for being fed from the Scriptures.” We have a bible belt culture that is well known for its knowledge, use of scripture, and profession of faith, even for connections with church; but we are not known for having roles of people whose lives have been radically altered by Jesus. We don’t live much of what we know. We must strive to teach others. By the way, all of you are teachers, even those not in an official teaching position. Each one of us are called to teach others around us. All of us must take seriously that Jesus says our discipleship is based on us knowing and observing diligently all that He commanded. Do we take seriously His command to love our enemies? To give our shirt and our coat? To walk the extra mile? To not put asunder what God has joined? To take up our cross and follow Him? To do good to those who do evil to us? To fast, and pray, and tithe? To love one another in truth? To watch every idle word? To pray for the Lord to send forth laborers? To take the gospel across the street and across the ocean? To visit the sick, poor, and imprisoned? To love Christ more than family, comfort, or money? To turn the other cheek? And the list could go on…
B. It’s Religious and Transforming
1. Authentic faith has a religious aspect to it. Proper religion is devotion and service. To visit the widows and orphans (service), and to keep oneself unspotted from the world (holiness). And this devotion or holiness flows from deep heart felt love relationship with God, rather than a list of rules. It is devotional in nature. But it is also geared toward transformation. Religion has a tendency to become routine. Now it can be routine in a good way, in that your pattern of life is to constantly be in communion with God. Or your normal course of your day begins with you meeting with Jesus. But it can also become hollow. Much like the Pharisees who were like whitewashed tombs. They followed ritual traditions that produced no change of heart.
2. James 1:27, Rom 8:29
3. Illustration: “The Master is not giving a command that will merely secure nominal adherence to a group, but one that will secure wholehearted commitment to a person.” –Leon Morris, “Throughout its history the true church has always maintained that Scripture clearly sets forth certain basic standards of belief and behavior as necessary marks of genuine saving faith. An affirmation and acceptance of the biblical gospel, and a life that is characterized by a worthy walk have rightly been seen as accurate indicators of the work of the Trinity on a person’s heart. And when such fruit is absent in an individuals life, the church has appropriately called into question his or her profession of faith.”—JM, light bulb jokes,
4. Change is a part of life. And you are promised to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Inauthentic faith has no devotional aspect to it. Religion is routine, and as long as we check the boxes at the end of the week. This faith has no life to it, and will bring no eternal life. This faith is concerned with committees, votes, elections, and not with bible reading, personal/family worship, and evangelism. This faith is very secure in rules and policies and age segregation, but not comfortable when a service goes too long. This faith is hung up on having the kind of music, sermon, ministry that I want and is not concerned much about what glorifies Jesus or reaches people. If you don’t have a regular devotional life, you need to get one. If you faith is not transforming you into His image. If you are just the same person that you were last week, last month, last year, check up on yourself. Growth and transformation is crucial and unending.
C. It’s Presence and Discipleship
1. Authentic faith is presence or coming to meet with body, but that is not all it is. Authentic faith does come to church, or meet with the brethren somewhere. True conversion produces a love within us for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the church in general. But as I said, this is not all. Real saving faith has a desire in it to know Jesus Christ. And it will pursue Him. But if you don’t feed the desire, you may lose it. Our tendency is to gravitate toward ease, mind-numbness, and passivity. Your relationship with Jesus is supposed to be active rather than passive.
2. Heb 10:24-25, 1 John 3:14
3. Illustration: George Whitfield conducted outdoor evangelistic campaigns in the 1700’s throughout the American colonies, a period of revival called the “Great Awakening” in America. Although thousands responded to his Gospel message, when asked how many were converted after one of his sermons he replied, “We’ll know in five years.” The point Whitfield was making was that the passing of time should reveal which decisions were superficial and which were genuine, lasting commitments to Christ. “Discipling is an intentional relationship in which we walk alongside other disciples in order to encourage, equip, and challenge one another in love to grow toward maturity in Christ.” –Greg Ogden,
4. There may be few, if any, genuine believers who are not involved in a church. Even if you get out for seasons, you will get back in if it’s real. However, if all your faith consists of is coming to church, putting an angel on your Christmas tree, and sending up a prayer when you want something, check its authenticity. We must be continually pursuing Christ! We must put ourselves at His feet, so that we may learn. What areas of life are you really pursuing Him with? Would you say that you are following Jesus with “hutspa” and that the dust of your Rabbi is all over you? We must not allow ourselves to coast or stagnate in the Christian life! We must advance, pursue, strive for Him. We must think long term. Disciples are not made in a six week bible study or a weekend retreat. We must walk together sharing life. Challenge them here and now to commit to get into an intentional year long relationship w/purpose of sp. growth.
A. Closing illustration: Read four quotes on pp. 22-23 and 47 of Transforming Discipleship
