The Great Commission

The Great Commission

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon Purpose: to persuade the congregation to respond to the Great Commission

Central Idea: Living the Great Commission is the answer to all societal problems national, local and personal.

Purposely written in second person

This sermon moves from that bad news you hear daily to the good news of Jesus the Christ. First, the bad news: Today, many in America live with anxiety. I hear people saying, “In my life, I have never seen the world in such a mess—riots, thievery, wars—humanity seems to be totally wicked.” Scores of us are looking to next presidential election to make things right. Yet a recent survey indicated that the upcoming election would cause even more anxiety. Of 1,029 likely voters Rasmussen polestars asked, “How likely is it that the outcome of the 2024 presidential election will be affected by cheating?” 56 percent responded that it is likely with 31 percent answering, “very likely.” It seems that many depend on a president to be a way out of our dilemmas. Yet, fear of cheating could well undermine the credibility of any presidential winner. Sir Walter Scott had words for cheating scoundrels, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”

Will a president help us out of our dilemma? Or, do we need divine help? Often in times of a dilemma in Israel, God would send a prophet to lead the people. God would say to the prophet, “I would like to send you. Will you go?” The prophet went.

For example, Moses said, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” and God said, ‘I will be with you.’” Moses went; freed the Israelites and formed a Nation unto God.

Hundreds of years later, Israel had backslid. God said to Isaiah, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, ‘Here am I, send me.’” Isaiah went and announced that the Messiah would come.

“That last night, just after celebrating Passover, Jesus went out to pray as was his custom. When He came to the place … He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.’ … And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Jesus went and changed the world.

Yes, our world is in a mess. We have millions of people coming across our borders overwhelming some communities. Yes, there are carjacking, stores closing because of so much thief, and school shootings. These are our dilemmas. Will God send another prophet? No. Jesus was clear: John the Baptist was the last Prophet. Our answer: Christ gave us the Great Commission. Christ expects us disciples to fix the dilemmas, and the good news is that we can.

Christian, the minute you accepted Christ, you were called. Your job: respond to the Great Commission; rescue the perishing before it is too late. Yet, too often, you hear this kind of answer, “Oh, I am too old.” “Oh, I am too young.” “Oh, I am too busy!” Things will get worse as long as that is your response. I have heard more than one Christian say, “But, I am not a preacher. That is their job.” No. A preacher job is to remind you that your job is the Great Commission. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” I am going to explain some scriptures that may help you see you fulfill this wonderful task.

In Matthew 5:13a Jesus is instructing His disciples, "You are the salt of the earth.” Here, Jesus compared Christians with salt, a flavor enhancer. Just a little salt goes a long way. Did you ever have green beans without salt?

Jesus spoke these words to all disciples past and present for salt does more than make things taste better; it is a preservative. You disciples are to perform the antiseptic action of salt on American society; your job is to keep this society pure. You are the New Israel called to the prophetic work of preserving the earth from moral decay. Your saltiness is the gift of graces, blessings, high calling and lofty works. You are to communicate the divine truth and oppose spiritual corruption thus bringing about moral soundness and the power of life. In the last few years, you have seen people speak up against the non-Christian values that some of our schools and universities are teaching. Their work is paying off: that is the work of salt.