Obedience Over Excuses: Embracing Our Mission
Summary
In wrapping up our series "For Heaven's Sake," we have been exploring how to align our hearts with what matters to God. Jesus emphasized over 130 times in the Gospels that the mission is to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. Today, we delve into the importance of obedience over excuses. We often find ourselves making excuses when confronted with truth, but Jesus calls us to action. In Matthew 28, He commands us to go and make disciples of all nations, a directive that is not just for missionaries but for everyone in their daily lives. This is a command, not a suggestion, and it is central to our mission as followers of Christ.
Jesus's mission was to seek and save the lost, and this should be our focus too. We often make excuses for not sharing our faith, such as believing it's a private matter or fearing being labeled a hypocrite. However, true love compels us to share the truth, and the power of the gospel lies in the message, not the messenger. Sharing our faith should be as natural as sharing anything else we love.
Jesus illustrated this through parables, such as the Good Samaritan, who acted with compassion and without excuses. This story challenges us to be contributors, not just consumers, in our faith journey. We must commit to action, even when it costs us something, whether it be time, resources, or pride. The parable of the great banquet further emphasizes that heaven has no seating capacity, and our mission is to fill it by inviting others to experience God's love.
As a church, we are committed to being on mission with Jesus, seeing every empty seat as an opportunity for someone to encounter Christ. This week, I challenge you to view the empty seats in your life as opportunities to share your faith. Write down the names of those who need to know Jesus and pray for them. Let's be a church that is always about what Jesus is about, filling His house and making heaven crowded.
Key Takeaways:
1. Obedience Over Excuses: We often make excuses when confronted with truth, but Jesus calls us to obey His command to make disciples. This is not a suggestion but a directive for all believers in their daily lives. [05:51]
2. The Power of the Gospel: The message of Jesus is powerful in itself, regardless of who shares it. Our role is to share our faith naturally, just as we share anything else we love, without fear of being labeled hypocrites. [12:28]
3. Compassion in Action: The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us to act with compassion and without excuses. We are called to be contributors, not just consumers, in our faith journey, committing to action even when it costs us. [22:01]
4. Heaven's Unlimited Capacity: The parable of the great banquet illustrates that heaven has no seating capacity. Our mission is to fill it by inviting others to experience God's love, seeing every empty seat as an opportunity. [25:29]
5. A Call to Mission: As a church, we are committed to being on mission with Jesus, focusing on what matters to Him. This week, view the empty seats in your life as opportunities to share your faith and invite others to know Christ. [29:19]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [05:51] - Obedience Over Excuses
- [12:28] - The Power of the Gospel
- [22:01] - Compassion in Action
- [25:29] - Heaven's Unlimited Capacity
- [29:19] - A Call to Mission
- [33:42] - Communion and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "For Heaven's Sake"
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 28:19-20 - "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."
2. Luke 19:10 - "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
3. Luke 10:25-37 - The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Observation Questions:
1. What command does Jesus give to His followers in Matthew 28:19-20, and how does it relate to the mission of bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth? [05:51]
2. In the sermon, what excuses do people often make for not sharing their faith, and how does the pastor suggest overcoming these excuses? [12:28]
3. How does the parable of the Good Samaritan illustrate the concept of "Compassion in Action"? What actions did the Samaritan take that others did not? [22:01]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of viewing empty seats as opportunities in the context of the church's mission? [25:29]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the command to "go and make disciples" challenge the notion that sharing faith is only for missionaries or church leaders? What does this mean for everyday believers? [05:51]
2. The pastor mentioned that true love compels us to share the truth. How does this align with the cultural perception of love as allowing others to do as they please? [12:28]
3. In what ways does the parable of the Good Samaritan challenge believers to move beyond sympathy to action? How can this be applied in modern contexts? [22:01]
4. The sermon emphasizes that heaven has no seating capacity. How does this perspective influence the urgency and approach to evangelism within the church? [25:29]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you made an excuse for not sharing your faith. What was the excuse, and how can you overcome it in the future? [12:28]
2. Identify one person in your life who does not know Jesus. What specific steps can you take this week to share your faith with them naturally and lovingly? [05:51]
3. The Good Samaritan acted despite cultural and social differences. Is there someone in your life who you find difficult to reach out to because of differences? How can you bridge that gap? [22:01]
4. Consider the empty seats in your church or community. How can you view these as opportunities to invite others to experience God's love? What practical steps can you take to fill those seats? [25:29]
5. The pastor shared a story about inviting neighbors to church. How can you create opportunities in your daily life to invite others to church or spiritual gatherings? [29:19]
6. Reflect on the idea that the power of the gospel lies in the message, not the messenger. How does this change your perspective on sharing your faith, especially if you feel inadequate? [12:28]
7. What is one action you can take this week to be a contributor, not just a consumer, in your faith journey? How can you commit to this action even if it costs you something? [22:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Obedience Over Excuses
In our daily lives, we often find ourselves making excuses when confronted with the truth. However, Jesus calls us to obedience, emphasizing that making disciples is not just a suggestion but a directive for all believers. This command is central to our mission as followers of Christ, and it requires us to move beyond our comfort zones and take action. Jesus's mission was to seek and save the lost, and this should be our focus too. We must overcome the excuses that hold us back and commit to sharing our faith with others. [05:51]
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one excuse you often use to avoid sharing your faith, and how can you overcome it today?
Day 2: The Power of the Gospel
The message of Jesus is powerful in itself, regardless of who shares it. Our role is to share our faith naturally, just as we share anything else we love, without fear of being labeled hypocrites. The power of the gospel lies in the message, not the messenger, and true love compels us to share the truth. We are called to be bold in our faith, trusting that God will work through our words and actions to reach others. [12:28]
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16, ESV)
Reflection: Who is one person you can share the gospel with this week, and what specific steps will you take to do so?
Day 3: Compassion in Action
The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us to act with compassion and without excuses. We are called to be contributors, not just consumers, in our faith journey, committing to action even when it costs us. This means being willing to sacrifice our time, resources, or pride to help others and share God's love. By following the example of the Good Samaritan, we can make a meaningful impact in the lives of those around us. [22:01]
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can show compassion to someone in need today, even if it requires a personal sacrifice?
Day 4: Heaven's Unlimited Capacity
The parable of the great banquet illustrates that heaven has no seating capacity. Our mission is to fill it by inviting others to experience God's love, seeing every empty seat as an opportunity. As followers of Christ, we are called to be proactive in sharing our faith and inviting others to join us in the journey. This requires us to be intentional in our relationships and to look for opportunities to share the hope we have in Christ. [25:29]
"And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.'" (Luke 14:23, ESV)
Reflection: Who are three people you can invite to church or a faith-based event this month, and how will you extend the invitation?
Day 5: A Call to Mission
As a church, we are committed to being on mission with Jesus, focusing on what matters to Him. This week, view the empty seats in your life as opportunities to share your faith and invite others to know Christ. By being intentional in our mission, we can make a significant impact in the lives of those around us and help fill heaven with those who have encountered God's love. [29:19]
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to be more intentional in your mission to share Christ with others?
Quotes
"We are wrapping up a little three-part mini-series of messages that we have entitled For Heaven's Sake. What is this series about? We're wrestling with one question for literally three weeks, and it's this. How do we care about what heaven cares about? Like, how can the stuff that matters to God be stuff that matters to us? And so today, I wanna wrap this series up. We've been talking about what matters to Jesus, Jesus himself, over 130 times in the four books, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, called The Gospel, said that the point of all of this is to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth." [00:00:00]
"Isn't it funny how fast when we're confronted with something, we just make an excuse. Isn't this weird? How about this one? I was looking at the news this week and I saw this headline. It says, Florida woman blames cocaine and purse on windy day. I don't know how it got there. The wind must have blown that bag of cocaine into my bag. Today's message is brought to you by cocaine. How many times can I say that word today? Isn't it wild? Why all the" [00:03:11] (29 seconds)
"When it comes to the things of God, you're going to have two options. You can obey and do it or you can make excuses. You ready? This is going to get all up in your business. Jesus said in one of his final things he said to his followers and his disciples in the book of Matthew chapter 28, Jesus said, therefore go. Don't stay home. Don't sit on your hands. Don't fritter your time away on Instagram and TikTok. He says, therefore go and make disciples or followers, students 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, not to make excuses, but to obey everything I have commanded you." [00:04:42] (45 seconds)
"So Jesus says this, he says, I want you to go. Okay. Now this is kind of a hard thing for us to hear because Jesus says, go into all the world. And we read that. And sometimes it feels like we're like, well, I'm not a missionary. You know, I'm an accountant. I'm not, I'm not a missionary. I'm a school teacher. I'm a barista. No, no. Jesus says, go. And I want you to see this. Um, one person, one scholar I read said that phrase go was a good phrase and it makes sense, but it really makes sense. If you were to translate Jesus's words, maybe even a little bit more literally, it means this. It means in your going, in your life, at your job, in your neighborhood, with your friends and your family members, wherever you go and whatever you do in your going, your responsibility as a follower of Jesus is to go make disciples." [00:06:15] (49 seconds)
"Jesus said, for the son of man, talking about himself, came to seek and to save the lost. Okay. Jesus seems overtly concerned, not by who he has, though he loves every person, but what has his heart and what has his attention is who is lost. And I think we understand this in most parts of our life, don't we? Like, one time I lost my wedding ring and it was like only gone for just an hour or two, but I'll be honest with you, this matters so much to me. It's symbol of my love and my commitment to my wife of 20 years now. And I didn't know where it was. I didn't put it in my normal place. And for like an hour or two, I was freaking out for an hour or two. I thought I lost the ring and I, my wife's Italian. She's probably got mafia connections. You know, I'm like, I end up with a horse head in my bed. I don't even know what that means." [00:07:19] (59 seconds)
"Love isn't saying, oh, kids, I love you so much. You're my kids. Why don't you go play in the highway? That sounds fun. It's like a life-size game of Frogger. No, that doesn't work. Why? Because you understand that there's something that matters more. Real love protects and speaks the truth in love. Here's another lie. It's not my job or my gifting. And let me say this to you. If you relegate the ministry of telling people about Jesus just to preachers, we're going to be in a lot of trouble. It was the great command for all of us to do not a suggestion. Here's another excuse or a lie we make. We'll say about some family and friends, well, they're already too far gone. Let me correct that lie. If they're breathing, there is still hope. It's a big deal." [00:09:43] (48 seconds)
"Sharing your faith and sharing your hope is a lot easier than what you think. Let me show it to you like this. We don't defend the things we love. We just share them and we invite others to celebrate with us. Isn't that how it works? Like yesterday, my two sons, Joey and Gavin, for the first time ever, ran a half marathon. I think that is the dumbest thing ever. We spent so much money for them to run. Running is free. Anyways, they ran a 13.1 miles. It was unbelievable. Both of them looked like they were gonna pass out the moment they crossed the finish line. But it was such a fun experience being there and celebrating them and cheering for them. And here's the thing. I posted about it on my Instagram." [00:11:09] (49 seconds)
"It goes on to say this, he, talking about the Samaritan, went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. He literally went out of his way to help him. It says the next day, he took out two denarii, like two days worth of wages, and he gave them to the innkeeper. So I want you to see this. A lot of people, they feel something and they feel sympathy, but they do nothing about it. The Samaritan sees the need, and in spite of the cultural and the social differences, he does something about it. David Livingston says it like this. He says, sympathy is no substitute for action, and we need to be a church of action. Here's what it means. I want you to see that literally he took action." [00:17:10] (47 seconds)
"Jesus replied, a certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. He's gonna have this big dinner party and he invites lots of people. And in Jesus' day, the way this would work is this would have been planned well in advance. It would have been something where people had come together for this moment. And it goes on to say, at the time of the banquet, capacity. Now you understand how this works, don't you? Because like everything in your life has some sort of seating capacity. Your car can only hold a certain number of people legally. Your house can only seat a certain number of people. Your table can only hold a certain number of people. Your house can only sleep a certain number of people. There's a capacity to it." [00:19:58] (147 seconds)
"The story begs a question, does heaven have a seating capacity? Does heaven? I want us to understand that heaven has no seating capacity. The story Jesus told is like, I want my house full. I want heaven packed and loaded with people. I don't know if you've ever just heard something somewhere and it stuck with you and marked you. A few years ago, I was on Twitter when it was still called Twitter, and I saw this post from a man, and like, I've seen thousands of posts, and this one, all these years later, stuck with me. He uses a sports analogy. He says, I collect baseball pictures. These are the kind of pictures like this of what's called a walk-off home run. This is when a person hits a home run, and that home run wins the game. And he says, I collect these pictures, and I get chills thinking about this." [00:22:42] (52 seconds)
"Let's go back to the first story, the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus ends his story with these two verses. He says this, which of these three, the priest, the Levite, or the Samaritan, do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? And that really smart guy, the expert in the law responded, the one who had mercy on him. And so Jesus said this, good, here's what I want you to do. You get it. Now go and do likewise. You ready? In your going, live your life in a way where your eyes are open to the brokenness of the world around you. In your going, in your life, share your faith. In your life, begin to see that you need to have a strategy for how to get your friends from where they are into a relationship with Jesus." [00:26:18] (61 seconds)
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