Radical Discipleship: Embracing the Great Commission

 

Summary

In our time together, we explored the profound implications of the Great Commission, emphasizing that it is not merely about traveling to distant lands but about following Jesus wholeheartedly. The Great Commission, as articulated in Matthew 28 and Acts 1:8, calls us to make disciples of all nations, a task that requires us to embrace cross-bearing, risk-taking, and fellowship with Christ.

Cross-bearing is not about enduring minor inconveniences but about fully identifying with Jesus, even when it leads to suffering or sacrifice. This was vividly illustrated by the story of Christians in Laos who, despite facing severe persecution, chose to follow Christ, understanding that their faith might cost them their jobs, education, or even freedom. This commitment challenges us to consider what it truly means to take up our cross in our own contexts.

Risk-taking, as Jesus described, involves a willingness to lose our lives for His sake, trusting that in doing so, we will find true life. This is not about reckless behavior but about living with the understanding that security is an illusion. We cannot save our lives; we can only spend them. Therefore, we are called to spend our lives well, for the sake of the Gospel, without letting fear dictate our decisions. The pervasive fear in our society, often fueled by media, can paralyze us, but we are reminded that God is bigger than our fears and that His love and presence are our true security.

Fellowship with Christ assures us that we are not alone in this mission. Jesus promised to be with us always, to the end of the age. This promise is not contingent on our success but on His faithfulness. As we follow Him, we are part of a larger community of believers, united in purpose and strengthened by His presence.

In conclusion, the call to follow Jesus is a call to a life of radical discipleship, marked by cross-bearing, risk-taking, and fellowship. It is a call to trust in His promises and to live courageously for His glory.

Key Takeaways:

1. Cross-Bearing as True Identification with Christ: Taking up our cross means fully embracing and identifying with Jesus, regardless of the cost. It is not about enduring minor inconveniences but about a deep commitment to follow Him wherever He leads. This requires a willingness to face suffering and sacrifice, as demonstrated by the Christians in Laos who risked everything for their faith. [05:53]

2. Risk-Taking in Faith: True risk-taking for the Gospel involves understanding that we cannot save our lives; we can only spend them. This means living with the awareness that security is an illusion and choosing to invest our lives in what truly matters. It challenges us to overcome fear and trust in God's sovereignty, knowing that He is bigger than our fears. [10:58]

3. The Illusion of Security: The notion of security is often a false comfort. We are reminded that life is unpredictable, and our ultimate security lies in Christ. This understanding frees us to live boldly for the Gospel, knowing that our lives are in God's hands and that He is with us in every circumstance. [09:57]

4. The Power of God's Presence: Jesus' promise to be with us always is a source of strength and encouragement. This assurance is not dependent on our success but on His faithfulness. As we engage in the mission of making disciples, we do so with the confidence that He is with us, guiding and empowering us. [19:14]

5. Encouraging the Next Generation: We must instill in our children and grandchildren a trust in God's greatness and love. By encouraging them to take risks for the Gospel, we communicate that God is capable of caring for them and that His plans are worth pursuing. This involves modeling a life of faith and courage, demonstrating that following Jesus is the greatest adventure. [13:56]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:26] - Introduction to the Great Commission
- [00:53] - The Call to Make Disciples
- [01:27] - The Scope of the Mission
- [02:02] - Missions: Following Jesus
- [02:45] - Jesus' Journey to Jerusalem
- [03:29] - Understanding Cross-Bearing
- [04:23] - The First Century Perspective
- [05:17] - Embracing the Cross Today
- [05:53] - Story from Laos
- [07:18] - The Meaning of Risk-Taking
- [09:06] - The Illusion of Security
- [10:58] - Overcoming Fear
- [13:20] - Trusting God with Our Children
- [17:30] - Gospel Risk-Taking
- [19:14] - The Promise of Jesus' Presence
- [20:54] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Great Commission

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 28:18-20
2. Acts 1:8
3. Matthew 16:24-25

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Jesus command His disciples to do in Matthew 28:18-20, and what assurance does He give them? [00:53]
2. In Acts 1:8, what is the role of the Holy Spirit in the mission of the disciples? [01:27]
3. According to Matthew 16:24-25, what does Jesus say is required to follow Him, and what paradox does He present about life and loss? [03:29]
4. How did the Christians in Laos demonstrate their commitment to cross-bearing, as described in the sermon? [06:53]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of cross-bearing challenge modern Christians to evaluate their own commitment to following Jesus? [05:17]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the illusion of security, and how does this relate to the biblical call to risk-taking for the Gospel? [09:57]
3. How does the promise of Jesus' presence in Matthew 28:20 provide comfort and strength for believers engaged in the Great Commission? [19:14]
4. In what ways does the sermon encourage believers to instill a sense of trust in God's greatness and love in the next generation? [13:56]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: What does taking up your cross look like in your current context? Are there specific areas where you feel called to embrace suffering or sacrifice for the sake of Christ? [05:17]
2. Consider the risks you are currently taking for the Gospel. Are there areas where fear is holding you back from fully committing to God's mission? How can you overcome these fears? [10:58]
3. How can you actively remind yourself and others that true security is found in Christ, not in worldly comforts or safety? What practical steps can you take to live this out? [09:57]
4. Jesus promised to be with us always. How does this assurance impact your daily life and decisions? Are there specific situations where you need to rely more on His presence? [19:14]
5. Think about the children or young people in your life. How can you model a life of faith and courage to them, encouraging them to trust in God's plans and take risks for the Gospel? [13:56]
6. Identify one person in your life who may be curious about faith. How can you engage them in a spiritual conversation this week, demonstrating the love and courage of a disciple of Christ? [20:26]
7. Reflect on a recent decision you made out of fear. How might you approach a similar situation differently in the future, trusting in God's sovereignty and love? [11:38]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the Cost of Discipleship
Taking up our cross means fully embracing and identifying with Jesus, regardless of the cost. It is not about enduring minor inconveniences but about a deep commitment to follow Him wherever He leads. This requires a willingness to face suffering and sacrifice, as demonstrated by the Christians in Laos who risked everything for their faith. Their story challenges us to consider what it truly means to take up our cross in our own contexts, where the cost might be different but the call is the same. [05:53]

Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV): "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'"

Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you feel God is calling you to embrace sacrifice or suffering for the sake of following Him more closely?


Day 2: Living Beyond the Illusion of Security
True risk-taking for the Gospel involves understanding that we cannot save our lives; we can only spend them. This means living with the awareness that security is an illusion and choosing to invest our lives in what truly matters. It challenges us to overcome fear and trust in God's sovereignty, knowing that He is bigger than our fears. The pervasive fear in our society, often fueled by media, can paralyze us, but we are reminded that God is bigger than our fears and that His love and presence are our true security. [10:58]

Psalm 56:3-4 (ESV): "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?"

Reflection: Identify a fear that has been holding you back from taking a step of faith. How can you actively trust God with this fear today?


Day 3: Finding True Security in Christ
The notion of security is often a false comfort. We are reminded that life is unpredictable, and our ultimate security lies in Christ. This understanding frees us to live boldly for the Gospel, knowing that our lives are in God's hands and that He is with us in every circumstance. By recognizing the illusion of worldly security, we can focus on the eternal security that comes from a relationship with Jesus. [09:57]

Hebrews 13:5-6 (ESV): "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'"

Reflection: In what ways have you been relying on worldly security instead of trusting in Christ? What steps can you take to shift your focus to the eternal security found in Him?


Day 4: Strengthened by God's Presence
Jesus' promise to be with us always is a source of strength and encouragement. This assurance is not dependent on our success but on His faithfulness. As we engage in the mission of making disciples, we do so with the confidence that He is with us, guiding and empowering us. This fellowship with Christ assures us that we are not alone in this mission, and His presence is our constant source of strength. [19:14]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: How can you become more aware of God's presence in your daily life, especially when facing challenges or uncertainties?


Day 5: Inspiring the Next Generation
We must instill in our children and grandchildren a trust in God's greatness and love. By encouraging them to take risks for the Gospel, we communicate that God is capable of caring for them and that His plans are worth pursuing. This involves modeling a life of faith and courage, demonstrating that following Jesus is the greatest adventure. By living out our faith boldly, we inspire the next generation to do the same. [13:56]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Reflection: What is one way you can model a life of faith and courage to the younger generation in your life today? How can you encourage them to trust in God's plans for their lives?

Quotes

"So grateful to be with you this afternoon, and we've heard much about Christian worldview, and certainly a Christian worldview must include and be shaped by Christ's view of the world and His view that His message, the Gospel, would go to all nations, and we call that 'The Great Commission.'" [00:00:00]

"Now, sort of the classic Great Commission passage is Mathew 28, 'And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.'" [00:00:53]

"Missions is about following someone, and of course that's Jesus, following Christ. And this is made very clear in Mathew 16. In Mathew 16, Jesus is going to Jerusalem. He's told his disciples that when I go, I will suffer many things and be killed and on the third day be raised." [00:02:22]

"Jesus said, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.' Now, there are three things in view here. First of all, cross bearing." [00:03:07]

"But I think we can understand from this passage that it means that to take up your cross means to fully embrace, fully follow, fully identify with Jesus, whatever that will cost you, and wherever that will take you." [00:05:26]

"One of the pastors had had his legs broken in the torture that he experienced. A number of Christians had been arrested and suffered in prison for several months because, for this crime, they had held a Christmas service in their home. I tell you that to get a sense of the environment that we're going in, and I meet with a pastor who is overseeing a network of house churches." [00:05:55]

"Risk-taking, what does that mean? It doesn't mean bungee jumping for Jesus. It doesn't mean doing something to be seen, to be thought of as brave. But what does it mean? I think it first of all actually means believing Mathew 16:25, that you can't save your life. You can't save your life. You can only spend it. So spend it well. Spend it for Christ." [00:07:52]

"Security is one of the biggest illusions that we live with. Now, sure, look both ways before you cross the street, get regular checkups, eat healthy, exercise, etc, etc, but in the end you can't save your life." [00:08:42]

"Do not let fear dominate your decisions, and our country, our churches, and our homes are full of fear. And often fear is expressed by anger or by retreat. And this is one reason this is a particularly unsettled time in the life of our country. We are a naturally fearful people." [00:11:09]

"There's a reason why the most often repeated commandment in the Bible is 'Fear not.' We have to fight fear. By God's help, we have to fight fear, our fear of loss -- whether loss of comfort, loss of relationships, loss of our own plans, even loss of life. And fear is so contagious, especially among Christians." [00:12:09]

"It is anchored in the truth that Jesus is in us and with us and for us, and that is enough. It is driven by a confident expectation in the power of the resurrection, knowing as Paul said that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence." [00:18:11]

"Jesus said, 'Follow me.' In other words, you're not in this alone. Praise Him that we are not in this alone. You're following Him, and He is with you. Do you see that in Mathew 28, His last promise to us? 'I am with you always, to the end of the age,' and He keeps all of His promises, and He keeps His last promise before His ascension that He will never leave us nor forsake us." [00:19:32]

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Transcript
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