For too long the majority of pastors in the U.S. have settled for their churches having 20% disciples or less. They have willingly traded making Spirit-filled disciples to accommodating comfortable consumers on Sunday.
Christianity is shrinking and secularism is growing; violence, perversion and greed mark many of our youth because often times their parents compromised with God’s commands regarding sexuality, unborn life and political correctness.
Now is the time for the followers of Christ to be disciples that make disciples!
SERIES TEXT
1 Timothy 3:14-15, “14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
ARGUMENT FROM TRUTH
- All Truth is God’s Truth: John 14:6, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
- Truth is more than a fact, Truth is an attribute of God Himself.
- Without God, truth wouldn’t exist nor would the universe (“from nothing, nothing comes- from something, something comes”); let alone man’s conscience soul which can understand truth.
- God Assigned the Church to be the Pillar and Foundation of Truth: 1 Timothy 3:15, “If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
- God chose the church to not only be the pillar and foundation for “spiritual truth” (ex., “the nature of God,” “salvation” and “God’s prophecies”) but all truth; including “earthly truth” (ex., “science,” “government” and “economic”).
- If one we’re to break down the three greats truths that apply to all other truths; it would be morality, freedom and science (gaining of knowledge). All of these we’re given to the church and are guides to all mankind to discover who God is (Romans 1:20).
- In other words, if there were no church there would be no basis for morality, freedom in government nor the scientific method.
- Therefore, All Expression of Truth is Accountable to the Church: Ephesians 3:10, “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.”
- Since the church (with Jesus as the Cornerstone) is the grounding of the very existence of truth and making truth assessable and morally useful- the church (obedient disciples of Christ) must make the truth known so our culture can properly use the .
- If we remove the church, the pillar and foundation of truth for the world, good will turn into evil, democracy into tyranny and science into science fiction. (Matthew 7:27).
CHURCH AND TRUTH IN REGARDS TO THE UNITED STATES
Excerpts from “Democracy in America,” 1838 by Alexis de Tocqueville (a French Historian and Diplomat):
Upon my arrival in the United States the religious aspect of the country was the first thing that struck my attention; and the longer I stayed there, the more I perceived the great political consequences resulting from this new state of things.
In France I had almost always seen the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom marching in opposite directions. But in America I found they were intimately united and that they reigned in common over the same country.
Religion in America…must be regarded as the foremost of the political institutions of that country; for if it does not impart a taste for freedom, it facilitates the use of it. Indeed, it is in this same point of view that the inhabitants of the United States themselves look upon religious belief.
I do not know whether all Americans have a sincere faith in their religion — for who can search the human heart? But I am certain that they hold it to be indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions. This opinion is not peculiar to a class of citizens or a party, but it belongs to the whole nation and to every rank of society.
In the United States, the sovereign authority is religious…there is no country in the world where the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America, and there can be no greater proof of its utility and of its conformity to human nature than that its influence is powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth.
In the United States, the influence of religion is not confined to the manners, but it extends to the intelligence of the people…
Christianity, therefore, reigns without obstacle, by universal consent…
I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors…; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution.
Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.
America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.
The safeguard of morality is religion, and morality is the best security of law as well as the surest pledge of freedom.
The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other
Christianity is the companion of liberty in all its conflicts — the cradle of its infancy, and the divine source of its claims.
SERMON TEXT
Matthew 28:18-20, “18 Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go [connect] and make disciples [mentor] of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey [send] everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
CONNECT, MENTOR & SEND
1-CONNECT
First, Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Therefore, we believe all people should be connected to God by the following three ways:
- Being born again, John 3:3.
- Remaining connected to Jesus, John 15:4.
- Being connected to a good church, Acts 2:46.
We believe the best way to do this is by regularly attending our services and joining one of our life groups.
2-MENTOR
Second, Jesus then said in Matthew 28:19-20, “19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Therefore, we believe all people should be mentored by God and made disciples in the following four ways:
- Being teachable, 2 Timothy 2:2.
- Staying accountable, James 5:16.
- Acting as a servant, Matthew 23:11.
- Always hungering for God and His righteousness, Matthew 5:6.
We believe the best way to do this is by finding a mentor and joining our discipleship classes (101 & 201).
3-SEND
Lastly, the Bible records in Mark 16:20, “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” Therefore, we believe all people should be sent by God as ordained elders and deacons to preach the gospel by always doing the following four things:
- Seeing the Lord, Matthew 28:20.
- Seeing the harvest, John 4:35.
- Seeing the need, Romans 10:14-15.
- Seeing your personal ministry, 1 Corinthians 12:27.
We believe the best way to be sent out to preach is to do street evangelism and make a new disciple.
EXAMPLES IN BOTH THE OT & NT
FIND YOUR PLACE IN THE MPI’S STRATEGY
Stand up today and make your public proclamation to be a disciple of Jesus Christ!