Sermon Tone Analysis

I3

Make Disciples, Part 2   |   Matthew 28:19-20   |   Shaun LePage   |   April 27, 2008

\\ *I3*

Make Disciples, Part 2   |   Matthew 28:19   |   Shaun LePage   |   April 27, 2008

 

I.

Introduction

A.    HS Bball; zone defense—doubled teamed; trouble scoring; broke through down lane easily lay-up; bus driver~/big fan yelled, “Do that every time!”

I yelled, “It’s not that easy!”

B.    Evangelism—we know we should, but we read “Go…” and say “It’s not that easy!”

C.    3 weeks ago began discussing GC Mt 28:19-20; as promised I want to return

D.    Most Christians don’t do well with “go” and feel guilty when it is preached; on your side, not your back; but we need to find a way to put the “go” back in evangelism.

II.

Body—Matthew 28:19-20—think *I3*

A.    *“Going” begins with initiative*.

1.Primary command “make disciples”; “Go…and make disciples” means “making disciples” must begin with evangelism; not “come” (that’s later) but “go”

2.Greek word (πορευθέντες) participle, could be “as you are going”; But stronger—imperative force.

Mt 28:7 good example: “Go” same word (feminine); aorist passive participle, but “as you are going” wouldn’t make sense; clearly imperative sense; Point: Yes, share Christ “as we are going” through life, going to work, school, mailbox, going, going, going.

But we must also be intentional; not just hoping we’ll get the chance—must go with purpose; pray for opportunities and initiate with the people around us.

3.Taking the initiative requires *boldness*—how do we get it?

Larry Moyer, /You Can Tell It! /and /Free And Clear/, makes these great observations in 1 Thess 2:1-10

a)     Develop *confidence* in God’s message (2-3); good news not error~/deceit

b)     Develop *conviction* you are God’s messenger (4); we are also “approved by God”

c)     Develop *concern* for people (5-9); 8X used word “you”; “mother…dear to us”

d)     Develop *consistency* in your life (10); not perfect, but consistency builds boldness

e)     1 more; 1 word: *Pray*.

Eph 6:18-20

4.*Will I initiate?*

Fundamental question!

“Are you willing to be willing?”

B.    *“Going” requires investment*.

1.“Going” logically requires investment of some kind (true of baptizing and teaching also): usually time, energy, money, risk; vast majority trust Christ through relatives~/friends—can’t marry them, but can befriend—this requires time~/patience~/other investments; therefore, “going” means “serving” (2nd Greatest Commandment)

2.In one sense, evangelism is a process; Postmodern world requires investment in a process of pre-evangelism (i.e., apologetics, defending the faith, dispelling false ideas); Paul Copan, /True For You, But Not For Me/, list of ways to be more effective (ch.24):

a)     Living a life of love and holiness—witness of changed lives is powerful

b)     Thinking Christianly about all of life—gain hearing for Gospel thru reasonable answers to real-life issues

c)     Listening to Christianity’s critics—listen~/understand the real questions~/issues

d)     Understanding every day people—misconceptions~/questions about Christianity

e)     Speaking with clarity—use language people can understand (e.g., reconciliation)

f)  Seeing evangelism as a process—not always, but usually missionaries must earn trust, lay foundation (e.g., Creator, origin of sin, etc.); establish need

g)     Offering crucial answers—apologetics; prepare discussion of thought-provoking issues and invite non-believers to participate (e.g., small groups)

h)     Think of helping people get “one step closer” *[ Read p.163 ]*

3.Write: *Will I invest?*

C.    *“Going” demands an invitation*.

1.Though evangelism is—in one sense—a process.

It is also an event.

Evangelism technically has not taken place until we “invite” a person to believe.

Everything leading up to that point is pre-evangelism.

2.Many times before: Make the issue trusting Christ!

The Bible never asks a non-Christian to “give his heart and life to Jesus (it’s about Him giving us His life, not us giving ours); Bible doesn’t ask a non-believer to “accept Jesus” or “pray to receive Christ”—repeatedly “believe in” (meaning “trust”) Christ alone

3.Those who trust Christ are then “invited” to follow—to be disciples; to grow up in Him; the sequence is all-important

4.Write: *Will I invite?*

Don’t make someone thirsty, then forget to hand them the canteen.

Invite people to trust Christ and grow up in Him! (Do you need to trust Him today?)

III.

Closing—*I3*

A.    “Go!” “But it’s not that easy” is it?

We must remember two things: 1) Yes, Evangelism is hard work!

(Mark McCloskey, /Tell It Often, Tell It Well /*[ read pgs.135-7 ]*); 2) But, Evangelism is great work!

Don’t forget what great news we have!

B.    Video (Ee-Taow); Mark & Gloria Zuck Pennsylvania farmers, wanted to be missionaries “initiated” by applying to sending organizations, but told they were too old; not qualified; finally accepted by New Tribes Mission and sent by home church to West New Guinea—Mok people; “invested” a lot of time in learning the culture and language, then translating several portions of the Bible; more than 3 months teaching through entire Bible (Mok had no previous exposure to the Bible) through skits~/pictures~/teaching they “invited” Mok to trust Jesus Christ to save them from their sins; whole video some day but few minutes now to */remind you that our gospel is great news /*and that God wants to do great things through ordinary people like you and me who are willing to initiate, invest and invite.

*[ Watch ]*

C.    3 Questions—I3

1.Will you boldly */initiate/* with at least 1 person (why not 12?) this week?

Not responsible for saving, but for contact!

2.Will you generously */invest /*what is required—prayer, getting trained, reading, buying lunch—learning the culture, language of the people around here?

3.Will you clearly */invite /*when you have opportunity?

Maybe invite to home, read Bible with you, CG, church?

D.    Acts 13:1-3; Pray right now! Next Sunday morning—9 a.m.

begin praying and asking the Holy Spirit to lead us—show us how we can do better, how we can really start “going”; will you pray all this week, then come and dream with us? “Are you willing to be willing?”