¹⁸ “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

As the Lord allows, this coming Lord’s Day morning I will continue my series on Bible Doctrines with a message on the Local Church. The title of the sermon is, “The Mission of the Church!” I have planned two more sermons on Ecclesiology (The Doctrines of the Church) before we move on to a few more basic doctrines for the rest of the summer. Hopefully, in August I will be able to begin an exposition of Genesis 1 – 11.

For this week’s message, I have chosen to talk once more about why we exist as a Church. A few weeks ago we focused on the fact that the Church exists to make the invisible visible. This time, I want to focus on our Mission of “Making Disciples.”

I realize this is “old news” but, it is still the missing link in the mission and ministry of almost every Church. As a refresher, let me remind you that “We exist to Live out the Great Commandments and CARRY OUT THE GREAT COMMISSION by Loving God, Loving People, and Sharing the Good News!”

The Great Commission is to “make disciples” of Jesus Christ. We have often defined it as “becoming and bringing others to be fully-devoted followers of Jesus.” It just does not get more clear than that!

I know that I sometimes overdo the emphasis on grammar, but it is usually key to rightly understanding the Scripture. I will spend a large part of our time explaining the fact that the single Greek word translated “make disciples” is a Finite; 2nd Person; Aorist; Present; Imperative; Active Verb!

G-L-O-R-Y! (Now, THAT is preaching!)

Clearly, those seven descriptors are vitally important to understanding what it means to BOTH “become and bring others to be” a fully-devoted follower of Jesus. This main verb is further explained by three “participles” functioning as adverbs to answer the question “How?” to we make disciples.

We are to make disciples “as we are going…”

We are to make disciples by “baptizing them…”

We are to make disciples by “teaching them to observe all things that Jesus has commanded us…”

The Great Commission closes with the happy promise that Jesus is “with you always, to the end of the age.” Not only is this a promise upon which to stand, it is a challenge to us to manifest the reality of HIS presence with us to the watching world.

Beloved Ones, making disciples is everything! It is not just the main thing; it is everything in the life and mission of the Church! Making the Invisible Visible, and Making Disciples… that’s is why we exist!

I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!