The Mission of the Church
Matthew 28:16-20 - Victory Fellowship
November 26, 2023 Rev. Roderick Grabski
Healing Service
I. Introduction: John Wesley: You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those that want you, but to those that want you most. Observe: It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society; but to save as many souls as you can; to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance, and with all your power to build them up in that holiness without which they cannot see the Lord.
II. RELATING THE TEXT:
a. Describe the Great Commission
b. We are empowered – Acts 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
c. How does this translate to our embracing the Great Commission?
III. APPLICATION:
a. #1 - We must want to. (John Wesley) I could scarcely reconcile myself at first to this strange way of preaching in the fields, of which Whitfield set me an example on Sunday; having been all my life (till very lately) so tenacious of every point relating to decency and order, that I should have thought the saving of souls almost a sin, if it had not been done in a church.
b. #2 – We must be equipped to.
i. The Fruit of the Spirit –
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
c. #3 – We must care enough to. (Gallup Poll)
George Gallup, Jr., reported seven needs of the average American:
1. The need for shelter and food,
2. The need to believe life is meaningful and has a purpose,
3. The need for a sense of community and deeper relationships,
4. The need to be appreciated and respected,
5. The need to be listened to and be heard,
6. The need to feel one is growing in faith,
7. The need for practical help in developing a mature faith.
As God’s Holy Spirit empowered church, we can embrace the Great Commission by helping to provide these needs to people.
John 14:12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.
John 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.
IV. Conclusion:
a. When we exercise the kind of faith that bubbles over and simply MUST be shared, we have embraced the Great Commission!
PRAYER and ANOINTING
SONG: Chain of Grace
Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT) The Great Commission 16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”