Go and Make Disciples(Matthew 28:16-20)

Go and Make Disciples

Matthew 28:16-20

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.”


All Christians have been commissioned to make disciples, but what does that mean? First we need to understand the difference between traditional disciples and Jesus' disciples. Then we can look at the who, where, how, why when and what questions of the great commission.

In the traditional sense, a disciple would choose his teacher and study under that teacher. Later after the disciple had learned all she could, she would leave to start her own school. The disciple may even change the teachings or philosophy of his teacher and stat a similar but different branch of those teachings, religion or philosophy. Whereas Jesus chooses His disciples and His disciples follow Jesus and know Him. Jesus never leaves His disciples and His disciples do not change Jesus. The disciples of Jesus must have a relationship with Jesus while traditional disciples can only study the teachings of a philosophy or religion.

We are to go to all nations and make disciples. These are the strangers, neighbors, family and even church members. Anyone who would follow Jesus Christ and call him Lord, we are commissioned to train them in obedience to God' word and teach them everything Jesus has taught us.

We need to disciple others and be discipled so that we would remain in Jesus and know Jesus.

In his book, Discipleship, David Watson states,  "Without obedience there is no faith; and without faith there is no discipleship."  This is seen in John 15:5-8 which talks about how Jesus as the vine produce fruit through us in our obedience. This fruit demonstrates we are true disciples and brings glory to God.

John 15:5-8

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.



Another reason why we must make disciples is to create community as  is seen in Acts 2:44 since we need to share our lives with Jesus and other disciples. This is one of the greatest challenges Christians face today in the church. We need to love others like Jesus loves us. We need to know ourselves as Jesus knew himself to have genuince relationships with the Father and with others. It is not easy to do this as Jeremiah 17:9 points out.

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?


When a Christian has reached maturity, not perfection, in their spiritual understanding and faith, they are ready to go and make disciples for Christ. The relationship with the disciples to make is for a life time. The training Christians go through is for a long time and requires deep and meaningful relationships. This continues until the return of Jesus.

Titus 2:11-13

11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.


Members of the church need to be ready to disciple those followers of Christ who need teaching. We are all called to this mission and service will bring joy to Jesus and expand His kingdom.

"We Give What We Have Stored Up"(Luke 6:43-45)

Luke 6:43-45

The original title for this sermon was "The Fruit We Produce Comes from the Treasures We Store"; however, my fourth grade teacher would never approve of such a mixed metaphor. A better title would be "We Give What We Have Stored Up." Jesus gives much wisdom about our hearts and our actions in Luke 6:43-45

43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Jesus tells us that our hearts are what really determines what will come out of our mouths and what are results will be. But what does Jesus mean by the heart?

In the Biblical definition from The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, “Heart (Heb. Mostly léb; Greek.  Kardia). According to thorough investigation and evidence of Scriptures in all its parts, the heart is the innermost center of the natural condition of man. …It is the center of the entire man, the very hearth of life’s impulse.” The heart which reflects us profoundly is also a house in which Jesus lives (John 14:23) and we store in our heart those things we treasure. If we treasure Jesus and fill our heart with the Holy Spirit, we will act like Jesus and produce good works like Jesus whereas if we fill our heart with self and worldly things, we will disappoint ourselves and others.

As Christians we are called to produce fruit (John 15:16) and depending on what we fill our hearts with and what we follow, we will produce bad fruit or good fruit (Galatians 5:19-23). As Jesus says, “For figs are not gathered from thornbushes…”. How many of us in the church are thornbushes, prickly with impatience, bitterness and anger when we should be plumb sweet figs of patience, kindness and gentleness. Jesus wants us to attract others and sustain each other with the good fruit of our works.

Even modern medicine tells us that our state of mind and our emotions affect our physical health. We need to sow the positive seeds of joy, forgiveness, understanding and compassion to have healthy fruit which we and others can enjoy. Yet so many of us continue to reap harvests of bad fruit because we dwell on the lustful, vengeful thoughts which satisfy self.

Much the same what we store in our heart as treasure will also be given to others and define who we are. The man who found the treasure and bought the field to own it sold all that he had to legally own the treasure (Matt 13:44). Jesus makes it clear if you want Him as your treasure you need to give everything. By everything, Jesus meant even yourself had to be given up. It is only when Jesus is our only treasure that we will become like Jesus and our hearts so filled with God that we will speak like God.

Through honest prayer and workings of the Holy Spirit we will become what Jesus has always intended us to become.

"The Dangers of the Undealt Negative Habits"(Luke 22:3-6 & John 12:1-8)

The Dangers of the Undealt Negative Habits 

Luke 22:3-6 & John 12:1-8 

One analogy for a Christian life is that of an athlete. The better athletes keep strick diets to meet their goals. Runners eat differently than a weight lifter. Athletes also need to be persistent to be perfect. If you want to have the perfect athlete body, it will take time and much effort as well as sacrafice. 

If we want to emulate Jesus, we need to work at this. There are imperfections in our lives that we need to remove and this will take time. Everyday we need to align ourselves with God's plan. Mature Christians realize their weaknesses. Sick Christians are not aware of their weaknesses. Every believer has weaknesses and we are being sanctified. The Lord shows us our imperfections as we go closer to Jesus. As we grow closer in our relationship and deal more with our imperfections, we start to emulate Jesus. 

In the text from Luke 22:3-6 & John 12:1-8 Judas is not dealing with one of his imperfections. We see how Judas had a bad habit of taking money for himself. We also see Judas Iscariot's jealous heart.  

We might ask why did Jesus allow Judas stay with his disciples and not kick him. Jesus had hoped that Judas would turn away from his sins. Jesus gave him a chance. Ezekiel 18:23 shows God's heart which is the desire to save. 

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God , and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? 

Ezekiel 18:23 ESV 

Jesus expects us to respond back to his call everyday and repent. This is sanctification. 

Undealt negative habits that seem to be minor are actually points of attraction for more degeneration. (John 12:3). We see Judas is upset over lost money which we could have taken for himself. He developed jealousy over Jesus being shown respect by the woman's anointing Jesus. This perfume was for Jesus, but Judas' untamed coveting and thieving leads him to jealousy. 

These undealt habits which seem to be minor grow to destroy the spiritual sensors for one's salvation (John 13: 21-30).  The Spirit of the Lord works in us to direct us to turn to him persistently. (Gal. 5:16) By ignoring the spirit we start to become insensitive to the urgings of the spirit. 

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 
James 1:14‭-‬15 ESV 

In fact, undealt habits which seem minor turn out to be the window of Satan's attack in the lives of believers. (John 13:27). Satan will not attack us at our strong points. He will go for your weak points. Judas' love of money was his weaknesses and that is how Satan was able to enter his heart. 

Eventually these undealt habits which seem to be minor destroy an individual when it becomes too late. (Matt. 27:1-10) Judas had seen Jesus raise the dead and feed thousands and avoid the Pharisees, so he was surprised and felt remorse that Jesus had been arrested. Judas cannot reverse what he did and hangs himself.  
Jesus is always speaking to us to change; however, Jesus is not going to force you to change. You need to do this yourself. There is a remedy for the developed destructive habits. 

1. 1, Acknowledge the reality; and acknowledge that you have a problem (Prov. 28:13) 
2. 2. Seize the provided platforms for your salvation and restoration. Again you need to choose to act and take advantage of God's deliverance.