The Dangerous Act of Loving the Nations: Matthew 28:16-20 Sunday, November 22, 2015

CONVERSATION GUIDE:

1. What headlines in the last week suggest there is of little faith and faltering understanding into a global need for the ? spiritual giants.

2. What comes to mind when you think about This is reassuring for us because when we share the evangelism or sharing your faith? Has your gospel, people may be hesitant. Some will doubt and experience been positive or negative? never believe. But remember: a obeys, sees and worships . So keep going. 3. How do you determine if Jesus has authority in

your life? APPLY 1. Do you feel prepared to make disciples? How READ Matthew 28:16-20. challenging does it sound to you? What are your roadblocks?

DISCUSS 2. How are you learning to obey everything Jesus 1. What are the 4 all’s of Jesus’ ? commands? Does your obedience to Jesus

convey the great commission to be a command 2. What are 3 important truths about being a or a suggestion? disciple from verses 16 and 17?

3. Have you accepted your great commission? 3. In verse 17, what were some of the disciples Who is one person whom you can equip doubting? How are Jesus’ next words an (disciple) to share the gospel, or one person antidote to this doubt? whom you can ask to disciple you?

4. In the passage, how are the great commission and authority connected? What he commands us to do, he empowers us to do. The command is to “make disciples.” The rest 5. In what way is Jesus always present with us? of the verses tell us how we do that: sharing the gospel, baptizing those who respond and teaching 6. How does Ephesians 1:19-23 express God's them to obey. The resurrection is intimately tied power? What additional fact does with the authority vested in Jesus and the power we 32:17 bring out? now have to share the gospel and make disciples (Eph. 1:19-20). 7. How is our call to worship God related to the commission of evangelism? We can always be more prepared, but sometimes the idea of needing to know more stops us from Matthew 28:16-20 reports Jesus’ appearance to his engaging. Jesus commands us to share our faith - followers in . This is likely the appearance to right now, today. Let us be disciples who obey him, more than 500 people at one time, which Paul trust his Word and witness his power to save. reports in 1 Cor. 15:6. If this were only the eleven disciples, or if this were a fabricated story whose All places are under Jesus’ authority. purpose was to sell the readers on the resurrection, All people are under his authority. surely the author would have omitted the last part of And all people need to know that he is the King, the verse 17: “but some were doubtful.” God of all the earth.

But, even so, the inclusion of that phrase makes the So the question is: For you to obey the great reader wonder, “Why would some be hesitant to commission, what further steps will you take to believe?” D. A. Carson reasons that the failure to become equipped to share the gospel with your understand his repeated predictions of his neighbor? resurrection, compounded with their despair after his crucifixion, worked to maintain their hesitancy. This is the dangerous act of love. Jesus’ resurrection didn’t instantly transform people For his glory. For his honor. For his kingdom.

1 The Dangerous Act of Loving the Nations: Matthew 28:16-20 Sunday, November 22, 2015

HOMEWORK THIS WEEK:

WHY? Day 4: TRAIN To understand God’s heart for the world and our Read Romans 1:21-25, 10:1,12-15 and Acts 1:8. call to take part in the Great Commission. To take steps to share our faith and proclaim the gospel in  When non-Christians turn from God, what do our circles of influence. they turn to? (Romans 1)

Day 1: MEMORIZE  What is God’s heart for the world? What is the Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for connection between God’s heart for the world them is that they may be saved… For “everyone and our responsibility? (Romans 10) who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ~ Romans 10:1, 13  Whom are you called to reach? How would you describe your (their city), (their Day 2: READ country) and (neighboring country)? Matthew 28:18-20; :15; Colossians 3:22; What is the role of both evangelism and John 14:15; Acts 5:29. Reflect on the relationship discipleship in fulfilling the great commission? between the great commission and the biblical principle of obedience. Day 5: PRAY Ask God to give you a greater desire to carry out the Day 3: EXERCISE great commission. Ask him to deepen your trust of Read Matthew 28:16-20, inviting the Holy Spirit to his authority over every neighbor, every coworker, reveal God’s truth to you. Read for greater every “other,” every enemy, every situation. Praise understanding. him for being Lord of all!

 Jesus commands all believers to go and make Jesus has all the authority - in heaven and on earth: disciples. The word Go can be translated “as you  Authority to open the hearts and minds of his go.” In your life, where is your “as you go?” people. (:45)  Authority to reveal the Father. (Matt 11:27, Luke 10:22)  Like some who saw the risen Jesus and doubted,  Authority to give eternal life to whom he have you ever had to overcome uncertainty or chooses. (John 10:27-28) hesitation to follow Jesus and worship Him?  Authority to forgive sins. (Luke 5:20, 7:48)  Authority to mediate to the Father. (1 Tim 2:5)  Authority to send the Holy Spirit. (John 14:26,  What is one of the clearest ways you have seen 15:26) God’s power and authority at work around you?  Authority to raise us up on the last day. (John 6:40)

Write a summary of your salvation story. Journal Heavenly Father, as we continue praying for our with gratitude that God saved you, and you are now church and our neighbors, we seek to be a witness - and forever - in Christ. Ask God for courage to to those around us. We ask for your help. We need share what you wrote this week with someone. you. Help us not to rush ahead in our own strength. We cannot do this work apart from you. Holy Spirit, we need you to fill us. Please unite your strength with our weakness. By the power of your name, Jesus. .

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