Best Sermon Resources

Precept Austin has the best set of online commentaries for message preparation anywhere.

http://www.preceptaustin.org

The Audience, Aim, and Appeal of the Invitation or Altar Call

From Lifeway

 

Written by Roger Willmore

This article is excerpted by permission from the "ministerial helps" section of the new Holman CSB Minister’s Bible.

---

The altar call, or the public invitation, is an essential part of the pastor’s preaching ministry. The Apostle Paul reminds us that the invitation for response comes from God and not from the preacher. Though the pastor extends the invitation, the call itself comes from God.

“In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God’” (2 Co 5:19-20 HCSB).

HCSB Minister’s Bible: Black

 

The pastor must keep the ultimate aim of his sermon in mind. He is not preaching simply to give information or even to inspire. The pastor preaches with a purpose. He must call for a verdict. The word he has preached demands a response. The following will determine what kind of altar call the pastor extends:

The Audience
A pastor’s pulpit ministry and his pastoral ministry go hand in hand. Jesus described the unique relationship of shepherd to sheep and pastor to people when He said: “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father” (Jn 10:14). Since the pastor lives among his people and ministers to them on a daily basis, he will issue an invitation that reflects his knowledge of their needs as well as his compassion and personal concern for them.

The Aim
The ultimate aim of the invitation is to provide those who heard the sermon the opportunity to express obedience to the revealed truth of God’s Word. Before the altar call is made, be sure that the truth has been presented clearly. The focus of the appeal will be determined by the varying and changing needs within the lives of those in the congregation. Since a sermon should always call for a response, the subject of the sermon will also determine the nature of the decisions the pastor encourages the people to make. Examples of decisions include:

• To receive Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior

• To be baptized as a public demonstration of obedience to Jesus as Lord

• To join the church fellowship (explain the method by which members are received)

• To repent of a specific sin that is hindering fellowship with God

• To renew commitment to grow toward spiritual maturity

• To pray for a lost person

• To request prayer for a personal need

• To respond to a specific challenge issued in the sermon

The Appeal
The pastor will use different types of appeals to his people week by week. This does not mean that every person who hears the sermon needs to respond in a public way, but it is certain that some will need that opportunity. The appeal can call for a variety of public and private responses such as:

• Come forward and speak to the pastor and/or a counselor

• Raise your hand to indicate response

• Pray a prayer silently (as the pastor prays a portion at a time)

• Complete a response card (explain where the card is to be placed)

• Write the decision in your Bible

• Come to the altar to pray

• Move to another place in the worship center to meditate on your decision

• Go to an inquiry or counseling room

Finally, be prepared with counselors and resources to assist those who respond to the invitation. A guide for decision counselors is found on the following pages. Have a follow-up plan to assure that those who make public decisions have adequate support and encouragement.

The pastor must always preach and extend the invitation with the same spirit as Paul when he wrote: “When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power” (1 Co 2:1-5 HCSB).

---

Roger D. Willmore has served as a pastor for more than 30 years and serves as "Minister at Large" for Olford Ministries International in Memphis Tenn. Dr. Willmore has written numerous articles for Growing Churches, Proclaim, Church Administration magazines, and numerous online articles and sermons for LifeWay.com. He currently serves as the Senior Pastor at Deerfoot Baptist Church in Trussville, Ala.

Some Misinformation has been spread

and in defence of another church and pastor, I am publishing the proposed itinerary.

The program was :

Sat  22             3.35pm Dr Jerry Arrives at  Airport

(stays with Pastor Graham)

Sun 23             9.30am Speaking at Coast Church & Lunch

 

                        6-7.30pm Speaking at TableTalk

Mon 24            Free

Tues 25            9.30 Homegroup & visitation

Wed 26            1-2pm RE Primary

Tues/Wed?       Evening BBQ men’s meeting

Thurs 27           9.30am  Homegroup

3.30ff Kids Club at  Coast church

        

Frid 28             RE  Primary

                        Youth Groups 6.30-10pm at Coast Church

Sat 29              7.30am Mens Breakfast Coast Church

                        5.30 pm ff Community Dinner Graham’s church

Sun 30             9.50 am Church Anniversary Service

                        6-7.30pm TableTalk

Mon 31            4.05pm Dr Jerry flies from Airport back to Sydney. 

The pastor wrote “We will delete the children parts of it and try to find a few other adult opportunities. He doesn’t seem quite as flexible as I thought and hoped he might be.”

 

Please note

I counted 7 opportunities to speak to adults in church services  (table talk is a church service conducted at coffee tables in the church over a meal with opportunity for folks to discuss the evangelistic message). or small groups…  or special men’s functions  (BBQ’s and breakfasts).

There were 2 preaching opportunities on Sunday the 23rd, and 4 preaching opportunities on the 29th and 30th.

There were a further 5 opportunities to speak to children and youth. these were cancelled when he protested against children and youth being included in evangelistic activities.

He stated in an email “I  am just fine with speaking to the men’s group at [the church] on Wednesday.  I am, however, NOT prepared to  speak to school groups or Kids Club’s.  This is not my area of ministry.  My ministry has always been “preaching/teaching” expository messages to a congregation or group of adults. “

August 27-31 2009

3 Eternal Impact Studies

Gifted Membership

1. Think of a time when you ministered to someone else. What did this opportunity to serve mean to you?

2. Read Galatians 6:1-6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14. List the duties of these early Christian leaders.

3. Read Exodus 19:3-6 and 1 Peter 2:9. What does God promise His people? What does God expect from His people?

4. Read Romans 12:1-6; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. Who has spiritual gifts? How did they get them? How should people use their spiritual gifts?

5. Read Ephesians 4:11-16 and Hebrews 13:20-21. How are people equipped to serve in your church? How does this “equipping” enable people to do more of the church’s work? How does equipping lead to the church’s fulfilling its mission?

Worship

1. What confusion is there over the practice of worship today?

2. What are the severe consequences of false worship?

Genesis 4:5. Exodus 32. 1 Kings 11:31-33.

Jeremiah 1:16; 16:11; 22:9. Romans 1:25.

But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers (John 4:23).

3. True Worship involves

Reverence. How would you define the fear of the Lord?

2 Chron 19:7, Psa 19:9, Psa 111:10, Prov 1:7, Prov 8:13, Prov 14:26,

Prov 22:4 Acts 19:31, 2 Cor 5:11

Service. latreuo…, denotes the idea ‘to work, to labor, or to serve.’ In the Old Testament this service was most often priestly service. In the New Testament we are told that we are all priests of God (1 Peter 2:5,9). Romans 12:1. What service do we offer?

Hebrews adds to this the sacrifice of praise, of doing good and of sharing (Hebrews 13:15,16, Ephesians 5: 18-20). John 14:21 We show our love for Christ by…?

Giving How is this described as worship? 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”  Our giving is to be planned.  We should not give because we feel we have to give.  Nor should we resent that we need to give to please God.  We should be glad that we can give to the Lord.

From Opposition to Victory

1. During this study what have you learned about what the Bible says about the early church? What have you learned about your own church?

What have you learned about your own role in your church?

What action will you take to make a greater eternal impact through your church in your community and the world?

Think of a time when you worked hard for a personal victory. How did you feel when you reached your goal? How were able to discipline yourself to reach that goal?

2. Read Acts 20:17-24. What opposition did leaders in the early church experience? How did they stay focused on their mission rather than the opposition? What opposition do churches in the twenty-first century experience? How can they stay focused on their mission? What is the same about the opposition the church faced two thousand years ago and today? What is different?

3. If you are aware of individuals who create opposition or disrupt unity in the church, pray for them now and every day this week. Ask God to help you be a positive example in the life of a disgruntled church member.

4. Read Ephesians 1:15-23. What did Paul pray for the church at Ephesus? If your church could do anything at all, with no thoughts of financial or human limits, what would you like to do?

5. Read Ephesians 1:3-14. What has God done for people and for the church? What is stopping your church (and others) from attempting great things for God? What can your church do to reach its potential?

6 . Read Ephesians 1:20-23. What did Paul write in these verses about the church and its Head? What power does Jesus have? How does Christ choose to work on earth?

7 . Read Revelation 1:17-18. What is the good news Christ wanted John to write?

As John wrote about the problems in the seven churches, he mentioned tolerating evil, false teachers/teaching, abandoning their first love, idol worship, immorality, and others.

What is your church doing well? What cautions do you think John might write, as Christ led, to warn your church about practices it needs to change?

Throughout Revelation, John calls the churches to remain faithful to God’s Word. How is your church doing that?

Eternal Impact Crusades

 

Please pray for

Dr. Sidney Nichols Director Of Missions Calhoun Baptist Association  at

August 23-26 Forbes Baptist Church

August 27-30 Parkes Baptist Church

 

 

 

 

Dr. Harold Fanning of Autumnwood Baptist Church  and music minister David Hopkins at

August 23-26 Molong Baptist Church

August 27-30 Cowra Baptist Church 

 

 

 

Dr. Mike Stephens Burnt Hickory Baptist Church and Music Minister Barry Cook at

August 23-30 Gloucester Baptist Church

 

 

 

Dr. Jerry Tyre Orr Street Baptist Church Alexander City at

August 23-26 Ballina Baptists

August 27-30 Tweed Coast Baptist Church

 

 

Steve Poteat of Lake Martin Baptist Church at

August 23-26 Scone Baptist Church

August 27-30 N. Cessnock Baptist Church, Kurri Kurri Congregational church  

 

 Dr. Barry Cosper and Music minister  Bob Smith at

Sunday 23rd  Heathcote Engadine Baptist church

August 24-26, 29, 30 Tanilba Bay Baptist Church  

Friday August 28th Newcastle Baptist Tabernacle

Sunday 30th Villawood Baptist Church,

Monday 31^st August Heathcote Engadine Baptist Church

Mike Sanders

August 23-26 Jannali Congregational Church

August 27-30 Kogarah Bay Congregational Church

Saturday night at Villawood Baptist Church

 

 

Join us at

The Newcastle Baptist Tabernacle  7:00 pm

Thursday 27th August  Steve Poteat:

Friday 28th  Dr. Barry Cosper

Saturday Night 29th Steve Poteat:

Sunday Night 30th  Steve Poteat:

ETERNAL IMPACT 3 Character Traits of the Kingdom-Centred Church

 

Does character matter in the world today? What evidence do you see that character does or does not matter? Today we will look at the early church’s character and those character traits that God desires churches to have today.

1. Read Acts 2:41-42 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

God’s power and the people’s prayers are linked together throughout the book of Acts.

Read Acts 6:1-6. What were the reasons for enlisting deacons?

Apparently the apostles were both praying and leading the church in prayer. Do your leaders spend more time in ministry or in preaching and in prayer?

How would you describe your church’s prayer life? How would you describe the way God is working in your church right now?

2. Read Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

What were the characteristics of the early church? What characteristics does your church have? Thank God for all the gifts He has given your church. Pray for His help in overcoming any undesirable characteristics.

3. Read Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

This verse links intensive study with those who are called Christians. What are the strong points of your church’s Bible and doctrine teaching ministry? How could it improve? How can your church get more people involved in studying God’s Word and learning sound doctrine?

4. Read Acts 2:46-47. Worship wasn’t a one-hour, once-a-week event for people in the early church. It was a part of who they were, of what they did each day. How important is worship in your life? in the life of your church? What can your church do to teach people the importance of worship? What can you do to ensure that people connect with God when they come to your worship services?

5. Read Acts 4:1-22. What were the circumstances for Peter’s preaching?

In the early church the spread of the Gospel was accompanied by opposition, imprisonment, persecution, and even death. Have you ever suffered because you told others about Jesus? What keeps more people from telling others the good news? Whom will you tell this week?

Matthew 28:16-20 THE KING IS ALIVE—GO TELL

 

Matthew 28:16 The 11 disciples travelled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

In his novel, The House Of the Dead, Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevski wrote that to utterly crush a man, give him work that is completely meaningless. “If he had to move a heap of earth from one place to another and back again – I believe the convict would hang himself . . . preferring rather to die than endure . . . such humiliation, shame and torture.” The Commandant of a Nazi concentration camp must have read Dostoyevski. Hundreds of Jewish prisoners had survived in disease infested barracks on little food and gruesome, backbreaking work. Each day the prisoners were marched to the compound’s giant factory, where tons of human waste and garbage were distilled into alcohol to be used as a fuel additive. Even worse than the nauseating odor of stewing sludge was the realization that they were fueling the Nazi war machine. One day Allied aircraft bombers destroyed the factory. The next morning hundreds of inmates were herded to one end of its charred remains. A Nazi officer commanded them to shovel sand into carts and drag it to the other end of the plant. The next day the process was repeated in reverse; they were ordered to move the huge pile of sand back to the other end of the compound. “A mistake has been made,” they thought. “Stupid swine.” Day after day they hauled the pile of sand from one end of the camp to the other. Dostoyevski’s prediction came true. One old man began crying uncontrollably; the guards hauled him away. Another screamed until he was beaten into silence. One who had survived three years ran. Guards ordered him to stop as he ran toward the electrified fence. Prisoners cried out, but there was a blinding flash and a terrible noise as smoke puffed from his smoldering flesh. In the days that followed, dozens of the prisoners went mad. They ran from their work, only to be shot by guards or electrocuted by the fence. The Commandant smugly remarked that soon there would be no more need to use the ovens. Human beings are born with a compelling need for meaning and purpose. We cling to life with dogged resolve while work is meaningful, even if it supports that which we hate. But meaninglessness and purposelessness destroy the mind and ruin life.

Have you ever seen or been involved in an event which quickly and unexpectedly turned from defeat to victory? We have watched televised coverage of storms and earthquakes when an unexpected survivor was unearthed. We can only image the relief and profound joy. The agonizing defeat of Golgotha is transformed into the Triumph of Galilee. These verses offer magnificent conclusion to the Gospel of Matthew but it is, in fact more of a beginning than an end.

This final section picks up two themes which are at heart of Matthew’s Gospel. In 1:1-17 Jesus was presented as successor to royal dignity and 2:1-12 portrays him as true “King of the Jews.” In due course he entered Jerusalem as her King (21:1-11), but that claim sent Him to the cross, where it was repeated in ridicule (27:37). But now we know the rest of the story. The crucifixion and resurrection are the prelude to the greatest story ever told or conceived—that the message and rule of the resurrected King will be extended to all nations on earth. But wonder of wonders you are part of that unfolding story.

The stress here is on “all”: 1) All authority. 2) All nations. 3) All things. 4) All time.

1. All Obedience—the Prerequisite of Mission (16)

Perhaps you noticed the focus on “11.” Attention is called to the tragedy of Judas. The betrayer is no longer among them. His fate was sealed by his unbelief and disobedience. But don’t become distracted, the focus is on the 11 who have made their way to Galilee, to the place “where Jesus had directed them.” (See 36:32 and 28:10). In spite of their grief and their doubt (note v. 17), they still obeyed Christ.

We are sometimes deterred in our mission because of our fear and doubt. We wonder whether our neighbor is just too hard for God. Will our witness make any difference?

What will my little effort matter? We are witnesses and thus we must make a radical commitment to be obedient to tell our story.

Andrew Reed (1788-1862). The hymn was “Holy Ghost, with Light Divine.” Stanza five brought great conviction to my heart and the inspiration for this editorial. Here is verse 5: Holy Spirit, all divine, Dwell within this heart of mine; Cast down every idol throne, Reign supreme and reign alone.

Believe it or not I spend a lot of time trying to “cast down” idol thrones. I desperately want Christ to reign in my heart without a rival. Often it is the good that attempts to become a substitute for the best.

Years ago someone wrote etiquette expert Emily Post and asked her, “What is the correct procedure when one is invited to the White House but has a previous engagement?”

Post replied, “An invitation to dine at the White House is a command, and it automatically cancels any other engagement.” I want my devotion to Jesus Christ to cancel out all other rivals

Piper, “Three billion people today are outside Jesus Christ.  Two-thirds of them have no viable Christian witness in their culture.  If they are to hear-and Christ commands that they hear-then cross-cultural missionaries will have to be sent and paid for.  All the wealth needed to send this new army of good news ambassadors is already in the church.  If we, like Paul, are content with the simple necessities of life, hundreds of millions of dollars in the church would be released to take the gospel to the frontiers.  The revolution of joy and freedom it would cause at home would be the best local witness imaginable.”

Baptists first arrived in Russia in 1860. They pushed carts full of Bibles from town to town and were arrested every time they preached. Today Russia has close to one million Evangelicals. Why? Because someone was obedient to the gospel. Someone obeyed the command of the Lord.

2. All Worship—The Impetus for our Mission (17)

Their first impulse must be ours—“they worshipped Him.” Bible is brutally honest—“some doubted.” Greek word does not indicate a settled unbelief but a state of uncertainty or hesitation.

They fell on their face prostrate, as it were, before Him. Some of them doubting until He came near because they had not yet seen Him after His resurrection. But when He came near, surely their doubt was erased. And they, too, worshiped. It is necessary for one who would fulfill the great commission to have a worshiping heart. That is to say his heart or her heart is wholly set on Jesus Christ. All else is lost. All else fades away. When they on that hillside saw the risen Jesus Christ, all their shattered dreams were regathered, all their disappointment was instantly ended. Their sorrow was turned into unbelievable joy. It was a reversal of every emotion they were feeling and perhaps there was worship that occurred on that day that is equalled by few other worshiping occasions in all of human history. They saw the risen Christ and everything in them was born anew. They had a focus that was singly on Christ. Like Paul has said, “I am determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Who said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Their focus was so clear. Who said, “That I may know Him in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” It was that single mindedness that made the difference. They like David had set the Lord before them and all else disappeared. That’s what it takes, a worshiping heart.

Worship proceeds from understanding of who God is—He is the resurrected and rightful King and thus deserves worship. He alone is worthy of our worship. It is the profound privilege of worship that lays the foundation for our mission. The knowledge that He is sovereign God, the only rightful King compels us to tell the nations.

Crown him with many crowns, The Lamb upon his throne; Hark, how the heavenly anthem drowns

All music but its own! Awake, my soul, and sing Of him who died for thee, And hail him as thy matchless King

Through all eternity.

Crown him the Son of God, Before the worlds began, And ye who tread where he hath trod, Crown him the Son of man; Who ev’ry grief hath known That wrings the human breast, And takes and bears them for his own,

That all in him may rest.

Crown him the Lord of life, Who triumphed o’er the grave And rose victorious in the strife

For those he came to save; His glories now we sing, Who died and rose on high,

Who died eternal life to bring, And lives that death may die.

Crown him the Lord of Heav’n Enthroned in worlds above, Crown him the King to whom is giv’n

The wondrous name of love. Crown him with many crowns, As thrones before him fall;

Crown him, ye kings, with many crowns, For he is King of all.

3. All Authority—The Basis of our Mission (18)

This is the first “all” statement. It will be followed by three similar ones. “All nations,” “teach them to obey all things,” and “I am with you always.”

The verb tense is ingressive aorist, “has been given.” The prophecy that the Son of Man would be enthroned as ruler of the world has not been fulfilled by virtue of the

resurrection. You may recall that Satan once offered him “all the kingdoms of the world and men’s glory.” Now, by virtue of His obedience He has received far more than Satan could offer—He has received all authority in heaven and earth.

It is this authority that is the basis of our mission.

“All authority!” It is because He is Lord, and He is risen from the dead to prove He is Lord, that He has all authority to command you and me and the church as a whole.
The Authority of Jesus Establishes the Priority of the Church. Jesus has authority over the church. depends upon the decisions and actions of each specific congregation.

The Authority of Jesus Provides the Ability of the Church. power by which a church can function as a church. Human strength, abilities, and resources alone cannot sustain the work of the church. Is the church charting its course in response to institutional principles of success, suggestions for good public relations, or data devised to assure popularity? How much does the church depend upon God?

The Authority of Jesus Shapes the Identity of the Church. “they worshiped him, but some doubted.” sheer humanity of the people Jesus chose to do his work. strugglers, doubters, and failures in the crowd. But Jesus was not put off by this reality. Weaknesses, mistakes, and even sins were rejected as disqualifications for ministry. The identity of people on mission is shaped by the authority of Jesus.

The Authority of Jesus Demands Activity by the Church. God calls the church to be a people on mission. Not just a people, but a people on mission. Obedience to “The Great Commission” is not an option for people earnestly desiring to live and function as a church. The authority of Jesus shapes the very identity of the church, even its priorities, power, and ministry.

David Bosch notes that the word ‘mission’ was used only of the Trinity in the first sixteen centuries of the Church’s existence. It was used in the context of the sending of the Son by the Father and of the Holy Spirit by the Father and the Son.5 By derivation it came to be used of those sent by God and sent by the Lord Jesus Christ. After His resurrection Jesus Christ said to the disciples: ‘As the Father has sent me, so I send you’; or, ‘As the Father made me a missionary, so I make you ‘missionaries’ (John 20:21). The word ‘send’ is a critical one for understanding who Jesus is, as the Sent One from the Father, and what our mission is; as sent ones of the Risen Christ.
The English word ‘mission’ derives from the Latin ‘missio’, a sending. So it involves a sender, a person or persons sent by the sender, those to whom one is sent, and the assignment to be fulfilled. The Sender concept has the presumption of authority: someone has the authority to send, someone else. This gives us a direct link with Matthew 28: 18-20, the ‘Great Commission where authority is indeed linked with sending: ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations’. Christianity (like some other world-religions) is intrinsically ‘missionary’. Mission is not an optional extra for Christians and the Church. The sent ones have a task. Their task as designated by the scriptures is to ‘preach the gospel’ 7, to bring good news. The imperative to mission is God’s deliverance in Jesus, In other words, evangelism is part of mission and should not be thought of as another definition of mission, but as part of it. Evangelism is the proclamation of salvation in Christ with a view ‘to leading others to turn from sin and their self-centred lives to trust, in Christ, to announce the forgiveness of sins offered in Christ and invite those who respond to become members of a community of fellow learners of Christ.”
Some, however, like John Calvin, were more evangelistic than has usually been depicted. According to Calvin the church has an integral role in the Missio Dei and ‘all God’s children’ must be involved in this mission. Believers have a sacred responsibility: ‘Is not that the highest honour that God could grant us, that after enabling us to feel his goodness, he should want us to become streams and conduits of his grace, that others might be participants of it?’

4. All Nations—The Scope of our Mission (19)

The universal lordship of the King mandates a universal mission. The kingdom of the Son of man described by Daniel (7:14) requires “disciples of all nations.” This has been anticipated throughout the Gospel—a people of God where membership is not based on race or ethnicity but on a relationship with God through His Messiah.

The imperative is to disciple the nations. Baptizing are teaching translate participles which specify what is involved in the disciple-making process. John’s baptism had been a preparatory one and now Jesus institutes one with a greater allegiance. It is “into the name” of The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. The experience of God in all three persons is the essential basis of discipleship. Interestingly “name” is singular which underlines the unity of Father, Son, and Spirit.

Up until now Jesus alone has been the teacher. Now disciples are to take over His role as teacher. Our teaching is not abstract—it is “observe all that I have commanded you.”

Helwys was imprisoned in Newgate prison 1612 and was dead by 1616. His beliefs had cost him dearly. His death in this way became a model for the Baptist cause, demonstrating that the concern for preaching the gospel to their fellow citizens, no matter what the personal cost was a high and holy value.
Later English Baptists exemplified this same heart beat;
Henry Denne at Fenstanton, a vigorous and educated Baptist leader, a former Anglican clergyman, was appointed a ‘messenger’ to be engaged in personal evangelism in other districts. 13 Denne insisted that ‘evangelism was of the essence of Baptist churchmanship’14.
Hanserd Knollys (1609-91 who signed the revised version of the London Confession in 1646.) appeals to his hearers: “Open your heart to Christ when he knocks at the Door of your souls, and calls you to come to him, to receive him, and let him come into your hearts, and dwell in your hearts by his Holy Spirit, and sanctifying Grace … Let the LORD Jesus Christ have the Throne, and be exalted above ALL in your souls, that every Thought may be brought into Captivity to the Obedience of Christ.”15.

John Bunyan’s (1628-88) famous classic Pilgrim‘s Progress has been interpreted as having an essentially evangelistic purpose. He wanted to reach an audience who would never listen to plain preaching so embellished his story of Christian’s journey to the Heavenly City with allegory. He wanted to evangelize the sophisticated and carnal Englishman who looked for ‘truth within a fable’ and for those who ‘read riddles’ and ‘love picking meat’. He wrote evangelistically in The Pilgrim‘s Progress by demonstrating the life’s journey of one that attains ‘the everlasting prize’. This missions and evangelistic emphasis are indeed ‘the beating of the Baptist heart’.
Baptists are by nature evangelistic. If a so called Baptist church is not committed to evangelism it is not, by definition, a Baptist Church! Making disciples is not complete until it leads to a life of observing Jesus’ commands. Are you involved in discipling the nations? Are you discipling your children? How?

5. Always The Promise—Eternal Impact

The promise is not simply His presence, it is His eternal presence. Don’t miss this! Ezekiel ended his prophecy with the assurance of Jehovah Shammah—“The Lord is there” (Ezek. 48:35). Gospels open with Immanuel—“God with us” (Matt. 1:24). Assurance of resurrection and ultimate victory of His kingdom is promised to His disciples. Now look at Revelation 21:3-4 and 21:22-27. Do you understand the impact of this promise? By praying, going, giving, and sending to the nations, you can live this life with eternal impact. What are you doing today that has eternal significance?

When missionary Ray Dibble and his wife left Nigeria at the beginning of World War II, they had just finished translating the New Testament into the Igala language. There were only six typewritten copies of the New Testament and a handful of Christians when they left. Returning after the war the Dibbles found fifty congregations. Tribesmen had made at least one hundred copies of the New Testament by hand. Some pages were torn, so some tribesmen had committed whole gospels to memory that they might not be lost. The believers were persecuted by nonbelievers and called “The Word of God People.” They never gave up, and they deserved the title!

If we go, He will go with us! If we go, His gospel will spread! If we go, God’s power will be at work to do great things! If we go, the Church will become a major force in the world.

How involved are you in taking the gospel to every creature?

One of the most poignant missionary stories is about Bill Borden. Are you familiar with condensed milk and “Elsie the cow”? Borden’s family began the company. Bill’s father was active in real estate after the great Chicago fire, and it was from this, not milk, that their fortune grew. Borden’s parents raised him in a mansion on Chicago’s “Gold Coast” within walking distance of Moody Church. At the age of 25 he was worth $40 million in today’s dollars. Borden went to Yale and was president of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society his senior year.

He was voted third out of 800 for being the hardest worker, fourth for the most energetic, ninth as the most to be admired, and seventh as the one who had done the most for Yale. Bill’s mother was devout and taught him the Bible. Before entering college, at age 17, his parents sent him on a 10-month global tour. He left San Francisco in September 1904, and when they reached London they went to hear R.A. Torrey preach at a revival. Torrey gave an invitation to those who had never publicly indicated that they had surrendered all to Christ. Bill stood up with several others and later wrote home, “We sang the chorus: ‘I surrender all, I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.” Torrey gave five points for daily living, with the last being “Go to work.”Borden decided to do just that. Back in Yale, Borden founded and privately financed a mission for down-and-out men. One man later said Borden talked to everyone. At Bible conferences he volunteered to wait on tables. He had a devoted but simple prayer life, and was tempted to buy a car but decided it was an unjustifiable luxury. Unknown to his family, he gave his entire inheritance to missions. a college lecture he heard Samuel Zwemer describe the sweep of Moslem influence throughout the Near and Far East. Zwemer said those 70 million people were not lost because they had proved too fanatical or because they refused to listen, but because “none of us has ever had the courage to go to those lands and win them to Jesus Christ.”

After graduating from Princeton Seminary, he left for service in Egypt. His mother wondered on the eve of his departure if he had done the right thing in giving up everything he owned: “I fell asleep asking myself again and again, ‘Is it, after all, worthwhile?’” “I heard a voice was speaking in my heart, answering the question with these words: ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son….’” Soon after Bill Borden arrived in Cairo, he contracted cerebral meningitis and died. The news shocked the world. Accounts of his life and death were written in many languages. An editorial in a Richmond, Va., paper said, “His investment has borne rich returns already. There are thousands of talented and favored young men who will, in the light of Borden’s conception of investment values, come to a new view of Christian service.”

Among Bill’s papers was a poem his mother had given him on his 17th birthday. It summed up what he did and what he was: Just as I am, young, strong and free, To be the best that I can be For truth and righteousness and Thee – Lord of my life, I come. Was it just a waste?

Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevski wrote that to utterly crush a man, give him work that is completely meaningless. None of your work is meaningless, if it points someone to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord!

None of your work is meaningless, if you turn someone from death to life!

None of your work is meaningless, if you are obeying the risen Lord.

None of your work is meaningless, if you worship Him who to know is life indeed!

None of your work is me

Eternal Impact Bible Studies

ETERNAL IMPACT 1. FROM FOUNDATION TO MISSION

The name of this study is Eternal Impact. Many things make an impact in our world today. Name some of them. List these. How big is the impact of each? How long does that impact last? What do you think makes the greatest impact? What makes an eternal impact?

1. Talk about a time you were physically lost. How did you feel? What did you do?

Have you used maps from the Internet to help you know each turn to take to reach your destination? Did this increase your confidence in reaching your destination on time? Have you ever used a GPS (global positioning system) when you drive? How does such a system change your confidence about going to a place you’ve never been before?

The New Testament book of Acts is God’s road map for the church to accomplish God’s goal of reaching all people in every nation on earth with the good news of Jesus Christ. With God’s guidebook, Acts and other books in the Bible, we can work with confidence in leading and growing our churches.

2. Read Matthew 16:13-19.

The Church’s One foundation is…. 1 Corinthians 3:11 because no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid—that is, Jesus Christ.

What do the words of these verses say about Peter’ question and Jesus’ response? How would you apply these verses to the church today?

3. Pull your keys out of your pocket or purse. What do they represent? Perhaps they mean ownership of a car or home or business or part ownership as you partner with a lending institution. Or they may mean permission to enter someone else’s home or business. Inverse 19, what is the significance of the “keys of the kingdom”? Who has them? Who owns the kingdom? Who has permission to use them? What responsibility comes with the permission given to holders of the keys?

4. List types of power.

Recall a time when you “lost power:’ How did you feel? What did you do?

Read Daniel 7:16; Matthew 7:29; 8:9; 28:18-20; and Ephesians 3:8-11.

What is the source of a Christian’s power? What power did Jesus have while on earth? How are Christians today to access and use that power?

5. What divides churches today?

Read Matthew 24:14; 28:18-20; Acts 2:44-47; 4:12; and 2 Peter 3:9. What mission should unify the church? If someone were to look at the budget, schedule, and priorities of your church, would they conclude that it exists primarily to complete the discipling of the nations? What is your church’s plan for discipling the nations?

 

 

ETERNAL IMPACT 2. FROM JERUSALEM TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
What is the greatest distance you have ever travelled from the place where you were born? What was the purpose of your journey? In what ways did you represent Christ during your travels?
1. Read Acts 1:3. The “convincing proofs” (NASB) that Jesus is the Messiah, God’s only Son are His resurrection appearances. What was the convincing proof that led you to belief in Jesus? How have you shared that convincing proof with others?
2. Read Luke 24:45-47 and Acts 1:4-8. What role did obedience have among Jesus’ followers after He was gone? What is the evidence of their obedience? What are the expectations for Christ followers today in obeying God’s Word and Jesus’ commands? What is the evidence of believers’ obedience today?

3. Read Acts 2:1-4. Where were Jesus’ followers when they received the power of the Holy Spirit? When has your church experienced the Holy Spirit’s power? What happened in individual lives? What happened to the church as a whole?

4. Read Joel 2:27-32 and Acts 2:17. In our post-Pentecost era, the power of God’s Holy Spirit is available to all who call Jesus Lord and Saviour. Do you see God’s power being poured out in the world today? Why or why not?

5. Acts 2:32. Peter witnessed Jesus’ resurrection. He was there to see the risen Christ. We know this is true from what Peter and the other disciples told us. But we also know because of God’s grace and work in our own lives, bringing together what God has done throughout history and what He is doing in our lives today. What is your message, your witness, based on — historical events when Jesus came to earth, your own salvation experience, and what God is doing in your life today?

6. If you could do anything you wanted to do to serve God, what would you do? What prevents you? What can you do about this?

7. Where are you seeing God at work in others lives?

Pray that each person present will hear and obey God’s call to tell someone about Jesus this week.

Make Your Life Count