“Go and Grow!”
Calvary Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Stephen P. Samuel, Senior Pastor/Teacher
On last week we wanted to illustrate how God is calling his people to respond to the awesome work of Christ. We suggested that such an awesome work by God on our behalf as displayed in the atoning work of Christ Jesus requires a proper response from those of us who have been redeemed. It is important that we remember that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners and His work has justified us in the sight of God. Therefore, our salvation is established in the pure grace of God and calls for us to share this grace with others.
We took note of the fact that the stone being rolled away from the empty tomb is a sign of the mission that would follow. Remember, Christ did not need the stone to be rolled away so that He could come out of the tomb, but instead the stone was rolled away so that Mary and the others c ould enter the tomb to see that He was not dead. The revelation that they received from the angel along with the evidence that they saw in the empty tomb sparked in them an urgency to go and tell the disciples. Christ’s disciples were then challenged to respond to the message of Mary as she spread the “Good News.” We saw last week that there were three things we must do if we are to respond properly to the resurrection:
We respond to the Resurrection in three distinct ways:
1. We must RECOGNIZE who Christ is.
2. We must RECEIVE our charge.
3. We must REMEMBER our RESPONSIBILITY to others.
Scripture Lesson: Matthew 28: 16-20
When the disciples truly recognized and believed Christ, He was then able to give them their mission. In this lesson we want to introduce the mission of all believers and examine how the Church of today can better seek to engage in the work of “Going and Growing!”
Matthew records the fact that when the disciples met Jesus in a secret place in the mountains of Galilee they received what we have come to know as the Great Commission. It is a beautiful illustration of the need for private time with the Lord. The Psalmist suggests that in a time of trouble we can find refuge in the Secret Place of the Most High. And although enemies be all around us, we can yet offer sacrifices of joy unto Him (Psalms 27:4,5). In This secret place, Jesus gathers with His disciples and gives them a mission to change the world. We see in this text the birth place of the Church. Even before Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost and 3000 came to follow the Apostles Doctrine, the seeds of the church were planted in the hearts of the disciples with this Great Commission. Before the Church can ever be made real for the world, it must first become real to the disciples (US!!!). The charge that was given to the disciples is the same charge given to us. Let’s look closely at the words of Jesus.
1. Note verse 18: “All authority is given to me...” Key word is authority or power: exousia in Greek means “delegated influence.” This is important when you connect it with verse 19.
2. Note verse 19: “Therefore, Go...” Because all authority belongs to Christ, we have “delegated influence” when we Go in the name of Christ. Remember, Paul suggests that we are ambassadors for Christ. We walk in the world with the delegated authority from Christ. Well, why do we have this great influence?
3. Note verse 19: “Go and make disciples of all...” We are disciples of Christ, and now the disciples of Christ are called to make disciples of the world. A disciple is a student who is taught by a teacher. Once the disciple has been taught by the teacher, he/she is no longer a student, but now has become a teacher. It is a cycle that must be fostered in the Church. We have been blessed, and so now we are challenged to bless others. As we have received from God, so we should give to others. Moreover, the challenge to “Go and make disciples” has no limitations. If there is any evidence for Church growth and progress it is found in the words, “all nations.” Calvary must work to reach all. How do we reach all? We begin with our community, city, state, nation.
4. Note verse 19, 20: How do we make disciples? Baptizing and Teaching. This is why we are a “Missionary Baptist Church.” Our very name represents all the Christ has commanded us to do. Missionary + Baptist + Church. Baptism is an outward sign of inward faith. We must move people to not be ashamed of their faith. To be baptized is to join in fellowship with all believers and with Christ. Moreover, while baptizing is to join in the fellowship, Teaching is what keeps us in fellowship.
Let us be moved to “Go and Grow” as the Lord has commanded us. There are some who would say that the Church should just grow spontaneously as the Lord would see fit. However, this scripture suggests that Church Growth is something that we must plan for and work on. If we take seriously the command of God and plan for growth, as well as, work for growth, then God says, “I will add to the Church such as should be saved.”
Rev. Stephen P. Samuel, Senior Pastor/Teacher
On last week we wanted to illustrate how God is calling his people to respond to the awesome work of Christ. We suggested that such an awesome work by God on our behalf as displayed in the atoning work of Christ Jesus requires a proper response from those of us who have been redeemed. It is important that we remember that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners and His work has justified us in the sight of God. Therefore, our salvation is established in the pure grace of God and calls for us to share this grace with others.
We took note of the fact that the stone being rolled away from the empty tomb is a sign of the mission that would follow. Remember, Christ did not need the stone to be rolled away so that He could come out of the tomb, but instead the stone was rolled away so that Mary and the others c ould enter the tomb to see that He was not dead. The revelation that they received from the angel along with the evidence that they saw in the empty tomb sparked in them an urgency to go and tell the disciples. Christ’s disciples were then challenged to respond to the message of Mary as she spread the “Good News.” We saw last week that there were three things we must do if we are to respond properly to the resurrection:
We respond to the Resurrection in three distinct ways:
1. We must RECOGNIZE who Christ is.
2. We must RECEIVE our charge.
3. We must REMEMBER our RESPONSIBILITY to others.
Scripture Lesson: Matthew 28: 16-20
When the disciples truly recognized and believed Christ, He was then able to give them their mission. In this lesson we want to introduce the mission of all believers and examine how the Church of today can better seek to engage in the work of “Going and Growing!”
Matthew records the fact that when the disciples met Jesus in a secret place in the mountains of Galilee they received what we have come to know as the Great Commission. It is a beautiful illustration of the need for private time with the Lord. The Psalmist suggests that in a time of trouble we can find refuge in the Secret Place of the Most High. And although enemies be all around us, we can yet offer sacrifices of joy unto Him (Psalms 27:4,5). In This secret place, Jesus gathers with His disciples and gives them a mission to change the world. We see in this text the birth place of the Church. Even before Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost and 3000 came to follow the Apostles Doctrine, the seeds of the church were planted in the hearts of the disciples with this Great Commission. Before the Church can ever be made real for the world, it must first become real to the disciples (US!!!). The charge that was given to the disciples is the same charge given to us. Let’s look closely at the words of Jesus.
1. Note verse 18: “All authority is given to me...” Key word is authority or power: exousia in Greek means “delegated influence.” This is important when you connect it with verse 19.
2. Note verse 19: “Therefore, Go...” Because all authority belongs to Christ, we have “delegated influence” when we Go in the name of Christ. Remember, Paul suggests that we are ambassadors for Christ. We walk in the world with the delegated authority from Christ. Well, why do we have this great influence?
3. Note verse 19: “Go and make disciples of all...” We are disciples of Christ, and now the disciples of Christ are called to make disciples of the world. A disciple is a student who is taught by a teacher. Once the disciple has been taught by the teacher, he/she is no longer a student, but now has become a teacher. It is a cycle that must be fostered in the Church. We have been blessed, and so now we are challenged to bless others. As we have received from God, so we should give to others. Moreover, the challenge to “Go and make disciples” has no limitations. If there is any evidence for Church growth and progress it is found in the words, “all nations.” Calvary must work to reach all. How do we reach all? We begin with our community, city, state, nation.
4. Note verse 19, 20: How do we make disciples? Baptizing and Teaching. This is why we are a “Missionary Baptist Church.” Our very name represents all the Christ has commanded us to do. Missionary + Baptist + Church. Baptism is an outward sign of inward faith. We must move people to not be ashamed of their faith. To be baptized is to join in fellowship with all believers and with Christ. Moreover, while baptizing is to join in the fellowship, Teaching is what keeps us in fellowship.
Let us be moved to “Go and Grow” as the Lord has commanded us. There are some who would say that the Church should just grow spontaneously as the Lord would see fit. However, this scripture suggests that Church Growth is something that we must plan for and work on. If we take seriously the command of God and plan for growth, as well as, work for growth, then God says, “I will add to the Church such as should be saved.”
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