INTRODUCTION: What is the mission of the visible Church?
DOCTRINE: Christ, who has all authority, chooses the mission of the visible church. The mission is to make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching, as we commune with Christ.
I. JESUS HAS ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH (Matthew 28:18)
Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’”
II. JESUS HAS ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, THEREFORE HE CHOOSES THE MISSION OF THE VISIBLE CHURCH (Matthew 28:19a)
Matthew 28:19a “Go therefore”
III. THE MISSION OF THE VISIBLE CHURCH IS TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS (Matthew 28:19b)
Matthew 28:19b “and make disciples of all nations,”
4 QUESTIONS
Q1. Did Christ give us a losing mission?
A. “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18).
Q2. How has the church faired the past two thousand years?
A. “In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120)” (Acts 1:15).
Q3. What did Christ teach us to pray for?
A. “Your kingdom come. . .” (Matthew 6:10).
WESTMINSTER LARGER CATECHISM: Q. 191. What do we pray for in the second petition (of the Lord’s Prayer)? A. In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come). . .we pray, that. . .the gospel propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fullness of the Gentiles brought in. . .that Christ would rule in our hearts here, and hasten the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him forever: and that he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as may best conduce to these ends.
Q4. What did Christ teach us to expect?
A. Matthew 13:31-33 “31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
Psalm 72:19 “Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!”
Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
Isaiah 11:9 “They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
IV. THE MISSION OF THE VISIBLE CHURCH IS TO BAPTIZE ALL NATIONS (Matthew 28:19c)
Matthew 28:19c “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
V. THE MISSION OF THE VISIBLE CHURCH IS TO TEACH OBEDIENCE TO ALL NATIONS (Matthew 28:20a)
Matthew 28:20a “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
VI. THE MISSION OF THE VISIBLE CHURCH WILL SUCEED BECAUSE CHRIST WILL BE WITH THE CHURCH ALL THE DAYS (Matthew 28:20b)
Matthew 28:20b “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
1 Corinthians 10:16 “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?”
CONCLUDING EXHORTATION
Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
Go do your every day duties and watch Christ fulfill this promise!
THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH: Matthew 28:18-20
Matthew 28:18-20
May 2, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Matthew 28:18–20
THE LORD WILL BE SANCTIFIED: Leviticus 10:1-3
January 24, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Leviticus 10:1–3
DOCTRINE: If the LORD’s people will not sanctify and glorify Him when they draw near, He will sanctify and glorify Himself upon them. I. WORSHIP OF THE LORD MUST BE OFFERED UP TO HIM ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD (v. 1) II. THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS MORE PRECIOUS TO HIM THAN THE LIVES OF MEN (v. 2) Consider Korah’s rebellion in Numbers 16, Uzzah who touched the Ark in 2 Samuel 7, Annanias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit in Acts 5, and Herod who did not give glory to God in Acts 13. I) The glory of the Lord must be more precious to you than the opinions of men (Galatians 1:10). II) The glory of the Lord must be more precious to you than your own glory (Jeremiah 45:5). III. THE PEOPLE OF THE LORD MUST SANCTIFY HIS NAME IN WORSHIP, OR HE WILL SANCTIFY HIS NAME UPON THEM (v. 3) I) The LORD’s people must draw near to Him by faith in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:25, 11:6). II) Drawing near to God through faith in Christ, the church then must preach, sing, pray, baptize, feast, give, fellowship, practice discipline, and equip all according to the Word. (I) The Church must preach (and hear) the Word (2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 20:27, James 1:21). (II) The Church must must sing the Word (Ephesians 5:19-20). (III) The Church must pray the Word (Matthew 6:9-13, Psalms, examples of prayers by faithful saints recorded in scripture). (IV) The Church must baptize according to the Word (Acts 8:12). (V) The Church must feast according to the Word (1 Corinthians 11:26). (VI) The Church must give according to the Word (Philippians 4:18, 1 Corinthians 16:2). (VII) The Church must fellowship around the Word (Acts 2:42). (VIII) The Church must practice church discipline according to the Word (Matthew 18:15-18). (IX) The Church must equip the saints with the Word (Ephesians 4:11-12).
CORRUPTED WORSHIP: Exodus 32:1-6
January 31, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Exodus 32:1–6
DOCTRINE: Idolatrous people and weak men will result in corrupt worship. I. THE ISRAELITES WERE QUICK TO FORGET THE LORD AND HIS SALVATION (v. 1) II. AARON WAS WILLING TO GIVE THE PEOPLE THEIR DESIRED IDOLS IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM HAPPY (vv. 2-4a) III. THE PEOPLE LIED ABOUT THEIR IDOL AND ATTRIBUTED TO IT THE WORKS OF THE LORD (v. 4b) IV. AARON BUILT UPON THEIR LIE AND SOUGHT TO SYNC UP WORSHIP OF THIS IDOL WITH WORSHIP OF THE LORD (vv. 5-6a) V. THE GROSSLY IDOLATROUS PEOPLE AND PRIEST CONTINUED ON UNAWARE OF THEIR IMPENDING DOOM (v. 6b) APPLICATION 1 Corinthians 10:11 “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” I) Because the Lord’s people are quick to forget their God and His salvation, you must stir them up by way of reminder (2 Peter 1:13). 2 Peter 1:13 “I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder…” II) You must never sacrifice even an ounce of truth on the altar of peace (Galatians 1:10). Galatians 1:10 “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” III) If you are not careful, the ways of the world will slide into the worship of the Church (2 Corinthians 6:14). 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 “14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?” IV) God has put safeguards for purity of worship in His Scriptures and you must adhere to them (Exodus 20:4). Exodus 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” V) It does not matter who you say you are worshiping, if you are offering will-worship it is a substitution for God’s pure worship (Psalm 106:20). Psalm 106:20 “They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.” VI) If the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s chosen, does not stand in the breach for you, God’s wrath will not be turned away (1 John 2:1-2). 1 John 2:1-2 “If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins…” VII) Though you have a Mediator in Christ Jesus, that does not mean you will be spared from discipline if you do not repent (Proverbs 3:11-12). Proverbs 3:11-12 “11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” VIII) Will-worshippers are likely continuing on unaware of their impending doom or discipline—therefore you should pray and labor, within your sphere of influence, to speak the truth of God to those offering false-worship (Hebrews 12:28-29). Hebrews 12:28-29 “Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE: Hebrews 12:28-29
February 14, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Hebrews 12:28–29
DOCTRINE: God’s saints, having in Christ received a kingdom that cannot be shaken, are given the privilege of worshipping Him; and they must do so acceptably, reverently, and awfully, free from idolatry, because God is our jealous God (Hebrews 12:28-29). I. WE WHO ARE IN CHRIST HAVE GREAT REASONS TO BE GRATEFUL TO GOD (Hebrews 12:28a) I) The Kingdom of Christ shall not be shaken because the King cannot be moved (Psalm 2:6-8; Psalm 21:7). II) The Subjects of the Kingdom shall not be shaken because their King cannot be moved (Psalm 46:4-7). II. BECAUSE OF CHRIST, BELIEVERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE OF OFFERING ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP TO GOD (Hebrews 12:28b) Consider the privilege you have been given in Christ, being chosen by God to worship Him (Deuteronomy 7:6-8; 1 Peter 2:9). Think of the privilege of private worship, family worship, and public worship; even that all of life can be lived as worship. I) You and I must worship God acceptably (Hebrews 12:28b) II) You and I must worship God reverently (Hebrews 12:28c) III) You and I must worship God awefully (Hebrews 12:28d) III. WE IN CHRIST MUST OFFER UP THIS ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP TO GOD, FREE FROM IDOLATRY, BECAUSE HE IS OUR JEALOUS GOD (v. 29) CONCLUSION Are you grateful for receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken? Are you humbled and overjoyed by being given the privilege, by Christ’s blood, of worshipping God acceptably? Do you aim to worship Him acceptably in private, in your home, in the assembly of the saints? Do you worship the Lord with shamefacedness? Do you worship the Lord in awe? Do you treasure the fact the He is YOUR GOD, and tremble when considering offering Him acceptable worship?