Matthew 28:18-20

New International Version

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.

Following His resurrection, Jesus called His Apostles to meet Him at a mountain in Galilee. He was ready to ascend back to heaven, but gave them the words of Matthew’s Gospel, which has become titled ‘the Great Commission.’ He assured them He would be with them (spiritually) as they sought to make disciples.

They were successful  in doing so, to the countries then existing in their part of the world. Let us remember, they did so, without all the facilities and technology that we now possess. This should be an encouragement to the Church in this age. They taught what every Church should be teaching now, but not all Churches are doing so. The Bible has been cast aside in too many places.

The emphasis was firmly on that which Jesus commanded, making disciples. The early Church was intent on doing this, by teaching all that the Apostles had taught them, and which inspired them, and God blessed their Church which grew daily.  This enabled members to learn the gospel, as it was laid out in the Scriptures, which is in contrast that Church members, as well as those who do not attend, do not have the knowledge that they could have.

We need to consider, how we can complete the task that Jesus gave us, making disciples. In order to do that task, we have to make Christians. It is not possible for people not proper Christians to make disciples, unless they themselves are a disciple. This means we need to decide what a Christian should be, and not just someone who has seized the title.

Jesus was giving His Apostles a commission to go out, and make disciples. This means that the Church must continue to do so through the ages. But this should not mean it applies to all who call themselves Christian. I fully appreciate that it is regrettable to state so, but there are as many who falsely call themselves Christians, as there are who actually are Christians.

People claim to be Christian when they are nice people, honest, helpful to others, even attend Church, yet do not meet the true role as Christian. Millions of people have attended or will attend Revival meetings, where an eloquent preacher will give them an emotional feeling, and will sincerely believe they are Christian.  They are invited at such meetings to answer what is known as an altar call, where they are called to leave their seats, and appear before the place from which the preacher has called them. They leave after confessing their ‘faith’, but when they subsequently attend their local Parish Church, they find the contrast disconcerting, and give up what they thought they had.

This summary may indicate, that being a disciple to go and make disciples, is not an easy task.  We need therefore, to consider a definition of a Christian as taught in the Bible. It is someone who has been called by God, and responds by committing themselves to follow Christ, and pledges your life to living according to His way of life, and accepts that when Jesus gave His life on the Cross, it was to make you righteous before God, through Jesus taking the cost of your forgiveness. You can, by confessing with your mouth that ’Jesus is Lord’  and by believing in your heart, that God raised Him from the dead; you are now ‘saved’, and are granted salvation.  Jesus is your Savior. This is the way to heaven.

 We also have to recognize, that any business company has to influence people to favor their product, and it does so by appointing managers, who strive to increase people by the manner in which they operate; they would never suggest that there goods were containing ingredients which were illegal, or that another business were doing better.  A restaurant would not advertise good food, then serve up junk food or it would be out of business.

 Whilst there is no merit in just aiming to add numbers, as is sometimes the major thought, but the Church obviously, needs to attract people to keep the Church open, instead of seeing them closing because of lack of people.  We are here to promote the   proclaiming the Gospel, and leading them to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 The Church was once a beacon of hope, a place comfort, an honorable place, where people went for help and guidance. People respected the Church and its Ministers, where they could place their trust with confidence. It led people through life from birth to death, and was the center of the community, especially in villages.  Much of that has gone, and we are seen in a lot of places as an unnecessary presence.

 The Church is here to manage the Lord’s business, and if operated as normal business, it would be bankrupt. Let us consider what we can do to lead people to follow Jesus Christ , and a better way of living.

 We can do much better than we are doing. The idea is to open Churches, not close them at the rate we are doing.

First practical ways, by making our services so inspiring, that they will attract the same response that we see at services at Easter and Christmas, or special national events.  Another way is for members to attend regularly, and if possible to persuade a friend or relative to come with them.

If we are to be successful in this task, there will have to be a much greater consideration of how we prepare If our services. In this modern age where the Church has lost the respect it once had, so the task has become more strenuous. we see our congregations become much larger at Easter and Christmas, which shows the gospel does still has an appeal to a lot of people.

People will attend if they are offered true worship.  If you look without prejudice, at the services held in this country by the Billy Graham Crusades, you will find people attended in their tens  of thousands, and the Crusade had to be extended such was its effect on people.

There is no excuse in dismissing this as irrelevant.  Billy Graham was specially gifted by God, but his life began in ordinary manner, but he applied himself with much devotion. The ordinary Church  cannot compare, as there is no one who could ever compare with him, but we can learn from those meetings. Everyone engaged  in those services gave their all.  Believe me, this does not always happen to the normal parish service.

Music is an important factor. Gone are the days when Matins was a service with anthems, and canticles were sung to an uninspiring tunes, people now want hymns with tunes they can easily catch on to.   People like to sing, and Mission Praise gave sacred songs and hymns, to enable them to enjoy singing. This, together with having Bible lessons read, and fully explained in simple terms, made worship mean something to them.

The presentation is an essential part. We have stewards who should welcome people, especially new people, and invite them to stay and speak to the Minister or Pastor of the Church. Most people, if greeted with some polite sincerity, would probably return, but if just given a book, and by some elderly person with a look as if saying why are you here, it was a way of saying another lost soul.

 I attended a service for Remembrance Day, at a Church where a normal service had at its best, thirty people, yet on that day had a full seated people. A service as one of Holy Communion, which was unfortunate for a lot of people could not follow. It would not have been wrong to have a service with reference to the men and women who gave so much to defend their country, a fact largely ignored. In addition, there was a collection made with one steward who held the collecting plate in front of a young man, who obviously did not know he was to pay for attending, and was embarrassingly searching to find something, but she remained holding the plate until he had to say he had no cash.  It is infuriating to think we beg people to attend, and then expect them to pay for coming.

There is always the danger that we get all so busy with other activities, especially on social functions, which is not so strenuous as spiritual that calls us. In fact, some Churches have a profitable  social business, where people cm go for a meal, which helps them financially. It is a way of creating Christian fellowship, but it should be seen as an extra to the main function of preaching the gospel.

A factor we often overlook, is that people will not understand the true form of Christianity unless someone tells them. There are really people within the Church whose Bible knowledge is minimal, and this is partly that some essential words of Scripture are side stepped.

There is a glaring omission, that many people seek to have children or even adults baptized and are accepted without them being told the meaning of baptism and what it calls on people to. There is the misbelief that it is just a christening, which is why they should be corrected.

Baptism is a sacred service for entry into the Christian Church. In the Bible, people first made a repentance for sin, made a confession of faith, which symbolized thr crucifixion of Christ and His resurrection.  A person was lowered into water to cleanse of all unrighteousness, and lifted up to a new state.

It was never the situation which someone told the local pastor by telephone and arranged a time and place where a baby or small child had three drops of water, and being so young the parents made promises they obviously had no intention of keeping.  If they had have meant the vows, we would have needed many more Churches.

It has to be understood we are meeting to worship God, and God responds by giving His blessing and guidance to all who sincerely worshipping Him; some are richly blessed; but all who serve can have confidence that God will be with them.  We respond by faithfully preaching, and all believing only that which is contained in the Bible.  It is sad to have to state, but the Church has wandered so far away from the Word of God.

Jesus told the Apostles that He would be with them in all that they do to the end of the age. This promise is for our sakes as well.  We are able to say that only Jesus can give us the right to approach God, He is the only way.  He is the only one who died on a Cross to save all who call upon Him. Only Jesus can provide forgiveness.

 God loves all people, and wants them to be saved.  He has no desire to see anyone consigned to hell, but people realize they are the ones who make the choice by rejecting God. Paul, writing to the Corinthians stated ‘tell them’ they either choose Jesus or go reject Him and go your own way. The Bible indicates that  when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, and it becomes all to find the lost.

 We are able to say that only Jesus can give us the right to approach God, He is the only way.  He is the only one who died on a Cross to save all who call upon Him. Only Jesus can provide forgiveness.

 The Church is committed to teach the Gospel, without deviation in order to be in harmony with local culture.  Also, to banish any doctrine which contradicts the Word of God.  

 I find it astounding that any member of the Church would state, that one of the foremost evangelical preachers in the world should be ignored, and that members of the Church, should absent themselves from attending his meetings when visiting this country, as he was a hate speaker. His hate speech was stated to be, that he believed that marriage was only between a man and a woman! They have conveniently overlooked the fact that it was God who defined marriage, and Jesus who confirmed God’s definition.

 We also had senior members of The Church calling for weddings and sexuality, to be not according to the Bible as it could upset some people. If this was so, other people could freely make their decisions, for such unions were made lawful outside of the Church, which could be acceptable to both views; we are still (it is said) a free country, but government is doing its best to restrain free speech.

 It was recently stated at the Church Conference that the Church could cause a division, whereby those who chose to reject the Bible, could accept same sex marriage could do so, and those who wish to be faithful to the Bible (and God) could be separate.

This not a judgement on any person(s), people are free to live as they wish. But the Church is bound to abide by the Scriptures, and they are not doing so.

God loves all people, and He wants them to be saved. For that to happen, you have to be a true Christian. You worship God, you accept the teaching of Jesus Christ, you accept that He gave His life so that you can be forgiven for the sins you may have committed, and which by virtue of His death God will grant you salvation and eternal life in heaven.

Business spends thousands of pounds advertising their products, which they would only do so if the advertisements were having an influence by growth. Many Churches have social days for Easter and Chrisman with stalls selling goods made or owned by members, and other attracting articles. But never in some of the churches at least not putting details of Sunday services. We really do need to tell people we are here and active.

There are Church magazines containing details of events, recipes and plants, but miss out what is going to happen. A page of Scripture is a ‘must’. I know from experience people read it and like doing so.

In conclusion, you may not be able to make a disciple, you can be one; it may be something you would find it hard to do.   You can as a Christian be faithful to your Church and do your best to support it, and as the Church at Thessalonica proved when Paul created it from idol worship to Christianity, the most successful of ways of proclaiming the gospel, was of ordinary men and women telling others that they attended Church.

May God open our hearts to receive His Holy Word and may He be glorified