“go” & “teach” jesus’ “mission statement” the apostles were teaching the gospel...

“Go” & “Teach”

Text: Mt. 28:18-20


Intro

Mt. 28:18-2018. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me

in heaven and on earth.19. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of

the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,20. teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,

even to the end of the age."

Lk. 19:1010. "For the Son of Man has come to seek

and to save that which was lost."

Jesus’ “Mission Statement”

The apostles were teaching

the gospel all over the world!

(Col. 1:3-6)

Jesus told His apostles, “Go” & “Teach”


Intro

Even though saints today do not live in the 1st century,

we are also to “Go” and “Teach”II Tim. 2:22. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses,

entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

“Men” = anthropos (G444): mankind, human being (both male and female), man.

II Tim. 2:24-2624. The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but

be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,25. with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition,

if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

26. and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

“Able” = didaktikos (G1317): apt, or skilled, instructive


Intro

Peter said saints must be “ready” to teach

I Pet. 3:1515. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to

everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Paul says all saints are to be “able

to teach” and Peter says all saints

are “always” to be ready to give a

defense (that is an answer) for the

hope within us!


Intro

Not all saints have the ability to or should publicly teach!

Paul made a distinction of positions within the church! (I Cor. 12:28-29)

He also told the Ephesian saints that the ability to teach was from God (Ephesians 4:11)

James warned that not all Christians should be teachers for there is a stricter judgment (James 3:1)

The ability to teach comes in many forms…one can teach by example and, when the opportunity arises, to boldly give an answer for our faith!

The command to study and grow is for all saints, lest we become like the Hebrews’ writer’s audience, who had need of the basics to be taught to them again (Hebrews 5:12-14). The responsibility to “Go” and

Teach”was not just to the 1st century

saintsbut that we have a charge still

todayin the 21st century to share the

gospeland bring mankind closer to God!


Evangelism in the 1st Century

Over time as technology advances, so do conveniences!

Two ways technology always change conveniences: Travel and Communication



“Go” Walking (perhaps most common method) Ride: Various animals (donkeys, horses, camels,

elephants, etc.) Ride/Drive: Wagons, chariots, carriages/coaches (for those

who could afford it) Water Travel: Boats, ships (could cover greater distances)



“Teach” One on one studies Group studies Public places (Synagogues, Mars Hill in Acts 17, etc.) House to House Letters: Personal and general (gospels and epistles), in

wide circulation Visual Aides/props: On Mars Hill Paul pointed to their

many idols in Athens Debates



“Go” Walking Ride/Drive Water Travel

“Teach” One on one studies Group studies Public places House to House Letters Visual Aides/props Debates

Saints used what they had to cover ground and teach others the gospel!



Saints over time have used the technology of their day to

get God’s word out to others, from having to copy the

gospels and epistles of the New Testament by hand to

mass printing on the printing press, to being able to send

a document or file at the touch of a button!



“Go” Walking (still an effective method of transportation) Ride: Various animals (still used in many areas) Ride/Drive: Wagons, carriages/coaches (used in many

countries) Water Travel: Boats, ships (more advanced, still available) Ride: Public Transportation (buses, subways, trains, etc.) Ride/Drive: Bicycles, Automobiles (cars, trucks,

motorcycles, etc.) Air Travel (Fly): Planes, helicopters, etc. (most drastic

change) Phones: Landlines, cell phones – can connect long

distances Internet: Blurs the lines between “Go” and “Teach” (can

connect people all around the world with the touch of a button)



“Teach” Preaching and teaching: One-on-one studies, group

studies, public places, house to house Letters: Personal and general in wide circulation (still

available) Visual Aides/props: Overheads and PowerPoint Debates and gospel meetings Print: Various publications (books, tracts, magazines,

articles…) Internet:

Blogs, websites, resource websites, church websites, etc…

Video (insert-your-preference-here) Social Media (insert-your-preference-here)



“Go” Walking) Ride/Drive:

Various means

Water Travel Air Travel

(Fly) Phones

Internet

“Teach” Preaching and

teaching: Various ways

Letters Visual Aides/props Debates and

gospel meetings Print

(Publications) Internet

Modern day saints are without excuse if they are not

utilizing these tools in evangelism to “Go” and “Teach!”


Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century

Just because all these tools exist today, it doesn’t mean

one has to use them all!

Two ways all saints can use the various tools available:

Our Example and Teaching

Example: When using the internet, be careful that your influence isn’t

harmed in the process. When using social media, other people who we may or may not

know observe our likes and dislikes, our interests and the way we communicate with others

Don’t associate yourself with things not becoming a child of God! Our presence online can say a lot about who we are (Eph. 4:1) Saints need to remember that whether we are face-to-face with

people or online, we are called to be lights in the darkness! (Phil. 2:15)


Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century

Teaching: Whether face-to-face or on the internet we are to speak “the truth

in love” (Eph. 4:15) and “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification” (Eph. 4:29).

Teaching online: “Is there an app for that?” Bible apps Hebrew and Greek with Strong’s Dictionary Dictionaries Concordances Commentaries The works of Josephus and others Many other features far too numerous to count!

Technology has literally brought a library of reference material to your fingertips!

Yes! There are many!

Let us spread the gospel, using the technology at hand to

“Go” and “Teach” the lost of the world!


Into Our Hands the Gospel Is Given

I Thess. 2:44. but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we

speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.

Jesus commissioned all Christians to teach the gospel to

those lost in sin (Mt. 28:18-20): Rom. 10:14-15: This task will never be achieved; the lost will

never hear unless it becomes personal to us – that we care to teach!

The gospel is given into our hands first to obey, then to teach to others (II Tim. 2:24).

Mt. 13:44-46: The “kingdom of heaven” is like a great treasure and a pearl of great price!

For those who have obeyed the gospel and have found such treasure, it ought to be with joy we share it with others!


Into Our Hands the Gospel Is Given

How do we use the moments and opportunities God has

given us? Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5: KJV says, “Redeeming the time.” We are to

make “the most of our time,” “opportunity” (NAS). I Pet. 3:15: We are to always be ready to give a defense (answer) of the hope within us! That requires study (II Tim. 2:15) and practice in teaching (Heb. 5:12-14).

The gospel is entrusted to us – “How are we using God’s golden

moments?”


Conclusion

The gospel is “entrusted” to us as it was to saints past:

Are you using your time wisely, making the most of the opportunities God provides to sow the “seed” and teach others the gospel that can save their souls (James 1:21)?

Technology has changed over time, and with it the modes

of communication and travel that were available to 1st

century saints, but the responsibility to “Go” and “Teach”

has not changed, thus the need is still there!


Conclusion

No matter how wonderful the advances made, it will still

take willing saints to use what we are given to spread the

word of God!With information sent at the touch of a

button we ought to be using it to the glory of God to reach as many

people as we can! As we use the modern

tools that make our lives

better remember your influence and example

inall that you do!

(I Cor. 9:27)


Conclusion

Don’t think of the “Great Commission” to bring the gospel

“into all the world” as a “Mission Impossible” but like the

saints of old, use the modern conveniences at hand and

make it a “Mission Possible!”

Focusing on evangelism in the 21st century and with all

the tools available, let us “Go” and “Teach!”

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?”Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom.

10:17)Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn.

8:24)Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38)Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom.

10:10)Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16)Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10)

For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9),

Pray (Acts 8:22)

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