<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

HopeLives365

Mark Finley

Sabbath School 4th Quarter 2023: God's Mission My Mission

01 God’s Mission to Us Part 1

02 God’s Mission to Us Part 2

03 God’s Call to Mission

04 Sharing God’s Mission

05 Excuses to Avoid Mission

06 Motivation and Preparation for Mission

07 Mission to My Neighbor

Unlocking the Secrets of Prayer

08 Mission to the Needy

09 Mission to the Powerful

10 Mission to the Unreached Part 1

11 Mission to the Unreached, Part 2

12 Esther and Mordecai

13 The End of God’s Mission


Welcome back to our Sabbath School study for this week, God's Mission, My Mission. This is 1 of the most exciting lessons for me. You know, I spent my entire life, really, in evangelistic activity, seeing God work so incredibly powerfully. We've just come back from Africa, where more than 100, 000 people in a two-week period made decisions for Jesus. And it's thrilling to see what God is doing in mission.

And I'm impressed constantly that mission is God's. We have the joy, the privilege of participating with him in his mission. You remember last week we studied the fact that God is with us, that mission has to do with this God who is constantly present with his people. When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, God came and called, where are you Adam? God didn't condemn Adam.

God didn't say, Adam why'd you sin? He came looking for Adam. Throughout the Old Testament we see the God who's with his people. This is specially manifest in the sanctuary where God said to Moses, let them make me a sanctuary that I might dwell among them. And we see this in Christ.

He is Emmanuel, God with us. And we see it too in the promise of the second coming of Christ, where Jesus said, I'll receive you unto myself, that where I am there you may be also, " in John 14. And this is manifest in the climax of the book of Revelation, Revelation 21, where in those first few verses God says that the tabernacle of God is with men and he will be with them and be his people. So the theme of the Bible, the golden thread that ties the Word of God together, is the concept of restoration. That God longs to restore his people back to his image and back to fellowship with him, and that he will do anything he can to accomplish that goal.

We're going to continue that theme of God's mission to us here in our lesson. Today, our memory text is Matthew 28, verse 19, where Jesus says, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So Jesus gives us that great commission to go out and make disciples. Now this commission does not originate in human enthusiasm. This commission doesn't originate in human desire, doesn't originate in human strategies or plans.

Jesus said, all authority is given unto me, go therefore." So the Great Commission comes directly from Christ. We find this also in Sunday's lesson in John chapter 20 verse 21. I saw something in this passage that I hadn't seen before. And I want to point it out to you. You know, the more you study the Bible, the more you become convinced that it's divine, because you can study it for years and see new things.

And I saw something in this text brought out in our lesson that I hadn't seen before, and I'll share that with you. John 20, verse 21, then Jesus said to them, peace to you, as the Father has sent me, I also send you. Now notice what it says here. It says, peace to you, as the Father has sent me. So just as Jesus was sent by the Father, So we are sent into the world in mission.

There is a direct correlation. Father sent Jesus. Jesus sent his disciples. His disciples then model for us God's mission. So God's mission and the mandate for God's mission comes directly from God himself.

It's interesting too when you look at verse 22 of John 20, where it says, when he had said this, he breathed on them and said, receive the Holy Spirit. So here you have the triune God, where you have the Father in verse 21, who sends Jesus, his divine Son. Jesus sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. So you have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all involved in mission, all involved in saving lost humanity there. I love what it says here.

In the last paragraph's second sentence, it says, Christ appeared to his disciples and promised them, I'm going to send you what my father has promised, but stay in the city until you've been clothed with power from on high. He's quoting from Luke 24, verse 49, the New International Version. Then it says, this sentence, Here we find the reality of the Godhead's mission in 1 sentence, the Father's promise, the Son's assurance, and the fulfillment of the promise, and the promise itself, the coming of the Holy Spirit. So mission is deeply within the heart of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Now, Monday points out that as we accept that mission, we are committed to make disciples.

And it deals with the elements of discipleship in Matthew 28, 16 to 20. Let's go back and pause and look at those elements of discipleship. Matthew chapter 28, verse 19 and verse 20. We look at the elements of discipleship. But let's go back and look at 16 because there's something key there.

Matthew 28 verse 16, then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee in the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. First, after Christ's crucifixion, after his resurrection, The first command that he gives is to meet him in the Galilee because he has something significant to say. Final words are important. I often have been by the bedside, tragically so, of people that were dying. And I noticed if their husband is there, if it's a wife that's dying, if it's a husband that's dying and the wife is there, the children are there, nobody's playing video games, nobody's watching TV, nobody's trying to find out what's the latest score of the ballgame.

They are straining their ears to listen for the voice of that loved 1. And here, Jesus' final words are incredibly important, just like the final words of a loved 1 are important. So Jesus appointed them to go to Galilee. So that's the first thing you want to notice here in the lesson. You'll find this in Monday's lesson.

Number 1, Jesus commands his disciples to go to Galilee. What's the second thing? Jesus comes to them. He meets them in Galilee. And the third is that Jesus commissions them, his disciples, to a specific task to make disciples.

And fourthly, he promises to be with them. So Jesus commands, Jesus comes, Jesus commissions, Jesus promises. He promises never to leave them, never to forsake them. He promises to be with them in mission constantly. And so the mission that we have comes directly from Jesus Christ.

It is his mission. And notice in the second to last paragraph under Monday's lesson, It's important to highlight that the only action verb with imperative force in the Great Commission is make disciples. Teach everyone, baptize everyone, share Jesus' teachings, are characteristics of the discipleship process. Now, I don't want you to miss that. How are people made disciples?

They are taught, they are baptized, and they then go out to witness. So what is a disciple? A disciple is a follower of Christ who's been taught the principles of the Word of God, baptized into the family of God, and sent out in mission. So every church member who is a disciple of Christ is sent out in mission. Mission, witnessing, is not a spiritual gift, it's a role for every single believer.

Now how extensive is this? Well, in Matthew chapter 28 it says, go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We find that also in Tuesday's lesson in Revelation chapter 14. You remember in Revelation 14, John says in verse 6, I saw another angel flying in the middle of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on there, to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. So Christ's message is broad.

It is to, yes, to our neighbors, family, neighbors, friends, but it's beyond that, it's to our community. But it's beyond our community, it's to our nation, but it's beyond that, it's to our community. But it's beyond our community, it's to our nation, but it's beyond that, it's to the world. So Christ sends us out into the world in his mission. Here in the lesson, it points out in the Tuesday's lesson, second paragraph, nevertheless, the fact that this message is eternal is remarkable.

There's only 1 gospel that can save us. You remember Revelation 14 6 says, I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven with the everlasting or the eternal gospel. There is only 1 gospel that can save us. It will remain the same until the mission of God is fully established. There'll never be another gospel.

Maybe deceitful teachings and doctrines come and go, but the message of salvation, the eternal gospel, is unchanging. Why is the gospel eternal? What makes it eternal? The gospel is eternal because it has to do with the very nature of God's heart, the nature of divine love. And that love was in God's heart before the creation of our world.

That love has been in God's heart for the last 6, 000 years of the existence of our planet, and that love in God's heart will never, never be gone. The eternal gospel is part of the very essence of the heart of God. That's why it's eternal. It's also eternal because it applies to every generation. It applies to every culture.

It applies to every people group. We don't have a different gospel for Hindus and Muslims and secularists. It's the same gospel. We don't have a different gospel for men and women who live in Asia and different 1 for those that live in Europe and different 1 that lives in South America or Africa. No, it's America.

It's the same gospel. The good news that Christ came, lived the life I should have lived, faced Satan's temptations head-on and was victorious, died the death that I should have died, took upon himself the guilt and shame of sin, was resurrected from the dead, intercedes for us, gives to us both forgiveness from the guilt of the past, and deliverance from the power of sin in the present. This is the eternal gospel. This is the mission of Christ, to restore people into his image. On Wednesday's lesson it points out that down through history we've been, God's people, been channels of mission.

You find that, for example, in Genesis 12, verse 1 to 3. God's people are channels of mission. Genesis chapter 12. We're going to look there at verses 1, 2, and 3. This is God's call to Abraham, but really if you actually analyze it, it's God's call to each 1 of us.

Genesis 12, starting with verse 1, God speaks to Abraham, "'Get out of your country from your kindred.'" What's God saying to us in that? Get out of your comfort zone. Leave the confines of your church and become involved in the mission of the world. Get out of your country from your kindred, from your father's house to the land I'll show you. I'll make you a great nation.

I'll bless you and make your name great. You shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you. I'll curse those who curse you. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." I will bless you and make you a blessing.

In you all the families of the earth will be blessed. This is God's intent for his church that we become the blessing of the world. Remember all those different metaphors that Jesus uses to describe his church. He says, you are the light of the world, light penetrating the darkness. You are the salt of the earth, preserving this earth by proclaiming God's love and grace and flavoring it with his love.

Then you talk about symbols of the church. Paul says you're an ambassador for Christ, representing Jesus. He also says you're the body of Christ, reaching out to the world. So the mission is to take the gospel to the world. The channel of mission is God's church.

The channel of mission is God's people. What's the arena of mission? The arena of mission, Revelation 7 verse 9 and 10. The arena of mission is the entire world. Revelation 7, verse 9, verse 10.

The scripture puts it this way, After these things I looked and behold a great multitude, which no 1 could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, crying out with a loud voice, saying, salvation belongs to God who sits on the throne in his lamb. Now what I want you to see in this is that it's not 1 or 2 people that are going to be saved. God's mission is going to be accomplished. He sees a great multitude. Nobody can number it.

It's of all nations, tribes, tongues, peoples. They stand before the Lord, before the Lamb. They cry out, salvation belongs to our God. So God's plan will be accomplished. The gospel is not going to flicker like some candle and be blown out by the winds of strife and destruction and the winds of error and apostasy.

God's plan for his world will be accomplished. The message will go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. I love how it's put in Friday's lesson. It says this, and this is a quote from Ellen White, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, November 14, 1912, "'You are the light of the world.' Point to the fact that he is committed to his followers a worldwide message." Now notice, God has given to us a worldwide message. Now I want to go directly to the quote, that was a comment on the quote.

It says, This is the quote of Ellen White from Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, November 14, 1912. From all countries the Macedonia call is sounding. Come over and help us. God has opened fields before us. Heavenly beings have been cooperating with men.

Providence is going before us and divine power is working with human effort. Blind indeed must be the eyes that do not see the working of the Lord. Deaf are the ears that do not hear the call of the true Shepherd to his sheep." Blind are the eyes that don't see what God is doing. God's at work in his world. God's mission is being accomplished in the world.

In every generation, in every nation, kindred, tongue, people, God is working powerfully today. But he says, the harvest is what? Great. But the laborers are what? Few.

That's why God invites you and God invites me to be part of His mission to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Will you make that commitment today that you desire to be part of God's mission? Let's pray. Father in Heaven, you're working in the world, your mission is being accomplished, and what we long for is to be part of that mission, to participate with you in Heaven's mission, to see the work of God on earth finished so Jesus can soon come and we can go home with you, to live with you forever. Restore us in your image, and as we share the Gospel, may we see others drawn to you.

In Christ's name, Amen. This media was brought to you by Audioverse, a website dedicated to spreading God's Word through free sermon audio and much more. If you would like to know more about Audioverse, or if you would like to listen to more sermons, please visit www.audioverse.org.

Back to Menu

Series

Sabbath School 4th Quarter 2023: God's Mission My Mission

02 God’s Mission to Us Part 2

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

Other Teachings in Series

01 God’s Mission to Us Part 1

02 God’s Mission to Us Part 2

03 God’s Call to Mission

04 Sharing God’s Mission

05 Excuses to Avoid Mission

06 Motivation and Preparation for Mission

07 Mission to My Neighbor

Unlocking the Secrets of Prayer

08 Mission to the Needy

09 Mission to the Powerful

10 Mission to the Unreached Part 1

11 Mission to the Unreached, Part 2

12 Esther and Mordecai

13 The End of God’s Mission

Sound Doctrine