09/13/09

Good Sunday Mornin!

 I am sorry for slacking off on sending out these emails everyone. Seminary started back and I have to leave the house at 5:30am on Monday mornings. So I am going to start Sunday mornings.

I want to start this morning out with a question. If you were to die today, how many people could honestly say that you had an impact in their lives? What would be said at your funeral? “He/she was a good man/woman”? “He/she was a hard worker”? “He/she loved his/her family”? These are all great statements, don’t get me wrong. But let me ask you this, would anyone say, “If it were not for him/her I would not know Jesus”? or “If it were not for him/her I would not know Christ the way I know Him now”? I ask you these questions because I believe that they are core to our Christianity.

Jesus was emphatic about telling others about Him. As a matter of fact the last thing He said before leaving this earth was, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

So given this command of Jesus, I have more questions. Are you making disciples? A disciple is one who learns and helps spread the teaching of a master. So are you learning the teaching of The Master so that you can teach them to others so they can teach to others? It’s a probing question I know, but one we need to seriously ask ourselves because this command did not come with a, “If you feel like it” or “if you have time” no this command is expected of every believer. Another question, you ever baptized anyone? Are you teaching anyone?

My intention this morning is not to guilt you into anything at all. What my intention is is to help you see and realize the way that Jesus expects you and me to live. He wants His name and His Word to spread and He chooses to use humans as the vessels by which He spreads them. This command does not come without a promise. See at the end of all this Jesus says, “. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”. I can tell you honestly the way to feel the presence of the risen Savior, is to do what He asks of you and I.

This is not about growing a church, it is about growing The Church. Not the Open Range Church , or the First Baptist Church Chitlen Switch. But about growing the Kingdom of God . Look at yourself. Ask yourself. And then look around, “The field is ripe, but the workers are few” said Jesus.

I love you guys, have a great week!  

Pastor Jason Lyle

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Hebrews 10:39