SUNDAY SERMON: The Great Commission
By Rev. Stephen Baldwin
OT: Gen. 1.1-2.4a
NT: Matthew 28.1-10
Carl asked for a short sermon a few weeks ago. He had things to do on a nice day, which I understand. Unfortunately, I gave a long sermon that day! Today’s will balance that out, as the scripture today cuts to the chase.
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated,” said Chinese philosopher Confucius. Preachers and teachers of religion are especially good at complicating things. Even Jesus!
But in today’s scripture when he shares “The Great Commission,” Jesus cuts to the chase. “Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
That’s our job description. Jesus tells us clearly what we are supposed to do with our lives. He even breaks it down into five actions. Go. Make. Baptize. Teach. Remember. That’s it!
Life, and especially religious life, can get awfully complicated with fancy words and even fancier people. But it doesn’t have to be. You might even go so far as to say it shouldn’t be complicated. It should be simple and straightforward. Go. Make. Baptize. Teach. Remember. That’s what we as Christians are supposed to do.
You might say, “Well isn’t that your job, preacher? I don’t baptize anybody or make disciples. Aren’t you supposed to do those things for us?”
One, no. The work of discipleship is the church’s work; all of us together. There were no omissions from the Great Commission. It included everyone. People are more or less likely to be faithful because of what you, the person they know, says or does than they are of a preacher they don’t know.
Two, make disciples doesn’t mean convert people. Doesn’t mean gaining new members on the rolls. Doesn’t mean more attendees in worship. The root word in Greek is about teaching. Matthew is all about teaching the lessons of Jesus. To make disciples is to teach people the ways of Jesus.
And you do that every single day, whether you intend to or not. You go out everyday. To work and the gas station and the grocery store and the gym and the library. While you’re there, you make acquaintance with people. They get to know you. They see what kind of person you are. That is what the Great Commission is all about. It’s not some fancy sermon with a new way to live; it’s a simple reminder that our actions speak louder than our words.
Jesus commissions us to get out and teach the Gospel! Use words when necessary, but your actions speak loudest.
So I’m not going to use any more words today. The Great Commission speaks for itself. Go, make, baptize, teach, remember. That is our job. Let’s go do it. Amen.
