Matt.28:19-20

This crucial command was given to all believers, not just to Sunday School Teachers, Pastors or Missionaries. Discipleship is a committed and sacrificial life. Our Lord spent three years with the disciples, he taught them the Word of God personally and by daily example. He has a plan for doing so and tells it to his disciples. The way of discipleship is costly, Jesus asks us to “hate” that is to have a lesser love for everything else in comparison to him. Lk. 14:25-33. He put the cost of true discipleship as high as possible.

Strategy for World Conquest.
God does not do things in a haphazard way; he has a distinct plan to build his Kingdom. After the Holy Spirit came upon His followers they were to go into the entire world and preach the Gospel. Acts 1:8 This means advancing, going forward locally, nationally and internationally. We are to go on doing this until the Lord Jesus returns; there can be no reasons for stopping. We are not only to evangelise but are to make disciples, followers and students. These disciples are to be formed into churches, taught, built up and equipped to serve. Eph. 4:11-12

Our Action Plan. Matt.28: 19-20
1. “Go therefore,” this is telling us to move out, to mobilize and not to stay inside four walls. We are told to go into highways and byways and compel people to come in, because there is still room in God’s house for them.
The word “therefore” is the basis of Christ’s authority that we obey and make disciples.
2. “And make disciples,” a disciple is a follower. They were to follow The Lord Jesus not just his example but also his teachings. There is no substitute for being with people and teaching them the things of God. It is a sacrificial commitment and may involve your willingness to forfeit bona fide things. Christians are born to reproduce. “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Lk. 5:10. We are to follow Christ and catch men. Paul clearly made disciples and then went on to strengthen them. Acts 14:21-22.
He taught Timothy to commit what he had learned unto faithful men (anthropos = men and women) 2Tim. 2: 2.
3. “Baptising them,” baptism always follows salvation in the New Testament. After you trust Christ for salvation it is a very important step to be baptised, by doing so you are showing the world and the church that you want to be openly identified with the Lord Jesus. As you are submersed into the water you are acknowledging your old life is dead and when you emerge from the water you are showing that you are now living a new life in Him. You are showing you belong to God and the people of Christ. This is an open and public commitment for all to see. Rom. 6:1-14, Acts 2: 40-42
4. “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit,” the early church always baptised in the name of the Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Although the word trinity is not found in scripture there is a vast amount of proof to endorse the deity of all three.
5. “Teaching them all things whatsoever I have commanded you,” he taught them to pray, to witness he taught them about quiet times with God, about prophecy, about false prophets, about scripture, about reconciliation and a multitude of others things. This was to be passed on, producing a chain reaction even unto this day.
6. “And lo’ I am with you always even to the end of the age,” he remains with us and in us until he comes back again bodily to judge the world and establish his kingdom. Acts 1:9:13, 2 Thess. 4:13-18.
7. Filled with the Holy Spirit to witness. We are not to witness in our own authority but Christ’s, not in our own power but the Holy Spirit’s power. Acts 1:8, Jn. 15:5, 16:8, acts 4:8, 31.
All men stand on common ground, they are lost, they have all sinned, wealthy, poor, cultured, illiterate, red, black, white and all races. We face inevitable death and judgement. [Heb.9: 27, Rev.20: 15]. This is a sorrowful and sad truth, God in His great Grace, love and mercy has extended an invitation of salvation to all men. His arms of love are outstretched to mankind; he takes no pleasure in the death of sinners. [Ezk.33: 11]. God is the most reasonable person one could ever know. [Isa.1: 18] He has an open door for us, it is his son, and he is the door. [Jn. 10:9]
We must tell people this good news and tell them to repent {turn around] from their sin, turn to God and to confess Christ to others once they become Christians.

Questions.
True or False?
1. The command is only given to special people. Matt.28: 19-20
2. There is a personal cost to discipleship. Lk. 14:25-4
3. It just happens. Acts 1: 8
4. We do not need to be taught or equipped. Eph. 4:11-12
5. You do not have to go – you send others in your place. Matt.28:19-20
6. Discipleship is important. Acts 14:21-22
7. Baptism is an option. You do not have to be baptised if you do not want to. Rom.6: 12-14, Acts 2:40-42
8. I should be baptised in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Matt. 28:19-20.
9. I can witness in my own power. Acts 1:8
10.God loves to damn people to Hell. Ezk.33: 11, Isa.1:18