"As you are going..."
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20
"As you are going..." is the title of my sermon for this coming Sunday, and an accurate translation of the "go" in the above passage. When we hear about Jesus' Great Commission - "go and make disciples" - we often think that the imperative is "go", but it is not! The "go" here is similar to the "break" shouted as a basketball team ends its huddle and heads out to play the game.
That they must "go" is obvious. The imperative is "make disciples"!
Jesus gathered His Eleven and gave them these instructions. That they had to "go", that is to leave the gathering place was obvious.
A basketball team receives instructions from the coach, that are necessary to be followed if they are to succeed. Jesus' followers, including us, are given instructions, that are necessary to be followed if we are to succeed.
However and wherever we are going, we must make disciples. Jesus didn’t say, “Get converts”. He never said, “Make church members”.
He said, “Make disciples”.
You can change the world.
Make disciples.
Check out this video concerning this Sunday's message:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoUbodEpPY4&feature=share
