God's Word for Me Today

Sunday, September 16, 2001

Focus: Our Mission With The World

A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today

My Prayer Today

Heavenly Father, this is our day to worship You together! As we gather today, may we truly offer you the honor and praise You so richly deserve. We pray that both in our corporate worship and in our private worship that You will reveal Your will to us, through Your written Word, through the message of Missionary Mark Geppart, through the words of the songs of praise we offer to You, through whatever means you choose to reveal Yourself and Your will! Transform us this day, that we may be renewed, refreshed and revived for living this day and this week for You! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

God's Word for Me Today: Matthew 28:16-20

16Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them still doubted! 18Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. 19Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Questions for Reflection

IIf you could spend ten minutes with Jesus today, where would you want to spend it? What would you want to ask Him?

What is the most important thing you do in preparation for participating in corporate worship and celebration?

Questions for Exploration

On what basis did Jesus send His disciples into the world? (28:18)

Baptism is to performed in whose name? (28:19)

Questions for Understanding

Put yourself in the place of the disciples. Jesus has died, and you know it. Now He is alive again. What thoughts, feelings, beliefs would be going through your mind as you saw Him and listened to His command to go into all the world?

Why do you suppose the disciples were so obedient to Jesus’ command? What was the source of their commitment to share the Good News with the world?

Questions for Application

As you worship today, particularly if you have the opportunity to worship in a corporate setting, what can you do to welcome guests and others you don’t know very well as a means of sharing the new life Jesus has give us with the world?

Take some time (at least ten minutes!) during the day today to reflect on what you experienced in worship, or through this study, and commit to putting into practice one specific action that will be your way of fulfilling the Great Commission this week!

Sharing Jesus with the World!

Matthew 28:16-20 has been known for centuries as “The Great Commission,” because it is Jesus commission for us, as His followers and representatives in the world to share his love in practical ways with a hurting world. These words are also a “commission to greatness.” Each of us wants our life to matter. We all want someone to think that we’re important. We want to make a difference. Jesus gives us that opportunity in a way that can’t be measured in our standing on the corporate latter, or our accumulation of possessions. Jesus calls us to share the new life we’ve received with others, which can make a difference for eternity! We may never get a statue made in our honor. We may not make the history books. (Or we may!) But true greatness in Jesus’ eyes is in making disciples, followers of Him. We have the opportunity to go, to teach, to baptize, but most of all to MAKE DISCIPLES throughout the earth. A disciple is a learner. A disciple is one who has taken on disciplines. In the case of the disciples of Jesus, a disciple is a learner, who is taking on the discipline of living a whole new life! Our purpose as disciples of Jesus is to “reproduce.” We are called to make other disciples, to lead others into God’s Kingdom. While we can’t force anyone to follow Jesus, and the transformation that takes place in each of us is Jesus’ work, Jesus tells us that we CAN make disciples. Once a person has turned his heart and life over to Jesus, we can walk alongside him, encourage him, teach and help him to live that life. Part of our commission to greatness is simply helping each other succeed at following Jesus. Sometimes we read the Great Commission and assume that the only ones who are fulfilling it are the missionaries in China, or Africa, or the inner cities of our nation. The reality is—you and I are called to fulfill the Great Commission right where we are. We don’t have to “cross the sea” to follow Jesus, or to fulfill His commission to greatness. We just have to “see the cross.” Remember what Jesus has done for us, and share that with the world. Share His love and compassion, his joy and forgiveness. The more we are faithful in the little things, like welcoming guests among us, helping a classmate understand a new concept, being patient when a co-worker isn’t, the more prepared we will be when the big opportunities come! Often our commission to greatness is lived out in a lifetime of small, simple steps of obedience. What better time than today to take a few, small steps on that path! What better time than to day to accept Jesus’ commission to greatness!

God’s Word For Me Today—Extra! “Seven Keys to Greatness!

Since Jesus measures greatness by a different standard than the world, here are seven, small, simple keys to greatness as His disciple:

When you wake up say, “Good morning, Lord!” instead of “Good Lord! It’s morning.”
Smile at the first ten people you meet everyday. By then it will probably have become a habit!
Put a quarter in someone else’s parking meter, or leave a closer parking space at the mall for someone else!
Say a brief prayer for every person that waits on you or provides you with some kind of service today!
Let someone ahead of you in line at the bus stop, or the movies, or wherever you may be standing in line!
Take a moment to pet your cat or dog!

At the end of the day, tell everyone in your household how glad you are that they are part of your life. If you live alone, call someone and tell them!

To view the studies for other days, visit the God's Word for Me Today calendar.