Raising Disciples of Christ
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 24:04
0 ratings
· 54 viewsBased on Matthew 3:7-12. Baptism requires more than water. Infanct dedication is making a commitment to raise a disciple.
Files
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Welcome/Opening Prayer of Dedication
Children's Song - God's Not Dead
Baptism - Sunni
Music ministry
The Solid Rock (1,2,3)
Only Trust Him
Good, Good Father
Message - “Raising Disciples of Christ”
What a blessing to have a service where
Some of our kids have come forward to proclaim “God is Not Dead”
We dedicated ourselves to providing Sunni Rae every opportunity to grow up and proclaim Jesus as Lord
And now get to see what God says about “Raising Disciples of Christ”
Baptism and Discipleship are so very often misunderstood,
Both in the culture and in the church
When we think of baptism in the Bible, it’s hard not to think of John the Baptist
John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness of Judea
“Repent for the Kingdom of the Heaven is at hand”
Just as Isaiah had prophesied
People from all over Jerusalem and all of Judea came out to see him at the Jordan river
They confessed their sins
and John baptized them
Even the Pharisees and Sadduccees
Two groups who didn’t even like each other
They came out to see the commotion
This is how it is recorded in Matthew 3:7
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
I mentioned earlier that the Pharisees and Sadducees opposed each other
Except that they would oppose both John and Jesus in time
Note that verse 7 implies that the Sadducees and Pharisees were coming to be baptized
This was likely because they felt righteous enough to be baptized just because of WHO they were
Not sinners like the rest,
That is why John called them a “Brood of vipers”
For those who believe they are “good enough” on their own
For those who do not understand they are sinners in need of forgiveness and a Savior
Those join the ranks of the “brood”, or offspring, “of vipers”
Matthew 3:8
8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
In other words, all of us need to do the things necessary to show we are turning from our sinful past
None of us are saved because of our heritage
We can’t get into Heaven because our parents or grandparents sailed on the Mayflower or brought us to church
or any other human contrivance
That’s basically what Matthew 3:9-10 says
9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Our genetics have nothing to do with how God sees us in our ‘New Testament’ reality
We are all children of God and Abraham’s family IF we accept Jesus
All of us need to bear good fruit for God
We all need to turn from sin and become more godly as we let God work through us
For there is judgment coming for all of us, which is the reference to the axe against the root
The Old Testament often uses the metaphor of a tree as a person and fruit as deeds or actions
Like in Psalm 1:3
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
To which I ask, “Are you?”
In the baptism in the form of infant dedication we just participated in
We all promised God we would provide an environment where Sunni would see the love of God
That we would encourage her to accept Jesus
How can we do that if our leaves are withered?
If we are angry, fearful or spiritually exhausted?
If we allow the culture to dictate what we believe or do?
Put simply, only if we root ourselves in the knowledge of God
Only if we allow God to keep us nourished
Only then, can we provide the right environment for Sunni or others to see Christ in us
There is a great need for humility, something that seems lost in the culture today
It seems we have a natural desire to project ourselves to be greater than we truly are
We spend so much energy trying to SHOW we are somethings we are not
Think how often people live beyond their means
Some spend more than they make
Some promise what they know they can’t do
Think how often parents push their kids too far
As if anyone believes that parents NEVER made a mistake before
Think how often parents fail to show their kids that they messed up, are sorry and will take steps to do better
Wouldn’t it be great if kids saw their parents accept responsibility for their mistakes?
“I shouldn’t have lost my temper with you”
“What you did was not right, but I was wrong to yell at you or embarrass you”
It’s sad that so many stay away from church because they say there are nothing but hypocrites in church
By that logic, no one should tell their kids ‘not to lie’, because they have all lied at one time or another
John the Baptist was a bright light teaching that ALL have sinned and ALL need to repent
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
When I baptized Sunni just now, I was not doing so because I believe I am somehow a perfect man, sinless
If John the baptist was not worthy of carrying the sandals Jesus wore, then what of me?
I, like John the baptist can baptize in water
I can sprinkle, pour or dunk you with the best of them
As always with children, the baptism is really an infant dedication
It is a promise of the family, biological, family of choice and faith family
A promise to give her every encouragement to know and accept Jesus as Lord
Truly , until you are baptized (submersed) in the Holy Spirit, you are really not better off
Jesus is the one who baptizes you in the Holy Spirit John 1:33
33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
It is only when we accept Jesus that we have true baptism that matters eternally
To be baptized is to be immersed or totally covered
Jesus is the One who brings this power
Jesus is the One who sent the Holy Spirit to cover us
We must understand the reference to “fire” in Matthew 3:11.
This is a symbol of purification
To remove impurities by burning off that which is less than gold
Just like we use to separate trash from Gold
The trash burns off, while the pure gold liquefies
This represents God’s goodness that remains in us once we go through the pain of acknowledging our sin and repenting
Stopping our sinful actions is not easy or painless, just necessary for us to be pure
All the “bad” stuff is sent you know where (from Matthew 3:12)
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
The lost culture is filled with chaff (trash) that will get thrown into the fire
Our job is to stand firm and let God purify us
Make us better than we used to be
But not just so WE are better
God’s purpose for each of us is this in Matthew 28:16-20
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 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,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We finally come to the title of today’s message
Our job is to Raise Disciples of Christ”
Yes, we need to GO outside the walls of this church
We need to GO outside the walls of our homes
We need to GO outside our town and county
We also need to GO across our living room
We need to “Make Disciples” of our own families
Showing the goodness of God
Showing the mercy of God
Showing the forgiveness of God
Showing the love of God
Quite literally, being a godly presence to our brothers, sisters, parents, spouses and children
Teaching our children the way of God in and from the Bible is REQUIRED for all of us
We cannot let the culture, school, work or friends be a greater influence
We must TEACH the Word of God within our families
We must “observe”, which means to obey, the Word of God
Here are the simple steps to follow
Study & Know God’s Word
Obey God’s Word (as best you can)
Admit when you sin
Repent from your sin
Profess God’s goodness to all
When we follow these 5-steps
Then we SHOW the fullness of Christian living
We have then “walked the walk”
The “Great Commission” tells us to “make Disciples”
A disciple is “one who seeks to become like his or her teacher”
Many people who identify as Christians, but are really “Christian-lite”
They are not disciples
God wants us to raise our children so they will want to become more like Jesus
Loving, kind, caring for others
Full of grace and mercy
Not following the culture, but following the example of Jesus
Here is the final simple truth
In order to RAISE disciples, we need to BE Disciples
Then those around us, especially our kids
will truly be given a chance at eternal life with God
instead of life in the chaos and destruction of the culture
Amen
Closing Hymn/Invitation:
“Jesus Paid It All” (1,2)
Pastoral prayer/Benediction
Bless food