The Mission of the Church

In his sermon on February 20, 2011, Pastor Collins spoke from Matthew 28:18-20, “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.”

As he has promised, Jesus meets his disciples on a mountain in Galilee. They worshipped him, though some doubted. Jesus claims all authority in heaven and on earth and then commissions his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them all he has commanded.

The mission is clearly stated and entrusted to the disciples, and to readers of the Gospel, who are obedient to the Lord’s command carry on the Lord’s mission with the promise of his presence and power. He commissioned the Disciples to go and make disciples for the kingdom just as he had done. The disciples’ community is authorized to “teach” in his name and is entrusted with “the works” of Jesus and the promise to be with us always to the end of the age.

by: Ahmad Stevenson
written for my 8th grade
Religion Class Essay

Discovering A Way in the Wilderness

Scripture Reference: Genesis 21:17-20

¹⁷ God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. ¹⁸ Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”
 ¹⁹ Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
 ²⁰ God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. ²¹ While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.

In this scripture we see that God's pity is greater than ours. Ishmael's moans and his cries pierce the heart of God. Vs.17 tells us "God heard the boy crying." The omniscient God hears every sound in the world. God, who revealed Himself to Hagar telling her Ishmael is alive, and promised, "I will make him into a great nation," God sees life flow through Ishmael for generations to come. God tells Hagar that He needs Ishmael as a link to future generations.

When God opened her eyes Hagar saw a well of water. Sadness and sorrow often have a blinding effect on us, cutting us off from reality. During times of gloom and despair the devil finds it easy to manipulate our feelings. This is why it is important that we praise God when misery and disaster falls upon us. Worshipping him will keep us in touch with reality. The well is there, the only thing we need is an eye-opener.

Isaiah 6:10 gives a clear picture of sin: It “Make the heart of this people callused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn and be healed.” Isaiah was to awaken the people of Israel to the reality of their sinful condition. Sorrow, dejection and despair can have the same effect on us because they are an offspring of sin.

When God leaves us destitute of his direction and takes away his grace from us, we must ask, not only that he would bestow upon us such things as will be useful to us. That he will also teach caution to enable us to use them; otherwise, it will be our lot to faint, with closed eyes, in the midst of fountains.

Meeting God on the Mountain

Scripture Reference:
Genesis  Chapter 31


There once was a man and a mountain. On that mountain, the man encounteed God and shared that experience, as best he could, with his brothers.

Jacob had been on the run when Laban, his father-in-law, caught up with him. It was not a pleasant encounter, but they talked things out. On the mountain, Jacob and Laban made peace and built a heap between them.  Then they parted, having taken an oath in the Name of th God of Abraham.

Then, Jacob worshipped God.  He did so by making a sacrifice.  He did so freely, not out of compulsion.

What if we were to mark great events in our life with worship?

Finally, they tarried.  There was not hurry about getting off the mountain.  there was no complusion to leave.  The time of fleeing was past.  It was time to tarry.

What if we slowed down and celebrated the presence of God? What if we took time to enjoy each other's company?  What if we were not in such a hurry?

Hurry was the characteristic of Jacob's flight from Laban's pursuit. It was no longer necessary.  He was free to worship, fellowship and tarry.

God is willing and able to bring this kind of peace and quiet to our lives as well, if we let Him.


Source: Master Sunday Bulletins
            http://www.mastersundaybullentins.com/