Friday, March 11, 2011

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