matthew 28:16-20 - the great commission

16" Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 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

So I have been working now at Gateway Community Church for about two months and it is an incredible privilege to come to Gateway at a time like this. John, our pastor, is re-engaging the church in the model that has brought them this far. In the short 9 years of their existence they have grown from one small group filled with non-believers to a community of close to 4,000 people in Austin. Preparing for our tenth year anniversary we are wrestling for how this body will do ministry for the next ten years. In our staff meeting this morning we talked about that plan and how it will return us to the place we have come from of incarnational ministry.

So we were challenged to think on a few things this morning from John and what God has laid on his heart. I'm kind of opening up that dialogue in my heart that I am having with God about this to you the reader. I'm going to start by humbly offering the great commission reworded. It doesn't need to be reworded for you but forgive me as I reword it for myself in a language I can understand.

"Christ's friends grouped themselves together and headed toward a mountain that Jesus told them he would meet them at. They were a little dazed and confused, very uncomfortable, a little disturbed, and pretty bewildered by what had happened so far. They wanted to feel good about Jesus but they were mostly filled with doubt and questions. It felt surreal. One big cloud hung over them with a big label that read, "What next?" Jesus stood before them, "You know I Am God. I am holding all of the cards, in complete control, and aware of everything past, present, and future. Because I am God there is nothing I can't do. So I'm dead set on this. I am not asking you I am telling you that as you leave this place you are going to go out into this world and pursue broken people, create friendships with them, love them just like I loved you, and help them become a God follower like you. Everything I have shown you, told you, challenged you with, did for you, put you through, and even the way I loved you... you're going to do with others so that they can do the same for someone else. Don't do this for yourself or use me as a means to bring yourself glory. Do this in the name of God only. I know I am asking you to do something messy, scary, uncomfortable, and crazy but I am going to be with you as you go. I mean this. It's not an option. Do it. It's your turn now." Matthew 28:16-20 (the Chad Swanzy Version)

So, what did the 11 disciples do? They hung out in Jerusalem for 15 years in the book of Acts. Nice! Think about that. I have been for quite some time now. Here are three short slides I have put together to describe what I see verses what I know would be most important based on this passage. Here it is in another language I can understand, pictures of course. Look at the picture and help me help myself. Thanks for accommodating me.

Slide one is a depiction of just about every leaders comfort zone or "stay in Jerusalem" response.

To stay in my comfort zone I have probably lobbed my commission response in the form of lost seeking missles. This keeps things tactical and more importantly away from the real battle safe and away from the fray of getting too messy. I, like a lot of leaders, know better but either don't know how to change or more importantly aren't held accountable to change. Ouch! "What do you mean? How have you done that?" you say. The weapons of warfare in a hunker in the Jerusalem bunker offensive strategy, come in the form of things like an event, an activity, an attendance goal, measuring and numbering the crowd, trying to be bigger, better, winsome, attractive, or launching an energy laden buzz KABOOM. You know... drop the big impression bomb on them.  This hopefully causes some disruption or buzz in the lost person's life that results in an un-ignorable church gone crazy presence! You then hope it results in them coming your way. "Hey, look over here." "Come to Jerusalem." Weeeee! 

Now there is nothing wrong with events, activities, buzz, knowing who is there, and wanting to grow. I LIKE THOSE THINGS. But if that is all I am leaning on or putting all of my effort into I am going to die in a pile. The sum total of all of just trying to GET THEM TO SHOW UP is that that's all I have got them to do. In some places that's all you need to do. After that everything else is built on hope and optimism. What happens after that could be magical, spiritual, or a miracle!

The next slide (2) is what that looks like.

See the church building? There is a galactic arrow with only one direction, toward the building. All of the efforts previously spoken of in figure 1 lead believers, whether spoken or unspoken, to use all of their energy and ideas on getting people to come to a building where things are on their turf. With those who respond (and isn't it really just a few in the grand scheme of things?) you teach them to do the same thing. That method of make some noise, throw a party, scream look over here becomes a sedative. It lulls us blissfully into self validation and ignorance. Our authority becomes ourselves, our message is be like us. It's sickening. Even now you are struggling with three reactions. 1. You're right, I've known it all along. 2. You're right, but I can't or don't want to wrestle with how to change my environment. 3. What takes people like you so long? To that, I say this journey started six years ago as I began church planting and partnering at the same time with Younglife. So, I am in process and learning just like you. I am in the same mess and from the same mold. I want to be comfortable rather than uncomfortable. I like my kingdom of comfort.

In figure 3, you see the leader, student or adult, heading into the messy, broken, world.

Their chief method is called relationship. Along with their method they use the following tools, Christ's love, His words, His example, healing, help, and purpose. No bells, no whistles, no way to know, measure, or quantify. The support team for this is Christ's presence, the Holy Spirit, God's Word, and prayer. It's buzz is soulful connection. The event is called life. 

Here is the motive.

1. I am coming to you out of obedience.

2. I am coming to you because of marvelous and beautiful Jesus.

3. I am coming to you because I love God and love you.

4. I will come to you even if you don't naturally want me to.

5. I will not be afraid of the mess. I don't need you to come to a building as much as I want you to come to God.

6. I am coming to you because someone came to me.

7. I am not coming to you perfect but broken as well.

8. I am coming to you at your greatest felt need.

Before we left staff meeting John gave us the book listed below. I am going to be reading it and sharing my thoughts with you in this blog. Have a great day.