What Are You Here For?: Movement & Moments

Story:

Early in mine and Jess’s ministry, we felt God calling us to mobilize the body of Christ to the nations through disciple making. As we began to process what this calling looked like in our lives we began to pray. Shortly after receiving this call I was offered a Missions Ministry position at the church I was serving in.

One of the first assignments I had in my early years of ministry was to mobilize 100 families to relocate for the sake of the Gospel. I strategized, researched, and planned… I kept coming back to the reality that people needed to be equipped if we were going to see a movement of God. At the time, 100 families seemed like an impossible task. I knew that whatever approach we would use it would have to be simple and easily reproducible.

Jess and I began to pray in one of the classrooms in the church that God would give us resources and a training class that could equip and mobilize people in how to make disciples. Shortly after, God brought us an organization that was praying for a church with this same burden and calling. Through the obedience of one woman named Lori Baldwin, we were able to connect with a group of leaders that had a passion for disciple making movements.

So we planned our first class. We prayed for 100+ people, but God had a better plan. He brought us 18 people, which turned out to be more like 12-14 people after a few weeks. We were honestly pretty disappointed. But we stayed positive and believed that God was up to something. We could have never imagined what God was doing with that small group of people. God took that small group of 12-14 and He multiplied them exponentially. Every week we were hearing of people starting to make disciples in their places of work, in their homes, and with their families.

Fast forward a year after this class. We had seen this group of 12-14 people, multiply to an army of people that we honestly had a hard time tracking. There were movements starting on college campuses, in firehouses, in tech companies, and in homes. It was out of control and we couldn’t have been more happy about it. People were coming to Christ, growing in the Word, and then going out and sharing their faith with others.

Title: Movement & Moments

Passage: Matthew 28:18-20

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples (Active Imperative) 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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Jesus is with us through the Holy Spirit - Acts 1:4)

Pray: (Pause 3-5 seconds)

Background: This text is known as the Great Commission. This is the final command of Jesus before He ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. Jesus had already died, was buried, and then rose from the dead. He then appeared to the disciples and over 500 other people. These are the final instructions to the disciples on how Jesus wanted them to carry the Gospel forth into the rest of the world. This is the “how” behind the why. Jesus gets really practical and outlines exactly what the disciples must do to advance His Kingdom.

I want to get practical this message and outline the what and how behind making disciples. This sermon is going to be different from the way I normally like to preach, which is systematically looking at a text, I want to take the next few minutes and talk about making disciples. What are some characteristics of a disciple that is both growing and multiplying. We are all here because someone obeyed the final command of Jesus and made disciples. Therefore it is critical that we take the time to look at what a disciple is, and how we can all be equipped in how to make disciples.

Main Points: A disciple maker is...

1. Relational
   1. We see from the text that this is not an isolated mission. There are many people involved. Jesus is always with you. You are to go to all nations, baptize THEM, teach THEM. Every part about making disciples is in the context of relationships.
   2. This is why we say that spiritual growth is not found in isolation, but in community. It is impossible to make disciples apart from relationships.
   3. “The Gospel flies best on the wings of relationships.” - Ps. Shodankeh Johnson

   4. Definition of Discipleship: “Discipleship is intimately and intentionally investing in people through accountable relationships empowered by the Holy Spirit in order to replicate Christ like followers.” - Replicate

      1. I’ll say it another way that may be a little more simple, “Making disciples is helping people take their next step on their faith journey.”

      2. Story: Harry (Ed) Elberson

         5. So many people try to grow on their own. I don’t believe people truly desire the journey in isolation, but oftentimes they don’t know where to find someone to disciple them. Oftentimes they don’t know where to start.
         6. John Wesley Created a 3- Fold strategy for growth.

      3. Societies (50+)

      4. Classes (12-20)

      5. Bands (5-7)

         7. At Pinewood we have a similar model…

      6. Gathering (50+)

      7. Crews (5-15)

      8. Accountability Groups (3-5)

         8. It’s not that one is more important than the other. Jesus didn’t emphasize one over the other, but He lived out and demonstrated all three.

      9. “And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” - Hebrews 10:24-25 CSB

      10. Scriptural

          1. All of our disciple making tools and practices will be centered on the Word of God.
          2. Story: Students at Long Hollow (God is a hero)

      11. “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” - Psalm 119:105 (Song)

      12. “so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.” - Isaiah 55:11
      13. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” - 2 Timothy 3:16
      14. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12
          3. It is the Word of God that transforms lives, not human effort or creative methods.
          4. We believe that the Word of God, illuminated by the Spirit of God, is enough to produce the people of God.
      15. Accountable
          1. Studying the Word is important for growing in the knowledge of God and for deepening your relationships with God, but the Bible clearly tells us to not just read the word, but do it!
          2. “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” - James 1:22
          3. Illust: Reading The Reason For God
          4. Nobody wants to be held accountable until it’s too late.
      16. Accountability is not meant to slow you down, but to propel you.
      17. Think of the vision you have for your life, certain goals you want to achieve, habits you want to have for your personal life and family, think of the legacy you want to leave behind…. Now who’s holding you accountable to those things?
      18. Illust: My Accountability Group now
      19. Accountability groups don’t condemn or call out, but they encourage and inspire you to be the man or woman God has called you to be.
          5. “The problem with the Christian church is not the gap between what we know and what we don’t know, it’s the gap between what we know and what we do. We have become educated beyond our obedience.” - Dave Browning (deliberate simplicity)
          6. It’s easier to walk in faithful obedience to God when you consistently walk in accountable relationships with others.
      20. Prayerful
          1. There has never been a great movement of God where there wasn’t first a movement of prayer.
          2. Illust: Prayer house in Sierra Leone. Over 8000+ churches planted.
          3. We believe that God can do more in a second of prayer than we can do in a lifetime of our own efforts.
          4. Prayer is not a part of the work, prayer is the work. We pray, and God works.
          5. Story: Lorena Valdez (Person of Peace)
          6. “Anything that doesn’t first begin with prayer and fasting is flawed from the beginning.” - James Forlines

      21. Missional

          1. “Go therefore and make disciple makers”
          2. We are always going to have a passion to reach the lost and a focus to send to the nations.
          3. Earlier I mentioned how people have a desire to be in relationships and to have someone walk with them on their spiritual journey, but oftentimes don’t know where to find it? This is why we meet people where they are.

      22. Your mission field is where you go

      23. Your mission field is the people in your home
      24. Your mission field is the city you live in
      25. Your mission field is your gym
          4. Story: McKenna Taylor (Embrace Multiplication)
          5. “God desires to do the extraordinary through the unlikely”
      26. I’m not ready, I’m not a good speaker, I’m not networked, I’m not courageous. These are lies of the enemy.
      27. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE! God is with you! He will guide you! He will show you the way!
          6. 5 components of a move of God
      28. Prayer and Fasting
      29. Serve with a purpose
      30. Finding a person of peace
      31. Start a crew
      32. Embrace multiplication

Closing:

My wife and I attended a conference in Nashville where Louie Giglio was the headlining speaker. I was sitting in one of the higher sections in the back just taking in every word. I couldn’t tell you the details of the message, but I remember that he kept referring to a rope. He said that someone here tonight is still holding on to the rope thinking that this is what God has for you, but if you were to let go of the rope and trust him, He would take you farther than you could ever imagine! It had nothing to do with the rope, it had everything to do with trust.

I sat there recounting all of the stories, all of the moments that I could see God at work, all of the lives changed, and I struggled to let go. At the time I had no idea of the future. I had no idea what that thing was that was so much farther and grander than I could ever imagine. All that I knew was that I sensed God speaking to me and telling me that I needed to start letting go and to start trusting Him for more.

One Sunday morning at church during the worship I felt the Spirit speak to me so clearly. He wanted me to let go of the current movement that I had been a part of for several years and embrace a new season. I struggled to step out, but I knew that there was no other choice. If you’ve walked with Jesus for any period of time then you know, God’s way is always the best way.

I stepped out that morning and I walked down the aisle and opened up my palms and said “I surrender all.” I cried like a baby on that altar knowing full well that I couldn’t go back. Jesus spoke so clearly to me at that moment. I felt His comfort, His peace. Very shortly after that moment a vision was born. Pinewood Church. And already God has done more than I could have possibly imagined.

How many of you know that God’s plan is best?! And that when you let go of the rope, you can trust that He’s got you!

Walking Points:

1. We’re moving into a new season with Crews
2. Everyone is a catalyst for a movement.
3. Step out in faith. Listen to the voice of God.

Invitation.

1. Why We Baptize (Meaning/Command)
   1. “At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.” - Acts 9:18
2. Who We Baptize (Magnitude/Identification)
   1. It is an outward expression of an inward decision to follow Christ
   2. It is a public declaration of a private decision.

3. How We Baptize (Method/Symbolism)

   1. Baptized on the right side of salvation

Let’s pray.