Jesus in Matthew 28:19 said "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
I. Do you know what it means to be a disciple of Jesus?
Someone who both learns and obeys the beliefs and teachings of Jesus and teaches others the same.
Jesus begun His ministry by choosing 12 men to teach the ways of God to. There were the very first disciples of Christ but only the first of millions through out history. Everyday more and more people accept Jesus as their Lord and becoming his disciples..
In Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus was walking on the shores of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Peter and Andrew fishing with their dad. He told them to Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. They left their father and their boat and followed Jesus becoming His disciples.Jesus knew that they understood fishing and would understand what it meant to fish for men. Meant that they should gather men into the kingdom of God the way they gathered fish into the boats.
Jesus was a fisher of men and was calling all disciples to be fishers of men also. Soul winners.
II Jesus Our example, our pattern
Jesus was not just some great man that we should try to be like. He is the son of God, sent here not only to take our punishment for sin but also to be a living example of how we as a children of God are to live our life. He was out pattern..
Every born again Christian is supposed to be Jesus' disciple. In Matthew 10:28 Jesus said that whoever does not take up their cross and follow Him are not worth of Him. In other words we are to deny our selfish desires daily and follow his pattern. God expects more of us than being born again but never learning and following His ways.
We are to imitate him. Be like Jesus, think like Jesus, love like Jesus....
He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us. Right before he left earth he told us: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you".
When Jesus left the earth He left us to finish the work on earth that he started and gave us the Holy Spirit to help us.
III Jesus sat on a mountain with his disciples in Matthew chapter 5 and he told them they were:
Salt of the earth: Adds flavor, adds zest, preserves. We are to make a difference, make the world a better place by doing right and doing good to people. By showing love and mercy and kindness. By being like Jesus.
Lights to the world: Light illuminates and allows people to have vision or to see.
This world would be totally Spiritually dark and evil without the light of God in the earth.
Gods light shines through us.
We are Gods light in the earth.
We are told by Jesus to let our light shine and not hide it. So letting it shine is not automatic, we must make an effort to be lightJesus said that we overcome evil with good. We hold back the forces of darkness or Satan and his demons by being light.
IV Jesus commissioned all believers to go into the world and do the things he did, making disciples. That means to lead people to accepting Jesus as their Lord and then teaching them about Him and how to obey Him. (Memory verse)
That means you! You are not to young to be fishers of men.
You are not to young to be salt and light to this world.
If you be like Jesus by letting you light shine then people will ask you questions and you will have opportunities to tell them about Him. God will make a way for you.
Faith as a child.
Children make the best evangelist and also the easiest to lead to Jesus.
I remember going to school in the first grade and telling the kids at school that they must be born again in order to go to heaven when they die. I remember kids asking me questions and me answering them. I don't lead anyone to Jesus because I wasn't taught how to so I want to be sure to teach you guys how to lead someone to Jesus.
It is really simple
1. Talk about Jesus to get up their interest.
2. Tell them your testimony of how God saved you and now you are going to heaven when you die to be with God forever.
3. Answer their questions the best you can
4 Ask them if they want to invite Jesus into their heart and be saved too.
5. If they say yes. Tell them to say this prayer after you. Let it be a really simple prayer asking God for forgive them of the things they have done wrong and inviting Him to be their Lord and savior.
6. Reassure them that if they meant it then they belong to God.
7. Be their friend and encourage them to grow by doing the things we encourage you to do. Reading the bible, talking to God, and going to church to learn more about Jesus. They should also be baptized in water because Jesus commanded us to.
V. Alter call
(Pray a general Prayer asking God to help them all be good disciples and to help them be a witness to those they come in contact with)
God is here today to meet any need you have. If you have never received Jesus as your Lord, the Bible says today is the day of salvation. We want to pray with you so that you can live your life for Jesus and go to be with Him when you die.
Maybe you need a healing in your body today.
Or maybe you just want more of the Lord and want us to lay hands on you today. If you need anything from the Lord today come on and the workers will pray for you.