This Sunday Pastor David reminds us that the Great Commission isn't optional, but a command from the Lord.

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples 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 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

If Christ promised He would build His church, what are the means by which He does it? In this sermon Pastor David explains that God saves souls through our proclamation of the Gospel, through our evangelism. God uses His people to accomplish His saving work. Christians are the means God uses. We must proclaim the Gospel with boldness and pray for God to save souls through it.

Matthew 16:18 Jesus said, "I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Acts 2:47 And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Romans 10:13-14 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Further Study: Acts 11:18; 2 Tim 2:25; Phil 1:29; Eph 2:8-9; 1:3-14; Matt 16:18; John 3:3-7; 6:44, 65; Acts 2:47; Titus 3:3-7; Rom 10:13-17.

As the representatives of God's Kingdom on Earth, it is important that the Church is one unified body expressing the same saving message, regardless of denomination or ethnic/cultural history and life experience. It's not that the Father sent Jesus so that those redeemed by His sacrifice could have a lack of individuality or independent thought, but that our independent thoughts would be guided by the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures of His inspiration, so that we would be of the same mind on the things of God's grand narrative. In this sermon, Pastor David explains that we might disagree on minor details, however, we must be solidly together on the indisputable facts of the Gospel.

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Divisions in the Church

1 Corinthians 1:9-13

10I appeal to you, brothers,a by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Christ’s Example of Humility

Philippians 2:2-4

2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.