John 20:19-23

 

Our missions/outreach pastor was given the opportunity to preach today, the Sunday after VBS. As always, a great sermon was delivered. 

 

Big Idea: We go because we are sent. 

 

In the Mission Impossible movies, The mission is always present as if it is optional with the line “your mission, should you choose to accept it,” but for believers, we know our mission and we know it is a command, not a request. We are sent. 

 

4 reasons we go on mission

  1. We go because Jesus came for us (v. 19). … Jesus went to the disciples after His resurrection and gave them peace. He didn't question their loyalty in their hiding or go find another group to carry out His mission. He went to His disciples who were hiding in fear and gave them peace. Jesus comes into our lives too and gives us peace. Because He has come for us, we now get to go to others. 
  2. We go because Jesus took our place (v. 20). … Jesus showed His wounds to the disciples, proving He was pierced on the cross, showing that He died in our place just as Isaiah 53 prophesied. This is mentioned by Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:21, that Jesus died in our place. He died so that we could be saved. But Jesus died not just for us, but so that everyone could have the opportunity to be saved. For that reason, we go. 
  3. We go because we are sent (v. 21). … Jesus sent His disciples out. And now He sends us. The mission comes first from the Father, who sent Jesus. We have the advantage of seeing the plan in the Bible, knowing the plan and seeing the final result. We read the Bible knowing everything points to Jesus. We know the mission comes from the Father and that the source of the message is Jesus. We can use this knowledge to help us spread the message more effectively and without fear. 
  4. We go with the power of the Holy Spirit (vv. 22-23). … Jesus breathed and placed the Holy Spirit on His disciples. And He tells us that when we preach the Gospel and people accept it, they are forgiven, and that if they reject it, they are not. Sometimes we go on mission to places where we don't speak their local language, and that can be an issue, but the Holy Spirit provides us ways to reach that community anyways through translators or through actions. 

 

4 ways to live a sent life this week

  1. Look for the locked doors. … Locked doors can have riches behind them. In this case the riches are people who can be saved. The hardest to reach are often also the most effective after they are saved because they realize just how much God has done for them. 
  2. Share your scars. … Showing your mistakes and the results can help show people that we are just like them and that they can be saved too. 
  3. Extend the mission. … We don't always get to go somewhere on mission, but we can always pray for and support those who are on mission. 
  4. Depend on the Spirit. … Put your reliance on the Spirit. Be ready to give up everything and know that God will provide. 

 

Someone is waiting on the message you were sent to deliver. Go and deliver it. 

 

For further study/ resources used to prepare this message

  • Carson, D. A. – The Gospel According to John (PNTC)
  • Craig Keener – The Gospel of John: A Commentary
  • Lesslie Newbigin – The Gospel in a Pluralist Society
  • John Piper – Let the Nations Be Glad!
  • John Piper – Sermon: “As the Father Has Sent Me, Even So I Am Sending You”