Worthy is the Lamb

“11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

- Revelation 5:11-12

See God rightly.

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.

- Revelation 4:2-3

When we see God rightly, we worship Him fully.

8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

- Revelation 4:8

10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

- Revelation 4:10-11

When we worship Him fully, we see everything rightly.

6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

- Revelation 5:6-10

Dear Church: Love, Jesus

'I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. '

- Revelation 1:10-16

“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.'

- Mark 13:32-33

The Lord cares for us. 

God commends us

“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.'”

- Revelation 2:2-3

God corrects us

'But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. '

- Revelation 2:14-15

God comforts us

'I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.'

- Revelation 3:11-12

Spoiler Alert!

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail[b] on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”- Revelation 1:1-8 ESV

Victory Revealed

5 and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. - Revelation 1:5

8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,

- Philippians 2:8-9

Victory Secured

5 and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world.

- Revelation 1:5

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

- Colossians 1:18

Victory Shared

6 He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. - Revelation 1:6

Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It

'And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”'

- Matthew 28:19-20

'And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” '

- Mark 16:15-18

'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. '

- Acts 1:8-9

We exist to honor God by establishing Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, and socially responsible churches and campus ministries in every nation.

Honor God

Christ-centered

'And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.'

- Colossians 1:18

Spirit-empowered

'“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.'

- John 15:26

Socially Responsible

“What every expression of social responsibility should have in common is that it is unapologetically Christ-centered.” - Pastor Steve Murrell, 100 Years From Now

Establish Churches

'Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”'

- Matthew 9:37-38

Establish Campus Ministries

' One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. '

- Psalm 145:4

A Bible and a Passport

17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” 18 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” 21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

- Luke 10:17–21, NLT

Faith That Flexes

The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 2 These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. 3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.

- Luke 10:1–4, NLT

9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

- 2 Corinthians 12:9, NLT

Growth You Can’t Get at Home

16 Then he said to the disciples, “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.” 17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”

- Luke 10:16–17, NLT

19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.

- Luke 10:19, NLT

13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

- Acts 4:13, NLT

Joy You Bring Back From Abroad

20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because 21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

- Luke 10:17–21, NLT

M.O.G.S.

'For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. '
- 1 Corinthians 1:11

We try to seek out great Men or Women of God.

We can develop Man of God Syndrome (M.O.G.S.).

What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? '
- 1 Corinthians 1:12-13

Symptoms of the Man of God Syndrome (M.O.G.S.) can include:

• The wrong foundation

'For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.'
- 1 Corinthians 3:11

• The wrong focus

• The wrong fruit

'each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. '
- 1 Corinthians 3:13-15

Jesus served us and empowered us.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- Mark 10:45

'(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), '
- John 4:2

'and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. '
- 2 Timothy 2:2

We’re all called to be the People of God.

'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 10:14

Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us—servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow.
- 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, MSG

The Recipe for Ministry

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

- Ephesians 4:11–13 NLT

Ministers Are Not Just the Few, They’re the Many

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

- Ephesians 4:12 NLT

12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

- Ephesians 4:12 NIV

Ministry Is Not Just About Doing, It’s About Building

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

- Ephesians 4:12 NLT

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

- 1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV

Maturity Comes Through Participation, Not Observation

13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

- Ephesians 4:13 NLT

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

- 1 Peter 2:9 NIV

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

- Mark 10:45 NLT

Discipleship is Relationship

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””

- Mathew 28:18-20 NIV

“I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me,”

- John 14:30 NIV

“He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”

- Colossians 2:14-15 NLT

Discipleship begins with our relationship with Jesus.

“Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me…….’

- Mathew 4:19 NIV

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

- John 15:15 NIV

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!””

- Romans 8:15, NASB2020

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

- 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

“The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.””

- Heb 10: 15-17 NIV

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: My anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place—on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the crops of your land—and it will burn and not be quenched.”

- Jeremiah 7:20 NIV

“Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “See, I will make this people eat bitter food and drink poisoned water. I will scatter them among nations that neither they nor their ancestors have known, and I will pursue them with the sword until I have made an end of them.”

- Jeremiah 9:15 NIV

Discipleship grows in our relationship with one another.

“…so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

- 1 Thesalonians 2:8 NIV

Discipleship multiplies through relationships.

One Move That Changes Everything

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 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 28:18–20, NIV

The Authority of Discipleship

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

- Matthew 28:18

The Assignment of Discipleship

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations

- Matthew 28:19a

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem… to the ends of the earth.”

- Acts 1:8

The Act of Discipleship

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

- Matthew 28:19b

The Assurance of Discipleship

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

- Matthew 28:20

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

- 2 Corinthians 12:9

Famous Last Words

'After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands…'

- Revelation 7:9

'And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'

- Matthew 28:18

‘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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”'

- Matthew 28:19-20

The last words of Christ should be our first priority.

We can bring the Great Commission into every other mission.