MISSION WOODS CHURCH
Sunday, May 31, 2026
      • Bible Trivia
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  • Father, I Adore You
  • I Love To Tell The Story
  • He Touched Me
  • Something Beautiful

      • Matthew 28:16-18ESV

      • Matthew 28:19-20ESV

  • Imagine going to a concert of your favorite band. You see them come onstage, and the crowd erupts in cheers—everyone is ecstatic! But there’s that one friend who just stands there, arms crossed, skeptical about whether it’s really them or just a clever impersonation. That’s like the moment when Jesus appeared to the disciples—many worshipped, but some still had doubts, reminding us that even in moments of clear revelation, skepticism can linger.
    It’s reminiscent of the father who brings his son to Jesus in the Gospel of Mark 9:22-24
    Mark 9:22–24 ESV
    If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
    I don’t know about you, but I find comfort in these verses. The fact that some doubted reminds me of the reality of what it is to have faith. We all live on that spectrum in life whenever we are putting our faith in anyone or anything. When you try something new; when you take that new job; when you join that new group; When you make that big purchase. There’s that bit of insecurity, that doubt.
    So let’s look at this passage a bit closer. Jesus begins with Mat 28:18
    Matthew 28:18 ESV
    And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
    How much authority? - All
    What does it mean to have authority?
    Years ago I was sitting at a table at a ski lodge with a bunch of kids. Those kids all had seasons passes and were all wearing the latest ski clothing. They were clearly feeling important as they noticed an older man moving slowly through the dining area. His clothes were stained, his sweater looked like it had been used on a cat scratching post. One of the kids remarked, “I can’t believe they have bums like that here too.”
    I chuckled. “If he wanted to, he could take those season passes away from you.”
    “He’s not getting my pass!” One of them objected.
    “You don’t understand,” I said. “He owns the ski area.” The man was Web Moffit and at the time he owned Ski Lifts Incorporated which ran the Snoqualmie Summit ski areas.
    His authority was not based upon what those kids thought of him; it was based upon who he was. As their opinion of Webb didn’t impact his authority neither do the doubters in our passage affect Jesus’ authority. All of it is His!
    And then we’re issued the command, “Go…” vs. 19. It’s an imperative, it’s a command. Mt 28:19
    Matthew 28:19 ESV
    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,
    The command is to Go, therefore - it’s as if Jesus is saying, because I have this authority, Go. Go and do as I am telling you, and what is that?
    “Make disciples”. Not just of people like you but of people of all nations. This is where I think too many churches, parachurch ministries, and even evangelists have gotten it wrong. They have seen this as a command to make “converts” because of the next phrase.
    “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Baptism is a public profession of having a faith. Yet as all of us know, or should know thats not the finished product. We’re not done yet.
    When we’re baptized we’re baptized by this trinitarian formula. God the Father, Jesus Christ His only Son, and the Holy Spirit - three in one.
    Psalm 8:1 ESV
    O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
    Psalm 9:10 ESV
    And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
    Proverbs 18:10 ESV
    The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
    Baptized into the name is only the beginning of making disciples. Of course we need to start people on the journey of following Jesus, but making disciples is more than that. Let’s look at vs. 20. Mt 28:20
    Matthew 28:20 ESV
    teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
    “teaching them”… this is where just about every volunteer I’ve ever recruited said, “Wait, what? No, I can’t. I don’t know enough.” Want to hear a crazy fact. The majority of Christians have been led to Christ by someone who has been a Christian less than 2 years. I can guarantee you that they didn’t know what you the average person in this room knows.
    But let’s back up for a moment. Who is the authority in the room? It’s not you. It’s not me. It’s Jesus. All authority has been given to Him.
    Then there’s the promise - I am with you always. Did you catch that? All authority in heaven and on earth is with you always.
    So the question that the Church, and you and I really need to wrestle with is this, “Do we believe in the authority?” “Do we have FAITH in the authority?”
    If so are living it.
    Moses reported this commandment to the Isrealites: Dt 6:4-7
    Deuteronomy 6:4–7 ESV
    “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
    This is not suggestion, it’s command.
    If it is true that we love God as we profess and we believe in the One with all authority in heaven and on earth, why aren’t we talking about it?
    These words we believe are written on our heart.
    Church, all authority in heaven and on earth is with us.
    It has been said that all of us as Christians need a Paul, a Barnabbas, and a Timothy in our lives. In other words we need someone teaching, discipling us like Paul did for Timothy. We need a mentor. In our 21st century there are lots of ways to be mentored - personally one on one, by books, podcasts, seminars, preaching, etc. We all need that, we need to be feeding on the Word and striving to grow in our faith.
    We all need a Barnabbas, a fellow sojourner in this world. A sister or brother in Christ to encourage us, and walk along side of us. Help us think aloud. To pray with and over us.
    We all need a Timothy. Paul poured his life and knowledge into Timothy. We need to be pouring our lives into someone else. This is discipleship, sharing our faith with someone else and helping them grow in their faith. This is the one that we tend to be most afraid of. Here’s the reason that’s true - other people ask us questions. Questions that we may not have answers to. That’s scary.
    Yet note, Jesus did not say - you have all authority. Jesus did not say, you know it all. Jesus did not say you’re doing it all now. What he did say was Matthew 28:18-20
    Matthew 28:18–20 ESV
    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.”
    Go.
    Make Disciples.
    Baptizing them - It’s a symbol of that new life.
    Teaching them - okay, wait, what are we supposed to teach them. “to observe all that I have commanded you.” We just need to teach what Jesus taught. Talk about it, try and live it. It’s not about having all the answers but knowing where to look.
    Last question, what was the last thing Jesus commanded according to the Gospel of Matthew. I’ll give you a hint, these verses are the end of the book.
    Mark Hall asks these questions in the song “If We are the Body” “But if we are the body Why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching?
    “And if we are the body Why aren't His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way? There is a way.”
    We know the way, the truth and the light. Let’s not cease to reach, to seek to heal, to let Jesus Words teach us.
    Through it all don’t forget, ALL AUTHORITY in Heaven and on earth, JESUS, is with us ALWAYS!

      • Mark 9:22–24ESV

      • Matthew 28:18ESV

      • Matthew 28:19ESV

      • Matthew 28:20ESV

      • Deuteronomy 6:4–7ESV

      • Matthew 28:18–20ESV

  • O Bless The Gifts
  • Now I Belong To Jesus
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MISSION WOODS CHURCH
info@missionwoodschurch.org
(253) 922-5555
http://www.missionwoodschurch.org
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