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马太福音28:16-20：16十一个门徒往加利利去，到了耶稣约定的山上。17他们见了耶稣就拜他，然而还有人疑惑。18耶稣进前来，对他们说：“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。19所以，你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗〔注：或作“给他们施洗，归于父、子、圣灵的名”〕。20凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。”
今天的教会经常制定自己的“使命宣言”。我的经历告诉我其实很少有会众能用语言表达出这个使命宣言。除了耶稣这里给我们的使命宣言，也许我们根本不需要任何其他使命宣言。天父上帝把一切权柄都赐给了耶稣，耶稣又将行进的命令赐给了我们，直到他再来。
首先，他给我们制定了目标：使万民做他的门徒。这十一个门徒对耶稣的话是认真的。那一天也许有人感到疑惑，而且马太也没有告诉我们他们为什么感到疑惑，但是教会历史表明门徒对于他的命令是非常认真的。多马死在印度。马太死在埃塞俄比亚。传说中，只有约翰逃脱了殉道者的命运。我们带着福音能走多远？我们能传福音给我们的邻居吗？我们能通过接触那些住在我们中间的外国人将福音带到更远的地方吗？
其次，他告诉我们如何使人做他的门徒。给他们施洗并教导他们。这是耶稣赐给我们的强有力的工具，为的是扩展他的国度。当你给人传讲耶稣的故事，请不要低估上帝话语的能力。我自己就有过这样的经历：起初那些人心里刚硬，拒绝相信，但渐渐地，信心会在心里增长。毫无疑问，你自己也有这样的经历，上帝大能的话语使信心在你心里增长。所以去使人做他的门徒吧，通过教导和施洗的方式。这就是耶稣赐给他的教会的使命宣言。
祷告：主耶稣，请开启我的眼目，使我有机会向我的邻居和朋友分享福音。也请开启我的心灵，使我能向那些税吏和罪人传讲福音，这些人都是为你自己的国度预备的。当我去到令我感到不舒服的地方，接触那些令我感到不舒服的人群，请给我勇气克服恐惧。我这样乞求是奉你的名。阿们。
Matthew 28:16-20: 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Churches today often develop “mission statements.” It’s been my experience that few people in the congregation can actually verbalize that mission statement. Maybe we don’t need any other mission statement than the one which Jesus gives us here. God the Father gave all authority to Jesus, and Jesus gives us our marching orders until he comes again.
First, he sets the goal for us. Make disciples of all nations. These eleven disciples took Jesus at his word. Maybe some doubted on that day, and Matthew doesn’t tell us why they doubted, but it is clear from church history that they took Jesus’ command seriously. Thomas died in India. Matthew died in Ethiopia. Tradition tells us that only John escaped a martyr’s death. How far will we go with the gospel? Will we tell our neighbors? Will we use contacts with international people living among us to take the gospel farther?
Second, he tells us how to make disciples. Baptize them and teach them. These are the powerful means that Jesus has given us to grow his kingdom. Don’t ever underestimate the power of God’s Word as you teach people the story of Jesus! I have seen it grow faith in the hearts of people who at first stubbornly refused to believe it. No doubt you have experienced the power of God’s Word as it grows faith in your heart. So go and make disciples by teaching and baptizing. That’s Jesus’ mission statement for his church.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see the opportunities to share the gospel with my friends and neighbors. Open my heart to see the opportunities to proclaim the gospel to people like tax collectors and sinners that you gathered into your kingdom. Give me courage to overcome my fears to go to places and to people where I may not feel comfortable. I ask this in your name. Amen.