LEARNING TO PLAY THE HARMONICA (1 OF 4)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20
This content is part of a series.
Learning To Play The Harmonica (1 of 4)
Series: Discipling Into Christ
Jeff Strite
Matthew 28:18-28:20
OPEN: A young American engineer was sent to Ireland for a year. When he left, his fiancé gave him a harmonica. She said, "I want you to learn to play this: it will help to keep your mind off those Irish girls."
He wrote to her often and told he her that he was practicing his harmonica every night. After a year she met him at the airport, he grabbed her to kiss her and she pushed back and said, "Wait before you kiss me, I want to hear you play the harmonica."
APPLY: That girl was no fool. She knew that the man's love would be reflected in what he did. If he'd done what he'd promised - she'd know it by his actions.
I. What is it that God would like us to do to show our love for Him?
Good answers might be:
* by our church attendance
* faithfulness in prayer
* by regular Bible reading
* by loving each another
... and these are all part of showing God our love by our actions.
BUT the last request Jesus made of His disciples before He ascended into heaven was Matthew 28:19-20. And because this was the last command he gave his disciples before going to His throne in heaven, it would seem this was important to Jesus. I don't know if this was THE most important thing to Him, but it was obviously important enough for Him to mention as his last minute instructions.
NOW, I want to please God.
And I know how to go to church.
I know how to pray.
I know how to read my Bible
and I think I'm getting the hang of loving others.
But, how do I do this? How do I make disciples? Isn't that what preachers do? Isn't that job of highly paid professionals with lots of training. Apparently not. Apparently God expects EVERY Christian to make disciples.
II. Why isn't this the job just for highly trained professionals?
Turn to Matthew 13:3-9 and 19-23. There you will read the parable of the four soils. The farmer in the parable casts his seed on ha ...
Series: Discipling Into Christ
Jeff Strite
Matthew 28:18-28:20
OPEN: A young American engineer was sent to Ireland for a year. When he left, his fiancé gave him a harmonica. She said, "I want you to learn to play this: it will help to keep your mind off those Irish girls."
He wrote to her often and told he her that he was practicing his harmonica every night. After a year she met him at the airport, he grabbed her to kiss her and she pushed back and said, "Wait before you kiss me, I want to hear you play the harmonica."
APPLY: That girl was no fool. She knew that the man's love would be reflected in what he did. If he'd done what he'd promised - she'd know it by his actions.
I. What is it that God would like us to do to show our love for Him?
Good answers might be:
* by our church attendance
* faithfulness in prayer
* by regular Bible reading
* by loving each another
... and these are all part of showing God our love by our actions.
BUT the last request Jesus made of His disciples before He ascended into heaven was Matthew 28:19-20. And because this was the last command he gave his disciples before going to His throne in heaven, it would seem this was important to Jesus. I don't know if this was THE most important thing to Him, but it was obviously important enough for Him to mention as his last minute instructions.
NOW, I want to please God.
And I know how to go to church.
I know how to pray.
I know how to read my Bible
and I think I'm getting the hang of loving others.
But, how do I do this? How do I make disciples? Isn't that what preachers do? Isn't that job of highly paid professionals with lots of training. Apparently not. Apparently God expects EVERY Christian to make disciples.
II. Why isn't this the job just for highly trained professionals?
Turn to Matthew 13:3-9 and 19-23. There you will read the parable of the four soils. The farmer in the parable casts his seed on ha ...
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