By Pastor Rick Carder | Lancaster Wesleyan Church
Primary Scripture: Matthew 28:18–20
Sermon Audio.
Perhaps it was a parent, a Sunday school teacher, a pastor, or a faithful friend. Through that person’s love and obedience, you encountered the grace of God.
Now consider this: somebody’s story of coming to Jesus may someday include your name.
That is where our journey through What We Believe leads us. We have considered the grace that reaches us, our response to God’s invitation, the Spirit’s transforming work, and holiness expressed through love and service.
Now we ask: Where does all of this lead?
Grace sends us.
The grace that reaches us also sends us to reach others.
Our Confidence Begins with Jesus
In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus commissions His followers to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey His commands. Before giving that assignment, He declares that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him.
The mission begins with who Jesus is.
Those first disciples had limited resources. Some had recently failed Him in painful ways. Yet Jesus entrusted them with a mission that would reach the nations. Their confidence had to rest in Him.
We need that same confidence. When we consider reaching our community or participating in missions around the world, our limitations can quickly fill our thoughts.
“We are a small church.”
“I am getting older.”
“I would not know what to say.”
Our limitations deserve honest attention. Jesus deserves our deepest confidence.
Ephesians 3:20–21 reminds us that God can accomplish beyond what we ask or imagine through His power at work within us. We can bring Him bold prayers: Lord, whom would You have us reach? What step of obedience are You placing before us?
Making Disciples Happens Through Relationships
A disciple is someone learning to follow Jesus. Making disciples includes introducing people to Christ and walking with them as they grow in obedience.
An invitation to church can be a beginning. A conversation about faith can be a beginning. A decision to trust Christ is a wonderful beginning. Then comes the patient work of growing together.
We help someone learn to pray. We open Scripture together. We encourage them when obedience is difficult. We show them how to forgive, serve, give, and share their faith.
Often, this begins with ordinary words:
“Sit with me.”
“Let’s read this passage together.”
“Come along while I visit this person.”
“You can help me with this ministry.”
Years of following Jesus give us experiences we can share. Lessons learned through grief, perseverance, mistakes, forgiveness, and answered prayer can become gifts to another believer.
You do not have to know everything to help someone take the next step. You need a willingness to listen, love, open Scripture, and keep pointing toward Jesus.
Imagine each of us prayerfully investing in one person—and that person eventually helping someone else follow Christ. That is how multiplication becomes personal.
The Spirit Gives Us Compassion and Courage
In Acts 1:8, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit’s power so His followers can become His witnesses—from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
The circle keeps widening: people close to home, people beyond familiar surroundings, people across cultural boundaries, and people in distant places.
The gospel is for all of them.
In our Wesleyan understanding, the Spirit who transforms our hearts also empowers our witness. He helps us love with compassion and speak with courage.
We need both. Courage without compassion can become harsh. Compassion without courage may leave important words unspoken.
Being a witness means honestly pointing people toward Christ. It can be as simple as saying, “Here is how the Lord has helped me,” or asking, “Would you be comfortable if I prayed with you?”
We listen, respect the person before us, and trust God to work.
We Represent the Savior Who Sends Us
Second Corinthians 5:17–20 connects new life in Christ with the ministry of reconciliation. Paul describes believers as ambassadors for Christ.
We represent Jesus. That responsibility should shape our words, attitudes, conduct, and treatment of others.
When we speak about Christ, do people hear grace and truth? When we disagree, do they see humility? When someone is struggling, do we move toward them with compassion?
Our conduct can help people listen to the message we carry: through Jesus Christ, people can be reconciled to God. Sin is real. Forgiveness is available. Christ died and rose again. Through repentance and faith, people can begin a new life with Him.
Every person we hope to reach has a name, a history, questions, wounds, and concerns. We begin by caring enough to listen.
The gospel we carry should be recognizable in the grace we show.
A Simple Beginning: Care, Pray, Share
How can we put this into practice? Three familiar words give us a place to begin.
Care. Pay attention to the people God has placed around you. Learn a neighbor’s name. Check on someone who has been absent. Offer practical help to a family under strain. Give your time and attention sincerely, whatever their response may be.
Pray. Pray for people by name. Ask God to meet their needs, reveal His love, and draw them toward Christ. Ask Him to prepare your heart, too: Help me listen. Give me patience. Help me recognize an opportunity. Give me courage to speak.
Share. When an opportunity comes, speak about Jesus. Tell an honest part of your story. Explain what His forgiveness means to you. Share a Scripture that has given you hope. Invite someone to sit with you at church.
Choose one person you will intentionally care for, pray for, and seek an opportunity to share Christ with. Write down that person’s name. Then ask God to help you take one faithful step.
A Heart for Community—and for God’s World
At Lancaster Wesleyan Church, we speak of having “A Heart for Community.” May that heart be visible in the way we welcome people, serve our neighbors, and help others follow Jesus.
Our mission also reaches beyond our community. Through Global Partners and other ministry relationships, we can pray, give, encourage, and participate in gospel work in places we may never go.
As we consider missions and Faith Promise giving, each of us can ask: Lord, how do You want to involve me?
A heart shaped by Jesus keeps making room for the people He loves.
Your Next Faithful Step
The next step may seem small: a telephone call, an invitation, a prayer with someone, a conversation about Jesus, or an offer to help another believer grow.
Small acts of obedience matter when placed in God’s hands.
Jesus closes the Great Commission with the promise of His continuing presence. As we respond to His call, we go with Him.
We are saved by grace, made holy by grace, and sent by grace.
Who is one person God is asking you to care for and pray for? What could you do to help that person follow Jesus? How might God be inviting you to participate in His mission locally and around the world?
Perhaps your response begins with receiving Christ yourself—turning to Him in repentance and trusting His forgiveness. Perhaps it begins with a renewed surrender after many years of faith.
Either way, this is a prayer we can offer together:
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Father, thank You for the grace that came looking for us. Open our eyes to the people around us. Give us compassion to care, faithfulness to pray, and courage to share. Fill us with Your Spirit and help us walk patiently with others as they learn to follow Jesus. Give us a heart for our community and for Your world. We are Yours, Lord. Send us where You want us to go. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
