The Matthew 28:20 Project is an offshoot of the Genocide Awareness Project (GAP) and is also built on the public display of large format abortion imagery. Whereas GAP is directed at the secular community, using civil-rights arguments, Matthew 28:20 is directed at the spiritual community, using biblical arguments.
Matthew 28:20 will take place on the sidewalks of big churches that are failing to discharge their biblical mandate to be a witness against evil. Being exposed to the horrible reality of abortion, Sunday after Sunday, these churches will no longer be able to trivialize or ignore baby-killing.
Sadly, many Christians take the attitude that abortion is not their problem or responsibility. Even more tragic is the fact that one out of every five women who abort in the U.S. identifies herself as a born-again or evangelical Christian.
Matthew 28:20, the verse, is the second half of the great commission. Not only is the church to make disciples of all the nations, it is also to then “ them to observe all that commanded.” Sadly, many churches are not teaching their congregation that abortion is an act of violence that sheds innocent blood (which Jesus explicitly condemns). Matthew 28:20, the project, will help teach churches that abortion is the absolute antithesis of justice and mercy. So long as particular pastors refuse to teach their congregation regarding this painful truth, there will be a need for the Matthew 28:20 project. Until the practice of abortion is ended within the church, it will never be ended within the population at large.
Here is the brochure CBR uses at our outreaches to Christians
www.abortionno.org
The Resurrection
28 mNow after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and nthe other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for oan angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 pHis appearance was like lightning, and qhis clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and rbecame like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, sas he said. Come, see the place where he1 lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, the is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb uwith fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus vmet them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and wtook hold of his feet and xworshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; ygo and tell zmy brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
The Report of the Guard
11 While they were going, behold, some of athe guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, b‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to cthe governor’s ears, we will dsatisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews eto this day.
The Great Commission
16 Now the eleven disciples fwent to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they gworshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, h“All authority iin heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 jGo therefore and kmake disciples of lall nations, jbaptizing them min2 nthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them oto observe all that pI have commanded you. And behold, qI am with you always, to rthe end of the age.”
biblia.com
The Resurrection
28 mNow after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and nthe other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for oan angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 pHis appearance was like lightning, and qhis clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and rbecame like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, sas he said. Come, see the place where he1 lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, the is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb uwith fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus vmet them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and wtook hold of his feet and xworshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; ygo and tell zmy brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
The Report of the Guard
11 While they were going, behold, some of athe guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, b‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to cthe governor’s ears, we will dsatisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews eto this day.
The Great Commission
16 Now the eleven disciples fwent to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they gworshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, h“All authority iin heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 jGo therefore and kmake disciples of lall nations, jbaptizing them min2 nthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them oto observe all that pI have commanded you. And behold, qI am with you always, to rthe end of the age.”
biblia.com
Read Introduction to Matthew
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
28:20
teaching them
“Teaching” is the third function under the command to “make disciples.” The book of Matthew itself is an example of teaching others. This represents edification of those who are already believers.
to observe all things that I have commanded you;
The word “observe” means obey. The pronoun “I” is emphatic; Jesus emphasizes His personal authority that backs those who teach with authority.
Notice that the Lord said to teach people to “observe all things” that He commanded. He did not say “some things.” The Lord expects a thorough investigation of His Word.
PRINCIPLE:
The church needs to take the teaching of God’s Word seriously.
APPLICATION:
The mission of the church is more than conversion; it is also edification. We cannot obey the Lord if we do not understand the principles that underlie the Christian life.
Teaching is the neglected dimension to the Great Commission today. Churches are afraid to proclaim propositions of Scripture. They deem that people in our day are too media oriented to listen to exposition of Scripture. That is only true if the people do not have a passion for God’s Word.
Pastors today yield to the idea that people do not want solid teaching. This is a serious mistake. The real issue is that people do not even know how the Bible can radically change their lives. This loss of hope that God’s Word can change lives will eviscerate dynamic Christianity. We have boiled everything down to the least common denominator so that Christians live on a meager pittance of what they could. Jesus said that man shall live on every word that comes from the mouth of God. “Teaching” is essential to the Great Commission.
God does not expect leaders to make a choice between evangelism and teaching. Both are essential to “making disciples.”
versebyversecommentary.com
