The main command of Christ's commission is "make disciples"

Pastoral Reflections

January 7, 2018

Trinity Church as we celebrate 100 years of the Lords blessing, we honor God for our Centennial theme. One Hundred Years of Reaching a City to Touch the World. I believe that the great commission is alive in this ministry. Therefore, we will actively carry out the commands of our Christ given through the authority of His messianic office. In the Great Commission, verses 18-20 bring us to the climax and conclusion of Matthews gospel. Jesus is passing the torch to his disciples, even as he promises to be with them forever-spiritually, not physically-to empower them for future mission. Jesus can make the claim of v. 18 only if he is fully God, since the whole universe is embraced in the authority delegated to him. And yet he is still in some sense distinct from his Heavenly Father, so that Matthew can use the divine passive in speaking of his having "been given" this authority. Christ's exaltation, as the result of his resurrection, means that one day "every knee" will bow and "every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Phil 2:9-11), whether they do so voluntarily as part of his redeemed people. Because of this authority, Jesus has the right to issue his followers their "marching orders," but he also can help them carry out those orders.

Trinity, the main command of Christ's commission is "make disciples". Too much and too little have often been made of this observation. Too much is made of it when the disciples' "going" is overly subordinated, so that Jesus' charge is to proselytize merely where one is. Too little is made of it when all attention is centered on the command to "go," as in countless appeals for missionary candidates, so that foreign missions are elevated to a higher status of Christian service than other forms of spiritual activity. To "make disciples of all nations " does require many people to leave their homelands, but Jesus' main focus remains on the task of all believers to duplicate themselves wherever they may be. The verb "make disciples" also commands a kind of evangelism that does not stop after someone makes a profession of faith. The truly subordinate participles in v. 19 explain what making disciples involves: "baptizing" them and "teaching" them obedience to all of Jesus' commandments. The first of these will be a once-for-all, decisive initiation into Christian community. The second proves a perennially incomplete, life-long task.

To Be Continued Next Week. Stay Tuned!

Dr. John D. Tolbert

Senior Pastor

Sharing, Sowing & Seeking 2017

Praise Jesus 2018 is here!

Trinity disciples, evangelists, members, click here to complete your 2018 Trinity MBC registration! And let's continue our Great Commission to make disciples!

Home Daily Bible Reading

Jan 8 We Must Speak about Jesus . . . . . . . . . . Acts 4:13-22

Jan 9 We Must Obey God, Not Humans . . . . . . Acts 5:27-32

Jan 10 Prayer, Fasting, and a Bold Move . . . . . . Esther 4:5-17

Jan 11 All Ordered to Worship the Image . . . . . Daniel 3:1-12

Jan 12 We Will Not Serve Babylonian Gods . . . Daniel 3:13-18

Jan 13 King Astonished at Jews' Survival . . . . . Daniel 3:24-25

Jan 14 God Delivers from the Fiery Furnace . . . . Daniel 3:19-23, 26-28

LIFE.TrinityMBC.org

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UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT

Sunday, January 7, 2018 7:00am ~ Morning Glory 8:00am ~ Morning Worship 9:30am ~ Lifetime Classes (Sunday School) 11:00am ~ Morning Worship	Monday, January 8, 2018 6:00pm ~ Youth & Praise 6:30pm ~ General Mission 7:00pm ~ Men's Chorus 7:00pm ~ Mime Ministry
Tuesday, January 9, 2018 6:00pm ~ B3 Night (Be Bold Bible Night) 6:00pm ~ Prayer, Praise & Bible Study 7:30pm ~ Voices of Trinity	Wednesday, January 10, 2018 11:30am ~ Prayer 12:00pm ~ Bible Study 6:00pm ~ Prayer & Praise Hour 7:00pm ~ Fit to Serve
Saturday, January 13, 2018 9:00am-11:30am ~ Daughters of Destiny 9:00am-11:30am ~ SIMBA

LIFE Time, Your Sunday Morning Christian Education Experience. January 7 begins our new curriculum. Registration is open now! Learning Is For EVERYONE! Go to http://Life.TrinityMBC.org or send email to LifeGroup@TrinityMBC.org

The 2018 Membership Registration for Trinity Church is underway. You can pick up a form from an usher or you may register online at http://TrinityMBC.org or clicking here.

In honor and celebration of Trinity's 100th Anniversary we will have a Centennial Directory! Individual and/or family members will have the opportunity to have their photo and designated contact information in the Directory. Each family will receive a free directory and 8X10 portrait as well as access to electronic capability if all of our members and families schedule and appear for photo sessions with Lifetouch Photography. The Friends & Family Program will allow for non-Trinity members to be photographed and receive an 8X10 portrait free of charge! The photo session dates are January 11th, 12th, 13th, 18th, 19th & 20th, 2018 in Pastor's Memorial Hall. Onsite scheduling for the Photo Sessions is under way in the vestibule on Sundays after 8AM and 11 AM Services or log in to http://100.TrinityMBC.org. Online registration will not be available on Sundays between 8 AM and 4:00 PM! Get ready to smile for the camera!

Attention Ministry Leaders: If your Ministry has not been photographed for the Centennial Directory, please contact the church office to schedule your date and time.

The Oakland County Ministry Fellowship Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. service will be held here at Trinity on next Sunday, January 14, 2018 at 4:00pm.

TMBC 24 Hours of Prayer will be held on Friday, January 19th, 2018 starting at 6:00pm through Saturday, January 20th, 2018 6:00pm. Families and Ministries are in charge. Please see Deaconess Lisa Harris for more information.

The Crystal Lake Missionary Baptist District Congress of Christian Education will be held here at Trinity beginning Monday, January 22, 2018 through Friday, January 26, 2018 at 6:00pm nightly. There is a class for everyone. Registration forms will be available next week.

TMBC will be fellowship with the St. James Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at 3:30pm. The address to the church is 345 Bagley Street, Pontiac, MI 48341.

Church Mission Statement

" The Trinity Missionary Baptist Church is spiritually impacting our families, neighborhoods, city, and state by Exalting the Savior , Equipping the Saints & Evangelizing the Sinners . ~Ephesians 4:10-15.

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. ~Ephesians 4:10-15

Vision Statement

The Trinity Missionary Baptist Church will be a 21st century model for the Christian Community. Our hope is to be a church family that faithfully and intentionally prioritizes ministry initiatives following the example of Jesus Christ, the teaching of the Apostles, and the New Testament Church.

We will be a God-Centered Church, devoted to the practices and disciplines of personal discipleship, evangelism, and servant ministry. We will be determined to promote the Gospel, and share the Compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ through missions, evangelism, and outreach.

2018 Church Theme

One Hundred Years of Reaching a City to Touch the World

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20) but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)