Overview:
Matthew 28:16–20; Acts 1:1–8
How often we overlook the human impossibility of the Great Commission! Stop and consider. At His ascension, Jesus passed the torch to a handful of frightened and incompetent men. Just over a month earlier, they had all forsaken the Master. He addressed His parting words to this same group of men: “Go therefore and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). They were to continue the work He had begun. With that great challenge in mind, we will discover how the church got started with such power, efficiency, and success.
Message Summary:
In this encouraging message, Chuck Swindoll addresses the debilitating feeling of inadequacy—that sense of being “stuck in the quicksand” of our own weaknesses, unable to meet the demands of life. He observes that inadequacy is a universal human experience, affecting everyone from parents and employees to those struggling with addiction or disability.
Swindoll turns to the example of Jesus’ disciples to illustrate how God uses inadequate people. He notes that the Great Commission (Matthew 28) was given to a group of men who had recently failed Jesus, were “unschooled,” and were still struggling with doubt. Swindoll argues that Jesus did not expect them to fulfill this impossible mission in their own strength. Instead, as revealed in Acts 1, He commanded them to wait for the “transfer of power” that would come through the Holy Spirit.
Using the analogy of a concert pianist transferring his ability to a novice, Swindoll explains that the Christian life is not about imitating Jesus from a distance, but relying on His power to work through us. The sermon concludes with two life-changing principles: we must admit our inadequacies to accept God’s power, and we must claim Christ’s power to live above the “drag of humanity”.
Message Key Facts:
- The Definition of Inadequacy: Swindoll defines being “adequate” as being sufficient for a requirement or capable of achieving an objective. Therefore, to be inadequate is to be “insufficient, incapable, unable”.
- The “Violin Solo” Analogy: Swindoll quotes a wit who described the feeling of inadequacy as “feeling like life is a violin solo and you’re wearing boxing gloves”—a vivid picture of possessing the desire to perform but lacking the necessary finesse.
- The Only Imperative: In analyzing the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20), Swindoll points out that there is only one grammatical command: “Make disciples.” Going, baptizing, and teaching are actions that support this primary directive. He challenges believers to ask, “Where are your disciples?”.
- The Paralyzed Man Illustration: Swindoll shares a moving observation of a helper assisting a paralyzed man into a car. The helper had to move every limb for the man, who was completely incapable of helping himself. This illustrates our spiritual condition: we are incapable of glorifying God in the flesh and require His total assistance.
- The Van Cliburn Analogy: To explain the Holy Spirit’s role, Swindoll imagines the famous pianist Van Cliburn snapping his fingers to instantly transfer his musical talent to a novice. This illustrates that we don’t just need Jesus’ example (watching Him play); we need His power inside us to perform the task.
- Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Humility: Swindoll cites the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, who refused to take credit for the book’s massive success, stating, “The Lord wrote it and I was but the humblest instrument in his hand.” This exemplifies the realization that true adequacy comes from God.
- The Danger of “Chopsticks”: Swindoll warns that even after receiving the Holy Spirit, believers often revert to relying on their own strength—figuratively going back to playing “chopsticks”—instead of relying on the Master’s power.
Message References:
- Matthew 28:16–20: The Great Commission, where Jesus commands His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, promising His presence to the end of the age.
- Acts 1:1–8: Jesus’ instruction to the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they are “baptized with the Holy Spirit,” promising that they will “receive power” to be His witnesses.
- 2 Corinthians 2:16: Paul’s rhetorical question regarding the weight of ministry: “Who is adequate for such a calling?”.
- 2 Corinthians 3:5–6: The theological anchor of the sermon: “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything is coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God“.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9: Referenced in Swindoll’s personal conclusion regarding the Lord making him strong in his weakness.
