Have you ever made a bad trade? Generally when making a trade you want to come out feeling like you got the better end of the deal. You trade something of lesser value for something you feel has greater value. The Milwaukee Bucks just traded away the franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo (and Bobby Portis) to the Miami Heat for four players and five future draft picks. Both the Bucks and the Heat feel like they got the better end of the trade. Time will tell if this was a good trade or a bad trade for the Bucks.

Have you ever heard the phrase “putting lipstick on a pig”? It sounds silly and it certainly makes for a funny picture in one’s imagination. But it also makes a serious and important point. A pig with lipstick is still…a pig. If I put a fresh coat of paint on a broken down old jalopy it is still a broken down old jalopy. If I put a spritz of cologne on a manure wagon it still smells like manure.

This past week I became aware of something I had never heard of before. I learned about “the overview effect.” The “overview effect” is what some astronauts experience when they look back on earth from space. The “overview effect” is characterized by a feeling of awe, a feeling of being connected with the other humans on the planet, and the feeling of how frail and vulnerable earth appears to be with the universe in the background. It must be weird to see the world like this!

There is something quite significant about Jesus’ instructions in our text this morning.  His command to disciple all nations is entirely a new thing!  If we look at the prophets of old, we notice something they all have in common.  They were sent to just one nation, Israel.  Not to “all nations.” 

Central to the Christian faith is the idea of “glory.” The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Chirst mean glory for all who trust in him. Most, if not all, Christians would agree on that. But just when does the glorious life begin? There are some who believe that the Christian life here-and-now will become “glorious” and virtually problem-free. Maybe you have heard of the “health and wealth” gospel. Those who believe this believe that Christians will be healthy and rich in this life! “Name-it-and-claim-it” theology says if you see something and want it, pray for it and God will give it to you. Martin Luther called such people “theologians of glory.”