Convinced and Compelled

Introduction

Appreciate being here

Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Sunday - where does this lead us?

Giving thanks leads to - praise (Psalms), peace (Phil. 4), generosity (2 Cor. 9), and more

Reading - 2 Cor. 5:11-6:1

Overview + we are ministers of reconciliation

Problem: how rarely our lives match this

3 questions to help us reflect on why this is

First, we need to focus on what doesn’t compel us:

obligation to God, peer pressure, guilt

These can so easily lead to legalism

There may be moments when we feel unequipped, or a season w/ fewer opportunities, but if Christ’s love doesn’t compel us, the first question you need to ask is:

1. Do you really understand the depths of God’s love?

When you truly grasp God’s love, it compels you.

For many of us, we need to consider wheter we have become distracted from God’s love or begun to beleive lies about God.

dad being my friend (I119)

understanding God’s grace in my heart, not just my head freed me to live w/ urgent purpose

2 Cor. 3:17

If Christ’s love doesn’t compel us, the bigger problem than what we need to do is what we need to beleive.

2. Do you really believe that you are a new creation?

Not really a new creation - God just putting up w/ me (lack of joy)

“Sinner saved by grace” v. saint/conqueror/co-heir (lack of boldness)

Can you share your testimony? Forgotten how Jesus has changed our lives

A lot of us are good at explaining when you’re not really a new creation (making sure sinners know they’re sinners), but not when you really are (making sure saints know they’re saints)

3. Do you consider it a privilege to be Christ’s ambassador?

For many of us, we’re missing 1 & 2l for others at some point along the way it became something we had to do, instead of something we get to do.

Even a privilege to suffer

privilege to discipline myself to pray daily

to get out of my comfort zone

even to give my whole life nad not see fruit until the end

“easier to die for Christ than live for him everyday”

Abundant life (John 10:10) impossible w/out the mission

Conclusion

Most all of us want to share our faith, but it often doesn’t add up. What Satan wants is another guilt-inducing sermon that truly compels us even less. What we need to do is ask again:

Do I understand the depths of God’s love?

Do I believe I am a new creation? (altar call)

Do I consider it a privilege to be Christ’s ambassador?

5 (pray daily for 5 people), 3 (Gospel appointments this year), 1 (conversion)

prayer invitation