Organic Outreach

November 20th 2022

Series:Organic Disciples

Sermon Title: Organic Outreach…

Topic: How Organic Outreach Transforms us and the World

Key Passages: Luke 19:10, Matt 4:18-22, John 4:13-14, Matt 5:13-16

Sermon Blurb: The first one to reach out is always God. He so loved the world that He gave His only Son. When Jesus walked on this earth, He extended grace to every person He met. We who follow Jesus are to love people as He does. Every disciple carries the best news in human history. Our calling is to share the love and Gospel of Jesus freely, in the power of the Spirit. As we partner with the Savior, He draws people to Himself, and He alone receives the glory.

Sermon:

Bob / Keith- Teacher A

Welcome to Family Church anyone getting excited for Thanksgiving!!!!!!

Come on…

Raise your hand if you are looking forward to eating too much in a few days!!!

Be honest… how many of you wore stretchy pants on Thanksgiving?

Let me also remind you….

We have a service on Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM with free pizza and donuts….

BUT whenever services land on holidays we cancel them.

So this Thursday is thanksgiving so there will be NO Thursday night service.

PAUSE

We are wrapping up a series that we’ve been in for 8 weeks.

And we are also wrapping up our Auctionless Auction.

That also means you WANT to be at church next weekend as we share what we have all done over the course of this month.

Today we wraps up our learning on how to be an Organic Disciple of Jesus…

How to be a follower of Jesus who is growing in your faith AND sharing your faith with others!

I want you to write this down:

Organic Disciples are committed to grow in Jesus and go with Jesus.

Repeat

Write this down as well…

Discipleship is about the adventure of becoming more like Jesus which leads to evangelism; the adventure of bringing Jesus to people.

Repeat

An Organic Disciple of Jesus will naturally do both.

PAUSE

We have been looking at these 7 markers of spiritual maturity.

They are on the screen…

7 Indicators of an Organic Disciple of Jesus

1. Bible Engagement

2. Passionate Prayer

3. Wholehearted Worship

4. Humble Service

5. Joyful Generosity

6. Consistent Community

7. Organic Outreach

And today, we’re going to wrap this series up by looking at a final indicatorof someone who is living the life of an organic disciple of Jesus.

We’re going to learn about Organic Outreach.

PAUSE

And a reminder, there’s a pattern for how we’re approaching these spiritual markers…

First, we look at how Jesus modeled it.

Then, we learn how we can be more like Jesus in that area.

And then, we’ll connect the dots between discipleship and evangelism.

We will see how our commitment to organic outreach, is essential for our spiritual growth AND our impact to others!

LONG PAUSE

So, let’s jump in…

Let’s look at movement 1 and learn from Jesus.

Write this down…

Movement 1- Learning from Jesus. The Heart of Jesus is to love and save people like you and people NOT like you!

Repeat

Look at Luke 19, verse 10 says…

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Do you know what the “that” is in this passage?

Do you know what this passage shows us?

This verse is a mission statement.

A concise statement that defines Jesus’ purpose and goal.

A declaration that guides direction and actions.

Here at Family Church, our mission statement is to help people learn how to fully

Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples

That is why we exist, that’s what we are committed to.

PAUSE

Well, Luke 19:10 could serve as Jesus’ mission statement…

The goal and purpose of Jesus, the thing He was fully committed to.

“He came to seek and save that which was lost”!

To seek out spiritually lost people.

To save these people from their sins.

AND to restore the broken relationship between God and man.

That WAS Jesus’ mission for coming to us.

PAUSE

And everything Jesus did while He was on earth, demonstrated His full commitment to His mission.

Think a little deeper with me for a moment:

Why did Jesus come to earth?

What was Jesus thinking, when He decided to leave the throne of heaven and come to earth?

Why choose that vs another option?

Well, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John record Jesus’ life and ministry when on earth….and they give us a super clear idea as to WHY Jesus came to earth.

And even before He arrived, prophets in the Old Testament indicated WHY Jesus would come.

Let me suggest just a few reasons Jesus came:

Jesus came to…

To Reveal the love of the Father.

To Share the truth of God.

To Offer the grace of heaven to people.

To Proclaim the Gospel of life.

To Invite repentance from sin.

To Pay the price for our sin against God.

To Call us to follow God.

…and so much more!

LONG PAUSE

When I was in seminary, we learned how deeply important names were in the Bible.

In fact, in ancient times, names carried significant meaning.

They predicted the personality of a child or indicated a character trait of an individual.

When we consider Jesus, Jesus was given many names.

Jesus went by many names and every one of them had significant meaning.

Some of the names for Jesus reveal His mission and reason for coming to walk among us.

For example…

Jesus is named Messiah in John 4:25-26.

Jesus is named the Bread of Heaven in John 6:48-58.

He’s the Living Water in John 7:37.

Jesus is the Light of the World in John 1:12-13.

He’s the Lamb of God in John 1:29.

He’s The Gate to heaven in John 10:7-10.

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life in John 11:25.

On and on, the many names of Jesus help us understand more clearly His heart and intention to seek and save the spiritually lost!

So, when we look at Jesus, how Jesus modeled Organic Outreach, it wasn’t a task or summer trip, but it was Jesus’ purpose and reason for everything He did!

Erik / Aaron- Teacher B

Movement 2- The Journey of Organic Discipleship. Jesus’ Mission is our Mission.

So, let’s look at Movement 2- The Journey of Organic Discipleship... because Jesus’ mission is also ourmission.

Write that down:

Jesus’ mission to seek out and save spiritually lost people is the commission given to ALL disciples.

Matthew 28, the final words of Jesus to His disciples…

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Do You See It?

Being a disciple (being a follower of Jesus) places us on the same mission as Jesus.

The closer we walk with Jesus, the more we stay in line with the mission of seeking and saving lost people.

PAUSE

As you do this, the Bible gives us (the followers of Jesus) different names with great significance.

Similar to the many names given Jesus, organic disciples are also given a variety of names that indicate our identity and our purpose.

Your identity as a Christian defines your actions and mission.

Through faith in Jesus, you are...

A fisher of people (Matt. 4:18-22)

A Conduit of Living Water (John 4:13-14)

The light of the world (Matt. 5:14-16)

The salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13)

An ambassador of heaven on earth (2 Cor. 5:20)

PAUSE

Some may think, “What if I don’t feel worthy to bear the light of Jesus or share the message of the Savior?”

See, many believers feel this way and excuse themselves from evangelism, because they don’t measure up in their own eyes.

And if that’s you, you aren’t alone!

In fact, you are in line with virtually every single Christian to ever live who made a difference in this world!

There are many examples of prominent biblical characters who did not feel worthy to serve God but remained faithful.

Moses, Joshua, David, Esther, Peter, Paul, on and on…

PAUSE

But here’s the key… you have to remember; you are who God says you are!

You are whom God says you are!

It's not really up to us.

If God calls you light, then shine brightly in a dark world!

If God calls you a conduit of living water, then let the river flow!

If God calls you the salt of the earth, then add flavor everywhere you are!

If God calls you a fisher of people, then cast your net and see what you catch!

Don’t fight it, don’t doubt it, don’t be afraid!

Rather, spend your life growing and living into what God says about you!

PAUSE

And let me just offer an encouragement to move into a life of organic outreach… to share your faith and story of Jesus naturally.

Here’s some ways you can take a Next Step into Organic Outreach:

1. Admit your fear of evangelism… admit it to God and admit your fear to other believers who you trust.

2. Check your theology... is it firmly biblical?

Some people think that everyone goes to heaven, but that’s not biblical. Make sure you are loving but also clear that Jesus is the only way.

3. Own your calling to Jesus’ mission… don’t pass the buck.

Sharing your faith is your calling, not just the pastors, or the leaders, or the Christians who are more mature.

4. Evaluate your schedule… this is super practical.

Forecast your upcoming month. If your itinerary is filled with things that are mostly “Christian” events, then maybe cancel a couple and instead find time to meet with a non-Christian family member or coworker for coffee, or invite a neighbor for a cookout.

5. Find an outreach mentor… look at others who are further down the road and watch, observe, learn from them.

6. Count the cost… sharing your faith, following Jesus, etc. is NOT for the faint of heart.

You will be persecuted, mistreated, misunderstood, and possibly worse. You might lose your job, get passed for the promotion, be ridiculed by a teacher at school… but count the cost and know that it is totally worth it to reach people for Jesus!

7. Live like Jesus

8. Speak like Jesus

These are some ways you can grow in organic outreach.

LONG PAUSE

So, let’s start winding this down today with the final movement…

Bob / Keith - Teacher A

Movement #3 - How Organic Outreach Transforms Us and the World. Prayer, Care, and Share!

If we’re being honest, we can get stuck here.

I think we would all agree that Jesus came to seek and save the lost… that Jesus is the Good Shepherd Who came to rescue wandering sheep like us.

I think we would all agree that our heart should break for the spiritually lost and that Christians are called to make disciples of all nations.

I think we would all agree that Christians should share their faith with others.

But here’s the rub.

Many of us aren’t doing it!

And there are many reasons why Christians are silent about their faith

Fear of rejection

Fear of opposition

Feeling ashamed or unworthy…

And these are real pressures, no doubt about it.

But these are spiritual matters. So, they must be approached with spiritual remedies.

To overcome fear, we have to resist the Devil and run to God.

We have to stay planted in God’s Word and Truth and we have to trust Him more than we fear an outcome.

To overcome the feeling of shame or being unworthy, we have to remain in Christ… remind ourselves often of who we are in Jesus.

PAUSE

But there is another reason why some fail to share their faith… and this reason is not as spiritual as you might think.

One of the top reasons Christians do not share their faith is because they don’t believe they will know what to say.

Sometimes you might…

Feel like you don’t know enough Bible.

Feel like you don’t have a strong enough understanding of God or theology.

Feel like you won’t have the proper words to say OR know how to debate when they ask hard questions.

And if that’s you, let me offer two things.

First,

There is one way to heaven but many ways to share your faith.

*repeat

You might not do it as well as someone else.

You might not have all the fancy words and perfect responses.

You might not be able to recall all the Bible verses…

In fact, you probably won’t!

But God doesn’t expect you to, NOR does that disqualify you.

In reality, there are 2 things you need to effectively share your faith.

Write this down:

Organic Outreach happens when I share my story and I share God’s story.

Your story is deeply personal and deeply profound!

When you share your conversion story, how Jesus saved you… that makes a massive impact on others.

When you share the many things God has done for you and through you since you became a Christian, that makes a massive impact on others!

And the awesome thing about a personal testimony, or story, is that no one can argue with you.

No one can take away or diminish what you know through experience has happened.

And when you share your story of what God has done personally, it makes an impact.

Erik / Aaron - Teacher B

Here at Family Church we love doing Short-Term Missions.

It seems like every month, Pastor Bob is off to some foreign country with a group of you doing crazy things like building or dancing or some kind of serving.

We absolutely love short-term missions. But do you know the real reason we do them?

Sure, short-term mission trips are a great way to help people less fortunate than ourselves.

They’re also an exciting way to meet some of the most fascinating people on planet Earth who experience a different culture than ourselves.

Through short-term missions we get to experience how big the Church really is as we experience it in ways we never have before.

But the real reason, the REAL REASON we do short-term mission trips – is because they are a great training ground for us to learn how to better Pray for others, really learn what caring is all about, but most importantly it’s where we learn to share our story.

The story that God has been growing in each one of us.

We realize that for some of you – just saying the words out loud takes every bit of courage that you have.

So, a short-term mission trip is a great place to practice.

Think about it.

You’re traveling with a group of people that you build a tight relationship with.

A group from right here at Family Church that you find you can trust with some of your deepest fears.

And you’re given the opportunity to pick someone totally at random from the local community who you pray for – OUTLOUD!

That’s right – you demonstrate that you care deeply for people by bringing their requests directly to the God of the Universe.

And as you talk with people in another culture, people by the way whom you might never see again so you don’t have to be afraid if you feel like you screw up, you develop the telling of your story.

How God has worked in your life.

How God rescued you from the pit of Hell.

How God carries you through each and every day.

So that when you return home you’ve had practice and you can begin talking to people within your own culture, hometown, neighborhood, or family.

Does that task feel too big?

Maybe it’s time for all of us to begin dreaming one size too big!

DREAM VIDEO

It’s time to dream big!

So today, we want to give you a ticket to the best training money can buy.

This is your ticket to a short-term mission trip.

Actually, it’s your boarding pass.

By simply scanning the QR Code on your Boarding Pass you can find out all of the information about the many opportunities that are waiting just for you.

Boarding Passes will be handed out at the doors as you exit today.

Take a look at opportunities in El Salvador, Kenya, Brazil, Kentucky and Alaska.

Pray about which one will allow you to learn the most and then get signed up.

What a great chance to learn how to share your story.

PAUSE

But also, we need to learn to share God’s story.

His salvation story.

At the very least, we need to be able to share how God loves people so much that He died for them, so they could be with Him forever in heaven.

God’s story can change a life eternally.

When we share that with others, we are giving them an opportunity to enter into a relationship with God eternally!

PAUSE

And if you still doubt that you can do this… let me offer one final help.

You can tell the story of Jesus and share His Good News if you can remember 8 simple words

They come in four couplets that begin with the letters

G.O.G.O.

G.O.G.O.

God’s Love (He loves first)

Our Problem (Sin and its consequences)

God’s Solution (Jesus’ death and resurrection)

Our Response (Faith and following)

It’s an acronym.

The movement of the Gospel begins with God: God’s Love (He loved us while we were rebels and sinners).

Then it moves to us: Our Problem (We have sinned andare separate from God and each other because of our rebellion. We are under judgment and can’t save ourselves).

Then it moves back to God: God’s Solution (Jesus came to live a perfect life, God with us. He died on the cross in our place to cleanse us of sin and offer new life. Then, He rose again! He paid the price in full. That is God’s solution to our sin problem).

Finally, it is back to us: Our Response (Jesus offers forgiveness to all who will accept the gift of His sacrificial death and the glory of His resurrection. When we receive Jesus and follow Him as our leader, we are saved! If we reject Jesus or fail to receive Him, we are responsible to give account for all of our sins).

LONG PAUSE

So, our prayer for Family Church is that we will continue to grow as Organic Disciples.

That we will commit our lives to living into Jesus’ mission and intention for His followers.

It’s a process, it takes intentionality and sacrifice, and it will come at a cost… but it is worth it!

PRAY

Offering