Three Common Passages

PRICE PAID (Read: John 3:16-21 NIV)

What have we heard?

§  God sent His Son into the world to save it…

§  God loves us and provides a way out of condemnation…

What do we commonly ignore?

§  We reject Christ, because we love sin more than God…

ILLUS: Joe, Fort Smith, AR – Killed the next day, a drunk in a wreck, 15+ years and his last words still haunt me—“I’m not ready yet!” (“Not ready” was another way of saying, “I love my sin, more than God”)

John 3:16-21 (The Message)

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

     “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”

§  We need to respond by taking responsibility for ourselves…

§  We need to respond by leading others to Christ…

THE CALL (Read: Mt. 28:16-20 NIV)

What have we heard?

§  All authority belongs to Jesus Christ…

§  Go and reach people…

§  Make disciples…

§  I am with you always…

What do we ignore?

Mt 28:16-20 The Message

     Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.

     Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

§  Teach them to obey everything…implying we are!

§  Some held back—not sure about worship, not sure about risking themselves totally…

THE END (Read: Rev 1:1-3 NIV)

What have we heard?

§  Jesus is coming soon…

§  Blessed are those who read this book…

What do we ignore?

Rev 1:1-3 The Message

     A revealing of Jesus, the Messiah. God gave it to make plain to his servants what is about to happen. He published and delivered it by Angel to his servant John. And John told everything he saw: God’s Word—the witness of Jesus Christ!

     How blessed the reader! How blessed the hearers and keepers of these oracle words, all the words written in this book!

     Time is just about up.

§  How blessed are the keepers of this writing…

§  Time is just about up…