Untitled Sermon (18)

Belize Recap 2024

Good morning. Today we are going to do something a little bit different with the sermon time. I wanted to give Kenan and Ryne an opportunity to share some of the experiences we had in Belize on mission but I also wanted to use it as an opportunity not just to share experiences but to encourage you in the global mission of the gospel. So that's what we are going to do today.

Invite Ryne and Kenan to come up. Stools?

Interview questions?

My Recap:

Today I want to encourage you in three ways from what I saw on this mission trip.

Matthew 20:20–28 ESV

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." 22 Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." 23 He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,[[c](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2020&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23816c)] 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,[[d](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2020&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23817d)] 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

While today is not a typical expository message that you would get here on any other Sunday, I wanted to point out this passage. Too often in the American church we want to have ourselves lifted up. But Jesus was

Jesus's main mission was to serve and give His life.

We should also be giving our lives away in service because He died for our sins upon the cross.

Many times, taking this message of Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection to those who need it will require us to serve in ways we either had not considered or that we find most uncomfortable.

For example:

- walking over a walkway through a neighborhood made of pallets and scrap wood that sits over the top of standing pools of raw sewage...

- visiting homes and accepting offers to sit and visit when you don't know what is going to come out of the couch when you sit on it

- speaking through an interpreter when need be

- carrying around children desperate for attention

- sun and humidity

I. Look up

A. Pay attention, be present

- put your phone down

-

B. Look up to God for strength and motivation

Preaching 3 times in 4 days. Two times with a translator.

- Be intentional about acting on what you see around you.

- On a mission trip it's easy to just sit idly by and let stuff happen but remember you are there for a reason and should willingly jump into whatever opportunity is before you... This is how we should always live our lives.

- Matthew 28:18-20 (The Great Commission) As you are going...

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

C. See what is going on around you. Where is God working? How can you join Him there?

- Rootsville - Hispanic and black populations at odds

- The gospel crosses all cultural and ethnic boundaries

- this gradual thing had been happening over the years but they finally saw fruit from it when we had the Monday night service

II. Look out

A. Pay attention to where you can help.

The man eating out of the trash at the bay.

B. Look for gospel opportunities.

The gas station attendants.

C. Beware false teaching and emotions carrying you away.

III. Look beyond

A. Beyond your world to the global mission

Our church mission work - partnerships across the globe

B. Beyond what you think can be done

C. Beyond your life span

"Preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten."

Virginia - her kids - the impact that ministry to the next generation can have...

In what ways do you need to change your life to live on mission where you are at and in the global community?