Unhindered - Gospel

Unhindered – Week 5

The Unhindered Gospel

Confirmation and Pentecost Sunday

Series Slide

Good morning and welcome to worship on this AMAZING DAY that the Lord has made. This is truly a day to rejoice. These students have given their lives to Christ and today, they are making that statement public. Now, if you will pardon me, my message is really focused toward them, but you all are welcome to listen in.

Katherine, Kylee, and Confirmands, what you are doing today is huge. We are so proud of you!

I’ve been preaching this series in the Sanctuary that talks about how our faith is unhindered, based on the last word from the Book of Acts. This guy named Luke wrote it about 2000 years ago. Really he wrote 2 books, the Gospel of Luke told the story of how Jesus was born, lived, taught, then was crucified, buried, and rose again. Then, he wrote what we call “The Acts of the Apostles” which told the story of Jesus’ final words to his Disciples, his Ascension, The Birth of the Church called Pentecost (which today is the celebration of that day), and finally the work of the Apostles spreading the message of Jesus all across the world… I mean, they took the message to Africa, Asia, and Europe – North, South, East and West… literally, the 4-Corners of the world!

So, Luke’s final word, at the end of all this amazing stuff he wrote about, his final word was

“Unhindered.”

Sermon Slide

And that is what today is about… your faith is unhindered, and now, you are unhindered to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world… You have in you the unhindered Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Gospel is a fancy word that means “Good News.”)

Now, I’m going to start with an unusual passage to consider God’s good news being spread to the ends of the earth. If you have your Bibles today, turn with me to the final chapter of Deuteronomy and the first chapter of Joshua.

Some of you have heard Shaefer’s message about the first part of the Book of Exodus so you know this is the story of the People of Israel leaving Egypt, wandering in the wilderness and heading for the promised land. The story continues through Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Moses’ job was to lead the people out of Egypt and to make sure they got through the Wilderness wanderings.

So, turn with me to Deuteronomy 34:1. I’m going to read selected passages from that chapter, then flip the page over to Josuah

Deuteronomy 34

1. Then Moses went up to Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab and climbed Pisgah Peak, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him the whole land…

4. Then the Lord said to Moses, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have now allowed you to see it with your own eyes, but you will not enter the land.”

5. So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, just as the Lord had said.

9. Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him, doing just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Joshua 1

1-2. After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.

7-9. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

<Prayer>

Sermon Slide

Moses’ job was to lead the people through the wilderness. Moses’ job was to teach the people to follow God.

You know what?

That’s been my job. That’s been your parent’s job. That’s been the job of Alex, and Lillie, and Esme. That was Mrs. Raggs and Mrs. Brittany’s job, and all the others that have been a part of pouring into you and teaching you.

Our job has been to get you through the wilderness and to get you to this point where you are ready to take the next step on your own.

We are your Moses… we are the old people that guided you along the way when you didn’t know where you were going. And, Alex and Lillie and your parents and this church and all these people are still here to walk with you as you grow and mature in your faith… but this is a step you have to take on your own. We can’t take this step for you.

I guess one way to look at it is that we are the history and you are the future.

Think about the scriptures we just read… Joshua walked with and learned from Moses. He learned how to lead and how to take care of the people from Moses… but Moses was the history. Joshua was the future. Moses’ job was to get the people safely through the wilderness… but it was Joshua’s job to lead the people into the Promised Land.

We have all led you to this point. We have been the ones to share the gospel with you, but now, you are the Joshuas of tomorrow.

Our job was to get the gospel to you… your job is to get the Gospel to the world. You are being handed the unhindered Gospel - the good news of Jesus Christ!

So, we looked at the final days of Moses… we’ve looked at the final word that Luke wrote in his 2-part story of Jesus and the Apostles… now I want us to wrap this up with the final words of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew…

Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

That doesn’t mean you have to go to Africa or Asia… it means that as you go about your daily life, make new followers of Jesus by teaching them and bringing them into the church to be Baptized.

That is your job now as followers of Jesus Christ.

And by the way… all the rest of us out here… that’s our job as well.

Today is Pentecost Sunday… the Birth of the Church… I think it’s fitting that today is the birth of the faith of these young people.

Pentecost was the day the Gospel message went out into the world…. And today is the day you are sent out into the world!

May we pray.