Next Step - Inspire
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: What does it mean to inspire others?
If we Inspire others it means that we will: Draw forth or bring something out of them;
In this case we want to inspire others to have a desire to call upon the name of Jesus or to take the next step in the discipleship path if they already have a personal relationship with Him.
What would inspire you? Would an encounter with the living God inspire you? Do you think an encounter with the living God would inspire others to take the next step in the discipleship path.
What inspired you to take the next step for Jesus?
Tell a story about me!
What would un-inspire or stop you from taking the next step? How about a stumbling block?
Talk about the law a bit - for Jews, but the idea remains.
14 ‘You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the Lord.
That’s interesting a stumbling block before a blind man.
A Stumbling Block is: Difficulty that prevents progress, understanding, or agreement.
Explain it...
Transitional sentence: In order to inspire people to take the next step for Jesus we must remove the stumbling blocks that keep people from moving forward or from falling over.
1. Inspire...
a. How to inspire: Be warm, welcoming, celebrative, attractive, family oriented
b. How not to inspire: Be the opposite, Rules, lack of grace, cold, be hypocritical or judgmental. In other words we put a bunch of stumbling blocks or stones in the way of taking the next step.
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
No more stumbling blocks.
While talking with a friend who I know to be a believer he told me that his church is a bit legalistic. Then he went on to tell me that he was the worst one in the church for being legalistic.
What do you think about that? Legalism is a huge stumbling block. If you know you are that way then fix it. The blind will see it as hypocrisy and will be out the door so fast you won’t even find out their names.
So, once again I say no more stumbling blocks. We need to get rid of them. We need to inspire others to take the next step.
2. So, let’s take a look at the discipleship path. Think about these things and how they might be stumbling blocks for others. Will they inspire others to the next step or stop them in their tracks. Unveil the board.
a. First Impressions - how many of these could be stumbling stones?
b. Sunday Morning Service - What do we do that could be a stumbling stone?
c. Encounter Groups - Create connection within the body and create family. Could a lack of encounter groups be a stumbling stone?
d. Service - What will it take to inspire every single person to serve in some way?
3. The only Stumbling block that we should have.
a. What I have been saying may sound like I want to turn this church into a seeker church. But that isn’t so. Seeker churches remove all the stumbling blocks. There is no sin, repentance, or hell. There is no confession of Jesus as Lord and Savior, there’s nothing about laying down your life for Him. Just nice easy to digest relevant teachings that have very little to do with the truth. Get them in the door and hope they get hooked on the great entertainment during the service and maybe they will learn what it means to be a “Christian” some where along the way.
b. We can do a lot of good things to remove stumbling blocks to make our worship experience more celebrative, uplifting and inspiring but there is still one stumbling block that must remain.
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,”
8 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.
We must continue preaching Christ Jesus as a stumbling block. All of this outward stuff may or may not help people find Jesus, but the gospel must remain. We are sinners saved by grace through faith because of the stumbling block. We must help sinners who are not saved find the same salvation. If that means we move some stumbling blocks, then let’s move some stumbling blocks.
c. Jesus is the corner stone of the spiritual house which each of us who are saved has been built into as if we ourselves are living stones. Remember one of the core values of the Christian and Missionary Alliance is that “Lost people matter to God and He wants them found.” If removing a few stumbling blocks helps people get past the discomfort of church so they can actually fall on the one really important rock then shouldn’t we do what we can. Wouldn’t it be the right thing to do? Are you willing to remove the stumbling blocks that our soon to be brothers and sisters would face before they even reach Jesus? Maybe removing some blocks would help some of you be inspired to take another step too.
Exit: Both the old testament and the new testament tell us not to put stumbling blocks in the path of the blind and weak so that they won’t trip and fall. Sometimes those blocks could be literal, like our walkway to the front door or our parking lot. But they can also be less literal, things we don’t think about being blocks, but to the blind or unbelieving they are stumbling blocks. Blocks that keep them from taking that first step to Jesus or taking the next step in the path of discipleship.
If we can identify some stumbling blocks and make them smaller or remove them all together, then shouldn’t we. Every block that could trip someone up should be removed if possible. Except that one Block. Christ Jesus. His gospel must continue to be preached. That is the one block everyone must fall on that they might be saved.
If you are here today and you don’t have a personal relationship with Christ Jesus, then today is your day to call upon Him. Remove whatever block you have in your heart and call out to Him that you may have eternal life.
It’s as simple as A-B-C.
A - Admit that you, like everyone, are a sinner. You have not lived up to God’s standard of perfect holiness. Romans 3:23 says: “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
B - Believe in and trust only in Jesus and His work on the cross for your salvation. As the best known verse in the whole Bible John 3:16 says: “16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
C - Confess Jesus as your Lord. Romans 10:9 says: “9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;” This means allowing the One who created you to be in control of your life.
Come forward or stay seated. Either way He will hear you wherever you are when you call upon Him. But don’t wait, you never know when your time will run out.
Let’s Pray!!
