Outside These Walls - In It to Win It
Outside These Walls • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewWe are meant to get involved in the world around us not avoid it.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
When you become a Christian, you are completely and totally transformed and changed to be a brand new creation that never existed before.
The potentially challenging thing is that the world around you is exactly the same as it has been.
Now…how do we interact with the world around us outside these walls???
Many times we can feel like we want to withdraw from the world outside these walls, or minimize the difference that exists between us - but I believe that
Jesus wants us to be In it (the world) to win it!
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
In other words, we are IN the world, but we are not OF the world.
Some of what I’m going to share with us today, I’ve shared in other ways in the other parts of this series:
Story of the hired Pastor who preached the same message until the congregation did it.
Enter your World Like Light:
Enter your World Like Light:
Light brings color and clarity
And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].
John 1:5 (WUESTNT)
And the light in the darkness is constantly shining. And the darkness did not overwhelm it.
Light ALWAYS pushes back darkness when it enters.
Light doesn’t have to TRY to push back the darkness, it is its nature to dispel the darkness.
Light is not ever overcome by darkness.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
Don’t cover up & tone down what Jesus has done in your life.
The greatest gift that we can offer to God is a transformed life.
Our significant life change can bring great hope to those who are hopeless
But we have to shine!
Get Involved in the Mess:
Get Involved in the Mess:
God is attracted to chaos
The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.
Other peoples’ stuff is uncomfortable.
It’s easy to stay out of other people’s messes, but God got involved with ours.
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Believe it or not, you have THE Answer!
Jesus is THE Answer!
The Gospel is THE Answer!
God got involved in our mess.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
At the very least:
Get involved with compassion (Mark 6:34)
Get involved by praying for them to have the Help of God (John 14:16)
Get involved by going after the one who is lost & alone (Luke 15:4)
When you get dirty from being in the mess, make sure you come back to church and get under the spout where the glory comes out & get washed by the word of God.
And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
Just One Thing:
Just One Thing:
Get in the world to win the world outside these walls
Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
What inanimate object would be the most annoying if it played loud upbeat music while being used?
What has been your typical response to the world around you? (e.g. do you engage or retreat; do you try to blend in and not rock the boat, etc) Share a little about why this is your response.
Please read John 1:5 & Genesis 1:2 and share what these verses say to you about your role and intersection with the world you are in.
How do you want to practically apply this sermon to your life this week and going forward?