Great, Now What?
Notes
Transcript
Today we end our series For Everyone.
We have been looking at how we can be world changers like the disciples we read about in the book of Acts.
We have given laser like focus to “world” and considered we need to change our worlds.
Our worlds are the 8 to 15 people in our lives that God has strategically placed there because He wants us to be involved in the process.
These 8 to 15 people the Greeks call, what? — Oiksos
We are an oikocentric church. That means we are purposefully driven on Sunday to prepare because the rest of the week depends upon it.
We need to be fulfilling our mission and being involved with our oikos is how we can accomplish that mission.
We are reaching out to those 8 to 15 people in our life, our oikos!
You maybe asking, “Great what is next, then?”
There is no next. This is what we are doing! If you haven’t then start! Everyone of us of all ages!
We need to peel away the, “feed me and give me” priorities and values.
We need to view the world through the eyes of Jesus.
So we answer the command of Peter — 1 Peter 3:15
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect;
Are you ready for the message God has for us today?
Great, let’s dig in!
As a church we must train believers of all ages to live successfully.
From our kids, to teens, to adults, if we don’t then we fail as a church.
To live successfully as followers of Jesus means to not only follow His teachings, but also His example.
Jesus had His own oikos that He poured a great deal into to prepare them.
In fact His oikos was 12 men.
In building the kingdom those 12 men kept their focus on Jesus.
When we reflect on this we learn that Jesus didn’t have a lot of time to prepare them, just three years!
When we think about it Jesus didn’t get lost in the weeds, the details, He had to cut to the chase and gave them what mattered most!
What matters most
What matters most
The Apostles were taught the priorities for their redemptive mission to the world.
For us this ties to our essentials, or what we call our core values.
Loving Relationships
Inspiring Worship
Passionate Prayer
Relevant Teaching
Holistic Stewardship
Intentional Outreach
Jim Collins (Built to Last), “In order for any value to be a core it has to be essential, it has to be enduring, it has to be guiding, it has to be non-compromisable.”
Anything that is not needed should not be considered core.
If it doesn’t last what would the point be of building on it. A core value should show the way.
A core value then should be what we stick to even when culture fights us on it!
The great thing is this is how Amazing Grace feels about our core values!
With these in place we are ready to prepare ourselves on Sunday for the Monday through Saturday life with our oikos!
The Importance of Discipline
The Importance of Discipline
As Christians we want to help people connect the dots in their lives.
All our spiritual disciplines then need to be oikocentric, connecting strategies for personal growth to people who frame our personal mission.
The Discipline Bible Study
The discipline of bible study becomes strategic.
It prepares us to answer questions or provide a biblical perspective of the things people in our oikos experience daily.
Peter Called us to this — 1 Peter 3:15
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect;
The Discipline of prayer
This becomes an act of interceding on behalf of people in our oikos
Asking God to reveal His love to these people.
The Discipline of generosity
This becomes a reflection of God’s grace.
Reaching out to our oikos in the name of Jesus.
The discipline of Service
This becomes the foundation for the ministry systems of our church.
Whatever the ministry is our efforts in serving is to provide support for others who are preparing to change their worlds for Christ.
By living these principles we become a beacon of light in an otherwise dark world.
Jesus predicted this — John 3:20-21
20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed.
21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed as having been performed in God.”
Our Mission and Purpose
Our Mission and Purpose
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
When we are challenged to do anything as a follower of Jesus, it is directly connected to our oikos.
The value of a local church is that it offers a place where believers of all ages are being prepared to be world changers,
Think about what we offer Sunday mornings in Sunday Small Groups — Scripture and Greek.
In the fall Scripture and a class purposeful in considering conversations we have with people. These are groups which are preparing!
Our Mid-High and High School youth are have been preparing to be disciples on Sundays, they will start again in the fall!
See how Sunday becomes important?
Sunday Church helps us then to complete our mission.
God has been moving us in this direction since I came here almost three years ago.
We are just now ready for God to reveal what we have been doing.
This is our mission to go share Jesus in our oikos, to be world changers, and our purpose on Sundays is to prepare for Monday thru Saturday!
Conclusion
Let’s continue to ensure we are doing our part as a church to prepare all believers of every age to engage purposefully and strategically with their oikos.
For us as individuals let’s engage more prayerfully with our oikos.
This kind of focus frames the missionJesus left for us to accomplish.
Jesus calls us for very specific tasks as is evident by our spiritual gifto given to each of us, and then as a church to regularly meet together at this very specific place.
Our serving and gathering have a specific purpose.
We are preparing to share our lives with a very specific group of people.
Our What? — Oikos!
That’s our world, and this is our church!
So what are you going to do today, based on what God has said?