Life on Mission
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Intro
We are coming into Fall, my favorite season, and we have some great stuff coming up.
We have the 9 year anniversary,
Back To Church Sunday, and
Fall Festival coming up in the Fall.
People are hungry for something. They may not know it, but they are hungry for God. People are searching for spiritual answers.
Young people are moving towards God like the 70’s. Campuses are having revivals and students are being baptized all over the nation. There is a hunger out there.
So we want to prepare ourselves for a harvest. We are naming the series, World Outside Our Window, because there are people right outside our normal places, who are hungry for something… hungry for God. They just might not know what they are hungry for. That’s why they try all sorts of things.
Hulk Hogan story - he turned to the Lord because he got tired of getting back up from his own mistakes.
God has mandated for us to reach the world with His Good news. We can never become so comfortable here together that we forget about those out there… many of whom are our friends and family members. We are God’s hands and feet to the world.
So why does God want us to look outside of our window at the world?
1. God loves our world
1. God loves our world
That’s simple.
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
That’s a powerful verse. Even non-believers know this verse.
Love is a word we use all the time.
We love football … the Saints.
We love football, but we also love our kids.
We love Chic-fil-a, but we also love our spouse.
We love ice cream, but also love God.
We use love a lot. Now we know the differences between these uses, AND we know that God loves us unconditionally. He loves us so much that he gave himself to us… his son to die for us.
We often breeze past this verse, but it’s important because everything flows out of it. God loves us so much that He gave… It doesn’t matter what you have done… where you are… God chooses to love you so much that He gave himself.
But God doesn’t just love you and me… He loves those outside of this room…. at work… at the gym … at the restaurant… at the grocery… at Walmart…
God loves the world.
The second thin about the world is…
2. Our world is in trouble
2. Our world is in trouble
You can see this every day in life and in the news… in traffic … at restaurants… at the mall… people protesting anything and everything…
This trouble is not new, but it’s worse than it has been. Paul said,
22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
All of creation is experiencing more and more trouble. In child birth, the pain gets worse as it gets time to deliver the baby. That’s what the world is going through now.
If you have ever gone white water rafting, there are times when you go through the rapids and then there is usually some smooth water where you can relax.
This generation we are living in is like being stuck in continual white water without the smooth calm part. There is so much turmoil all over the place.
It’s not just the headlines, it’s every day life.
703 million people in the world that lack access to clean water. That’s 1 in 10 that do not have access to clean water. We don’t even have to think about it… we just turn on the faucet.
719 million or 9.2% of the world population live on less than $2.15 per day.
Human Trafficking - 49.6 million people being trafficked which is modern day slavery.
1100 languages that do not have the bible in their language.
Lack of purpose. Only 1/4 of Americans say they have purpose and 9 out of 10 say they would trade income for purpose.
People outside our windows are hurting and searching for what we have. There is a lot of work to do.
The good news is that
3. God has a plan for our world
3. God has a plan for our world
God has a plan.
When Jesus walked on earth, people were looking for a political Messiah. they were looking for a Messiah that would restore Israel ti it’s greatness when David and Solomon ruled.
Unfortunately, today we are still looking for a political Messiah… someone who will restore our nation to sanity.
God’s plan has never been a political solution. It’s much bigger than that.
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
God has a plan and His plan is us. We are to share the goodness of God with others every day… no matter what we are going through … no matter where the nation is going…
God’s plan for the world is His people living life on mission.
God’s plan for the world is His people living life on mission.
God has chosen us at this time to carry out his plan. There is no plan B. It’s time to share the Gospel.
When it’s the darkest, the light shine brighter. And we have the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a world that desperately needs him.
We can thank God that he has chosen us for this time. This is a jacked up time, but it’s our time and God has called us to make a difference.
Paul said,
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
So let’s look back at this verse by verse.
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!
So, how do we do this? How can we make a difference in the world outside our window?
Things God wants us to do
Things God wants us to do
Write this down. God wants us to
See others.
See others.
We have to “see’ them before we can even love them and tell them about Jesus.
When we look at others from a worldly point of view, we see problems instead of people. It’s easy, when we look at people, to see their attitude, their behavior, their lifestyle and end up labeling a person, not by who they are, but by their problem or the situation that they find themselves in.
Look what God says about them…
27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
When we see people from God’s point of view, we see people whom God created and loves. They were each one created in the image of God.
Photos that you had to develop. I took a class in photography. You put the film into some chemical to develop it. The imprint was there, but you couldn’t see it.
That’s what the image of God does. It imprints everyone and it’s our job to help develop that, but even though you don’t see it, it’s there.
If we see it through God’s perspective, we will never meet anyone who is not created by and loved by God.
CS Lewis said,
“It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor. It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.”
We need God’s perspective.
Story of Kento
Daily Prayer: God, give us eyes to see others as you see them.
Daily Prayer: God, give us eyes to see others as you see them.
Before we go to work… school…out to eat… God give me eyes to see them as you do.
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
Serve Others
Serve Others
We reach people by serving people. Paul reminds us that we are called to the ministry of reconciliation. Paul reminds us of what God did for us and then calls us to reach others.
God saves us… makes us into entirely new people. Then He blesses us. Is anyone besides me thankful for the blessings of God? Then he sends us out to make a difference.
Paul always, when he is telling us what God wants us to do, begins with what God did for us. He reminds us of what God has done in our lives. It’s an honor for God to call us. Jesus said this…
48 But if he does a poor job through ignorance, he’ll get off with a slap on the hand. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!
Greater Gifts mean greater responsibility.
We have been blessed and now we have been given the ministry of reconciliation.
Reconciliation simply means to call back into union or friendship. It’s all about relationship.
That word ministry (task) means waiter. We get to serve God to the world. Our job is to be a waiter for God and let everyone know that they can be a friend of God. We get to give the world the best thing that’s ever happened to us… Jesus.
You may be thinking that the task is too big. God didn’t call you to reach the whole world, but to reach your world.
We are called to our Sphere of influence. If we will all do this, we will reach the world.
Sphere of Influence
Sphere of Influence
My people: Family and friends
My people: Family and friends
My place: boss, co-workers, and classmates
My place: boss, co-workers, and classmates
My passion: hobbies, coffee shops, and sports
My passion: hobbies, coffee shops, and sports
Over my next messages we will build on this passage…
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
We not only serve people, we
Show Others
Show Others
Ambassador -
Sent from one place to another to carry the message and values of the person who sent them.
They don’t carry their own authority. They carry the authority of the nation that sent them.
They are not elected. They are chosen and appointed to do the task.
The God of the universe is choosing us and sending us out. We don’t carry our own agenda, we carry His agenda, and His authority. Paul said… We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
He has appointed us to this time and this place for such a time as this.
16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
This is the call of God on our lives. Mother Theresa said this…
“I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.”
The world outside of our window here needs Jesus.
People we work with… go to school with… our kids… our family members … people we play golf or whatever with… people at Walmart… people at the Mall… people who will come to the Fall Festival…
prayer time
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
I know that in the sound of my voice that there are people who desperately are seeking the love of God. Today is your day.
Every head bowed and eyes closed.
If that’s you today, raise your hand.
Salvation Prayer - Jesus today, i receive your love. Thank you for forgiving me. I repent from all my mistakes. I receive your love and ask you to feel me with your love.
Pray for them.
Commissioning moment.
God here we are, send us… send me.
Eyes to see… courage and ability to serve people… our answer is yes, give us your direction. Thank you that we are your ambassadors. We commit to showing the world who you are.
