Called to More Outreach
Called to More: Capital Campaign Series • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 10 viewsThe church in Antioch was a special kind of church. It was the kind of church we want to be. It was the kind of place where, “a great many people” believed, were added to the Lord, and were taught. These new believers were from various ethnic backgrounds and nationalities. What they had in common was their devotion to Jesus. They were reaching out so much to the community and becoming so well-known that the community created a nickname for them, “Christians.” If our community created a nickname for us, what would it be? Would they known us well enough to call us anything at all? The same Lord who called the Antioch disciples to reach their community is calling us to do more to reach our community.
Notes
Transcript
Called to More Series
Called to More Series
According to Hindu tradition…
Hanuman
is the son of the wind god
face of a monkey and body of a human
This is the Hanuman Temple
It’s in Frisco
Just a few minutes from here
I drive past it every day
Their prayer hall can accommodate 4,000 people at one time
Coming Up
I want everyone to have the opportunity to hear about Jesus
Dr. Pagidipalli will be here next Sunday
Our community is filled with people who need to hear about Jesus
from all different cultures
all different backgrounds
I want you to hear just a handful of stories of how MCDERMOTT ROAD’S OUTREACH is touching people’s lives
Video
Video
I love you, church!
I love what you’re doing to reach our community
I love the potential we have to do even more
We have to make sure we never GET STUCK or BECOME STAGNATE
That happened in the first century
Jesus told the apostles they would be his witnesses in Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth
BUT for YEARS they only taught Jews
Stephen was the first follower of Jesus killed for his faith…
19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.
Stuck
In Jerusalem for awhile
Then, just teaching Jews
2026 Theme: Fearless and Faithful
This whole year is about asking, “What’s holding me back?”
“How do I / WE keep moving forward in faith?”
20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
How scary would that be?
talking to Greeks about Jesus being Lord
they don’t share your background
they don’t share your worldview
The hand of the Lord was with them
that’s why they were fearless
that’s why they were successful
Do we believe?
the hand of the Lord is with us?
are we asking the Lord’s hand to be with us?
22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
How do you “see” the grace of God?
you see what God’s gift is doing
you see how it CHANGES people
you see how it UNITES people of different ethnic backgrounds
Can you see the grace of God HERE?
that video?
looking around this room?
25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
Christianos
Christ-ianos
Comes from Latin (Roman)
Roman
Not Jewish
Political term (belonging to the party of...)
Think about all the words to which we still attach that same suffix, -ian or -an:
Texan
American
Republican
Partisan
Disciples had a REPUTATION in the community for TALKING about their LOYALTY to CHRIST
So the community nicknamed them
What would be OUR nickname?
taught a great many people
Jews
Gentiles
eventually they would send Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey
I want to encourage you to ask yourself…
How can YOU help reach and teach more people?
How can YOU help reach and teach more people?
1. Pray
It is God’s grace that changes lives
It is God’s grace that brings transformation
It is the hand of God that brings success
PRAY for BOLDNESS / FEARLESS and FAITHFUL
2. Volunteer for an Existing Ministry
FriendSpeak
Thrive
Embrace Grace
World Bible School
3. Start a New Study (with friends / family)
Start a group study
Be a facilitator and let someone else teach
individually and collectively
We are called to reach and teach more people.
We are called to reach and teach more people.
Jesus
Lived and died
Was buried and raised
So the world could be rescued from sin
Following him INCLUDES making him known
Maybe…
Jesus has been made known to you and you’re ready to follow him
You need to recommit your life to following him and making him known
