The Gospel is Worth Listening To - My Life Must Be as Well
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Title: The Gospel is Worth Listening To - My Life Must Be As Well.
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Introduction – I am 50 years old and by God’s grace I only have 20ish years left to get God’s mission for my life accomplished.
I have a dream that I would love to see come to fruition before my life is over…
Dream – To have everyone in Allendale hear, see and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Did you hear that? That is ridiculous! It’s audacious! It’s foolhardy! It’s impossible!
“If you are chasing a dream, at least you are moving forward!” - MG
Now, I understand how easy it is to dream…
But this is a God saturated dream with scriptural warrant! And this dream has caused me to become Missional in my thinking.
By the way, that’s what a good dream does. It opens our eyes to what might be! It shows us the possibilities of what God can do! A good dream gives us a vision that propels us towards a specific mission.
When you hear the word “Missional” what do you think?
Defining Missional by Alan (Hearsh) Hirsch
A proper understanding of Missional begins with recovering a missionary understanding of God. By his very nature God is a "sent one" who takes the initiative to redeem his creation. This doctrine, known as missio Dei—the sending of God—is causing many to redefine their understanding of the church. Because we are the "sent" people of God, the church is the instrument of God's mission in the world. As things stand, many people see it the other way around. They believe mission is an instrument of the church; a means by which the church is grown. Although we frequently say "the church has a mission," according to Missional theology a more correct statement would be "the mission has a church."… A Missional community is patterned after what God has done in Jesus Christ. In the incarnation God sent his Son. Similarly, to be Missional means to be sent into the world; we do not expect people to come to us. This posture differentiates a Missional church from an attractional church. http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2008/fall/17.20.html?start=1
As we dream about reaching the people our area (25,323 as of 2016), we must purpose to change the way we think! There must be a Missional focus to our lives. And obtaining that focus is not that hard when you spend time meditating on the Cross of Jesus Christ, the ultimate missionary!
Are you thankful this morning that Jesus had a Missional mindset! That he came to seek and to save that which was lost. That his life was focused and purposed to provide a means of rescue, redemption and restoration for your soul? Allow that thought to marinate in your thinking!
There is a song that grips my soul and reminds me of God’s motivation for pursing you and me. Here are some of the words…
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
And I submit to you this morning that was the Apostle Paul’s drive! It is what propelled him to risk his life day after day. It is what drove him even in the midst of persecution! It was the gospel! The good news of Jesus Christ…That His blood paid Paul’s sin debt to a holy and righteous God who DEMANDS payment!
Paul’s impossible dream was to reach as many people with the Gospel as possible. He had a Missional mind. And that mindset led to a Missional lifestyle. The gospel was packaged up in the way he lived life. His life matched the message he preached. Paul understood that if it didn’t, it could void the message!
God forbid that our lives are inconsistent with the gracious message of the gospel…
The Maid Idea – Your Life Must Mirror His Missional Message!
The way you live out your faith is every bit as important as the verbal proclamation of the Faith! People notice when there is a difference between the two!
As I studied through the text for this morning, I saw three attributes of the Missional Minded person. These are the characteristics that Paul exhibited with the church at Thessalonica and I think ought to be true of you and me.
By the way, I give you full permission to call me out if you do not see these attributes in my life. Seriously…I need you to help me grow. The pulpit should never be one sided, you should expect of me what I preach to you.
The Maid Idea – Your Life Must Mirror His Missional Message!
The first characteristic of a Christian’s life?
1. Your Life Should Not Hinder Christ’s Mission (vs. 9)
You Work Should Enhance Christ’s Mission (vs. 9)
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
1 Thes 2
[9] For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
Why would Paul challenge the Thessalonians to remember the work of Paul, Timothy and Silas?
The church was born in persecution () and still under it...
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
When you are under constant suffering, discouragement comes easily! Especially when other voices causing doubts and questions. The Jews who hated Paul as well as false teachers, who preached a different message than Paul, could be detrimental to the faith of these people.
Paul does not want to be confused with the false teachers of his day who would preach for personal gain/money…
2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
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Look at the text again...
[9] For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
Missional People do not Work Hard for…
personal gain
prestige
power
They do not work hard so they can obtain the American dream.
They work hard because they love Jesus!
A Missional person, like Paul viewed work as a tool to provide for his needs so he could afford to share the gospel!
His goal was not to be a financial burden to them…He used his tent making abilities to generate an income that would support himself. He worked hard all day long (sunrise to sunset) in a not so very noble occupation (tent making/leather work). To keep his name clear of accusation…To be above reproach.
My pastor once told me, while I was working at Prince Corporation, view your job as a means to an end. In other words, don’t live for your job, allow your job to be a tool to help you live. It is a means to an end. God gives us gainful employment so that we can serve God at home, in our neighborhood and in church.
Application – How do you view your work? Are you a hard worker? Do you toil and labor? What is your motive? How does your responsibility/privilege to share the good news of Jesus Christ fit in to your work plan? Is work a means to an end so you can share Christ?
Two Thoughts…
Work hard to be a good example of a Christ
Evaluate your motive for work
Review - Your Life Must Mirror His Message
1. Your Work Should Not Hinder Christ’s Mission.
Missional People Work Hard
TRANSITION – The second characteristic of Missional people…
2. Your Conduct Should Reflect Christ and His Message (vs. 10)
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
For the theologically astute, this statement is confusing. The scriptures are clear, none of us are good. All of us are wretched sinners before a holy God. There is none righteous no not one!
Pastor Chris Norman puts it this way in “Seeking God and Finding Him” (Redbook)
“Because sin is universal, and every person is a descendant of the same family, there is nowhere we can go in all the earth and find an absence of sin. We can go to the far east, we can go to the far west, we can go to the far north, and we can go to the far south and yet we will never find one society, one tribe, one community, one family, or one human being who does not sin. Sin is universal in all places, for all people, at all times. We all have one common problem in this life, and it is called sin.”
So how can I make the claim that Missional People are Good? First, look at the text with me…
[10] You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
As I work though this letter I am encouraged with how Paul did evangelism.
For years I had the mental picture that Paul was on the street shouting at the top of his lungs for people to repent of their sin and turn to Christ. This passage gives me a different perspective.
Paul worked a full day
He was a man of integrity – not wanting to take advantage of his position. Even though he had a biblical right, he set it aside.
After work he would meet with a small group of people and teach in places like Jason’s home ().
He lived life among those he was attempting to reach. They could see how he handled work, how he interacted with people, they could see he was authentic and not a charlatan.
Paul was the real deal.
In verse 10 he appeals to his time among them and basically says, decide for yourselves if we and our message is authentic or not. Before God, Paul’s conscience was clear.
It may seem as if Paul is boasting. He is not. He is confidently reminding the people of the Thessalonian church that they lived out the gospel among them. God changed Paul’s life, He was making Paul good and it was reflected in Paul’s conduct.
Our motive is the Gospel. Our goal with any relationship is the gospel! If the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is in our hearts, it must be on our lips. But it must and will transform our lives as well.
The way I live must be consistent with the message I share. I must not allow barriers, hindrances, any failings, moral or otherwise to taint the gospel in my life.
The gospel is worth listening to; my life must be as well.
Two questions to ask of yourself in light of the gospel…
Who am I? How must I act?
In Christ I am righteous…I must act righteously.
Righteous - Conformity to a certain set of expectation…Doing that which is right in relation to God and man. The opposite of righteous is wicked, wrong or evil.
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
How must I act? As a man? As a husband?
In Christ I am blameless…I must act blamelessly
Blameless - pertaining to being without fault or blame—‘blameless, without blame, innocent, guiltless.’
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
(ESV)14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain
How must I act? As an employee or citizen I must be blameless…
In Christ I am holy, I must act holy!
Holy – Pure or clean/Separateness, alienness in a divine sense…In regard to the NT concept of holiness, those that serve him are required to be holy. The only way that is possible is for a person to be a part of the new covenant in the blood of Jesus. Once someone is, they become a saint or holy. In the NT, holiness is recognized or visible by conduct. Let me be clear, conduct doesn’t make one holy, rather holiness/changed conduct is a result of our new standing in Christ.
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
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How must I act? The activities I participate in…
How does this happen in my life?
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
(ESV) Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
(ESV) Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
(ESV) We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,.
Here is the secret…If I do not meditate on who I am in Christ, my conduct will never change. When I do wrap my mind around the truths of what Christ accomplished for me in the gospel, then and only then can I begin to have a conduct that is new and in concert with whom God declares me to be! This is why it is imperative that the Christian spend time in God’s Word!
John Piper - Don’t rest on past reading. Read your Bible more and more every year. Read it whether you feel like reading it or not. And pray without ceasing that the joy return and pleasures increase.
You are reading out of desperation for the effects of this heavenly medicine. Bible-reading is not a cure for a bad conscience; it’s chemo for your cancer. Legalists feel better because the box is checked. Saints feel better when their blindness lifts, and they see Jesus in the word. Let’s get real. We are desperately sick with worldliness, and only the Holy Spirit, by the word of God, can cure this terminal disease.
Long lasting biblical change in my conduct doesn’t come from my internal fortitude and ability to change. If I am my own source for change I will either become a Pharisee or I will suffer from apathy. No, it comes from a quiet desperation before God…
It boils down to a man centered gospel verses a Christ centered gospel.
A man centered gospel gladly accepts Jesus’ Gift of salvation and revels in the “Get outta Hell Free” card. Growth and change however, is up to my ability. God become the cosmic police in my life and continues to keep track of my infractions. There is no joy or peace, only list keeping. No grace, more Law. This theology either produces pride in my efforts or frustration at my lack of ability to live it our consistently.
A Christ Centered Gospel on the other hand fosters faith in Christ for what he accomplished on the cross…
Repentance for the sin that caused him to go to the cross.
Dependence on the Christ who delivered me from the penalty of my sin
This same Christ continues to conform me to his image by giving me a different perspective of the challenges I face in this life. I begin to look at life through God’s sovereign lens and see things from his perspective. This is the only way we can make sense out of the seemingly randomness we face every day. A Christ centered Gospel keeps us centered and helps us to be good.
My friend Dave Sides is the most joy filled, good Christian I know…
“Missional People are Good (righteous, blameless, holy)” because their God is good.
Simply this, Missional People recognize that their goodness can’t come from themselves, only from God. They understand that any boasting they have about their behavior is solely and directly a result of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit…
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
(ESV) 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
(ESV) 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
According to the best our flesh can come up with is wickedness, but the Spirit’s work in our lives produces amazing fruits of love, joy peace…in other words, GOODNESS!
Application – So now that we understand what it means to be good, here are some ideas on how to grow in goodness…
Put yourself in the place of growth. Spend time in God’s word. Allow God to transform your mind! When you spend time in God’s word, good will result. Garbage in Garbage out. God’s word in good out. Be intentional…it will not simply happen!
Spend time with God’s people – Sharpen one another, challenge one another. Be intentional…it will NOT simply happen.
Spend time with God alone…
Don’t fight suffering, embrace it as a gift from God…
Christian, You purse do these disciplines and I guarantee you will become the good person God has already declares you to be because of the blood of His Son! Isn’t the gospel amazing!!!
Review - Your Life Must Mirror His Message
1. Your Work Should Not Hinder Christ’s Mission
TRANSITION - The third characteristic of Missional people…
2. Your Conduct Should Reflect Christ and His Message
3. Your Life Should Be Used in the Lives of Others (vs. 11-12)
11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
[11] For you know how, like a father with his children, [12] we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Paul, earlier in this chapter compares himself to a nursing mother with her children; gentle and tender. He now changes to a different image, “Like a father with his children.” Now the father described here is no bum. He is not a dead beat dad by any stretch…This father (Paul) does three important things for his (spiritual) children. Just like any godly father would do for his flesh and blood.
A good father invests in and teaches his children to pursue greatness…
Exhortation – ask for earnestly; invite; call together to. (Louw-Nida)
Encouragement – console, cheer up (BDAG) persuasion (Pillar)
Charge - to state something with firmness and certainty—‘to insist firmly, to insist.’ (Louw-Nida)
What is Paul’s goal for his children? To know who they are and how they should live.
Picture in your mind the apostle gathering his spiritual children around him and saying, “You are followers of God – Walk like it! Do not settle for anything but that which is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, whatever is worthy of praise, run after those things.”
There are few things in life that are better than being a dad. Each one of our children are profoundly special to me…in their own way they bear the image of God and Angie and I have had the privilege of raising them. That “raising” time is pretty much over, but from when they were little, we prayed a consistent prayer for each of them…that they would love and serve Jesus. We would exhort them, encourage them and charge them as they went through a challenging life.
As a pastor’s kid, you are expected to be perfect. They were told that by their friends on multiple occasions as they grew up…
Now, this isn’t a pity party for them. We told them on many occasions, that because God wanted Dad in the ministry they had the privilege to be in it as well…
As they ran into their challenges along life’s way, we would always ask them this one question, “What is God teaching you about you through this situation?” That one question brought everything back to a few basic theological truths. 1. God is sovereign. 2. God wastes no opportunity. 3. God is good and He is concerned about His glory and our good.
This question drew them back to the source of all things.,,Jesus! It held them, and us accountable to the God who placed us where He placed us, for His good purposes!
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
(ESV) 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ…
You are called – He, The God of the Universe! The King of kings and the Lord of lords has CALLED you!
You are called – He, The God of the Universe! The King of king and the Lord of lords has CALLED you!
He calls through the preaching of the gospel…
(ESV) To this he called you through our gospel
14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He calls you to His Kingdom and glory! – His kingdom has started in our hearts and will untimely be establishes when he comes again! The only way into his Kingdom is through faith and repentance.
(ESV) and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
The result of entering His kingdom is that we will participate in His glory as well…
(ESV) To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Application – Christian, Who are you? Never, ever forget who you are!
We are Missional People!!! We must consistently remind each other of who we are in Christ! We must be accountable to one another…
That is why coming to gather with the church is so important
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
That is why connecting throughout the week is crucial!
We need our friends telling reminding us when our attitude is not befitting of His Kingdom and Glory
We need people to ask us what God is teaching Us about Us through the various circumstances we face.
We need our friends telling us that adultery, pornography, covetousness, lying, stealing, harsh words, irritability, greed, gossip, slander and the like are not the ways of Christ Kingdom. I desperately need God’s people in my life helping me to persevere to the end!!!
And I need to be willing to help those around me persevere too.
TRANSITION – The Gospel is Worth Listening to - my life must be as well.
· Missional People are Good
· Missional People Take Responsibility for Others
Review - Your Life Must Mirror His Message
1. Your Work Should Not Hinder Christ’s Mission
2. Your Conduct Should Reflect Christ and His Message
3. Your Life Should Be Used in the Lives of Others
Conclusion – To steal a phrase from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I have a dream!
Dream – To have everyone in Allendale hear, see and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ!
I think Paul had a similar dream. And you know what? If you are a Christian, his dream became a reality in your life. Because of his faithfulness of not only speaking the gospel, but living it out, God transformed countless lives.
Won’t you dream with me this morning? Help make this Dream a reality By pursuing people the way Paul did! By being Missional every day forward…it’s one thing to preach it, it is altogether another thing to live it! We MUST do both!
The Gospel is Worth Listening To; Our Lives Must Be Worth Listening to As Well. How’s yours?
"Grace is not an excuse to live like a disgrace." - Jentezen Franklin