Sermon Tone Analysis

When Karen Watson felt God's call to go to Iraq, we responded by resigning her job as a county sherrif, selling her car, house, and other possessions.

When she left, everything she owned was contained in a duffle bag.

Today, her duffle bag has become a reminder of the work she did in telling people in Iraq about Jesus Christ.

James 1:19-

Watson's family shared her story with the President of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, Jerry Rankin at her funeral.

Rankin then took Watson's message of sacrifice to a Missions Conference in New Orleans.

He encouraged students, faculty, and staff at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to consider missions not out of obligation to fulfill the Great Commission, but because they are compelled by the Love of Jesus.

On Dec. 11, 1979, Mother Teresa, the "Saint of the Gutters," went to Oslo.

Dressed in her signature blue-bordered sari and shod in sandals despite below-zero temperatures, the former Agnes Bojaxhiu received that ultimate worldly accolade, the Nobel Peace Prize.

In her acceptance lecture, Teresa, whose Missionaries of Charity had grown from a one-woman folly in Calcutta in 1948 into a global beacon of self-abnegating care, delivered the kind of message the world had come to expect from her. "It is not enough for us to say, 'I love God, but I do not love my neighbour,'" she said, since in dying on the Cross, God had "[made] himself the hungry one--the naked one--the homeless one."

Jesus' hunger, she said, is what "you and I must find" and alleviate.

Rankin said, "Media and culture, they just don't get it.

Why would anyone go to a place that their lives would be at risk?

We have all succumbed to a culture and a philosophy where it is all about us, it's all about our comfort, all about our security, all about our future in this life.

They never understand that there is something worth giving your life to.

There is a purpose that's worth dying for.

But the world doesn't understand that.

No one becomes obedient to the point of giving their life through a sense of obligation just because Jesus told them to go.

You are driven by a passion in your heart for a lost world."

In addition to her duffle bag, Watson left a letter with her pastor that was to be opened only upon her death.

When the letter was opened after she and three other workers were murdered in Iraq, Watson made it clear she had counted the cost of going.

In handwritten capital letters she wrote, "THERE ARE NO REGRETS."

Dear Pastor Phil and Pastor Roger,

You should only be opening this in the event of death.

There are not regrets.

The missionary heart:

Cares more than some think is wise.

Risks more that some think is safe

Dreams more than some think is practical

Expects more than some think is possible.

I was called not to comfort or to success but to obedience. . . .

There is no Joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving Him.

I love you two and my church family.

In His care,

Salaam, Karen

__________

There are different ways to measure poverty.

Poverty is not simply a financial issue, it has ripple effects on the soul that move beyond the physical predicament to the emotional, and spiritual issues.

For some our mission is close by (work, our neighbours, our family, a local outreach) and for others it is a trip to a drastically different culture.

But the proclamation is the same.

Luje 4:18-19

Jesus makes it pretty clear that in the wake of his Gospel, the good news of his incarnation; his life death and glorious resurrection, comes a level of freedom that can not be found anywhere else.

That with the gospel comes God’s fullest expression of favour.

The biblical concept of poverty refers to a state of want or need in which one lacks economic resources, societal standing, and political or judicial power.

And here is the thing, you and I are the mouthpiece, and the hands and feet of this revolutionary Good News.

That ought to find expression in our words AND in our actions.

-28

Here is James point: It is not about earning salvation.

BUT An active faith is the sign of authentic faith.

Anyone can say I belong to Jesus, but the proof is in our obedience right.

Anyone who has been on a stagnant relationship, knows that ...

a confession of love is not as authentic as an expression of love.

Janes is saying.....

When we do not work to relieve the spiritual and physical poverty of others, we are exposing a spiritual poverty in ourselves.

Jesus makes is clear in

It's eradication and the soothing of its effects are also physical, emotional and spiritual issues.

When you feed the hungry, when you give a drink to the hungry, when you invite the stranger into your home, cloth the naked, visit those in prison, you are doing it to HIM.

The biblical concept of poverty refers to a state of want or need in which one lacks economic resources, societal standing, and political or judicial power.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.

35 For I was hungry, and you fed me.

I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink.

I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.

36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing.

I was sick, and you cared for me.

I was in prison, and you visited me.’

There is a sacramental moment, a sacred interaction taking place when we are actively living in the proclaimed mission of God’s favour.

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?

Or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality?

Or naked and give you clothing?

39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

That with the gospel comes God’s expression of favour

And here is the thing, you and I are the mouthpiece, and the hands and feet of the Lord’s favour.

* 25:40 Greek my brothers.

See the acid test in the Old Testement for belonging to God was how the poor were treated.

You are good with the ritual, but what about the poor, those in need, those who are lost and seeing?

Worshipping YHWH, loving YHWH, Obeying YHWH meant seeing in those whom He created an opportunity to worship, love and serve Him.

Worshipping Jesus, loving Jesus, obeying Jesus means seeing in those whom he created an opportunity to worship, love and serve Him.

‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

And we can be the stereotype that many believe the church to be, or we can be those who proclaim and live the fact of .

Now what do we do with that?

Where are my opportunities to be on mission, to step into this story and proclaim the time of God’s favour to those who need to hear it?

Well, fortunately you attend a church that is very concerned with local and global missions.

1. Missions trips

Kenya (May)

Mexico (end of June)

New York (YOUTH July)

Dominican Republic (August)

Mexico (mens trip Nov)

There are very simple yet profound, impactful ways you can serve.

And you do not need to get your passports done and raise your money, you just need to show up and serve.

2. Serving the Community (volunteers opportunities)

There going to be opportunities to serve right out these doors; I have been in conversation with the city and they have made it clear that there are plenty of ways for us to serve.

I thought it would be great for 20 of us to go to one of their volunteer sessions they offer for doing some volunteering around the park, gardening, clean up, etc.

That is part of the work the Gospel calls us to.

That is how we obey love and worship our saviour in a concrete way.

There are very simple yet profound, impactful ways you can serve.

And you do not need to get your passports done and raise your money, you just need to show up and serve.

3. Cold Wet Weather Mat Program

WWMP- we are in need of those who can serve, in a very simple, but in an extremely high impact way starting on the 16th of February.

We are looking for those who will say "My Gospel will have hands and feet.

My Gospel will have traction and my Gospel WILL BE EXPRESSED!”