Becoming a World Changer
Intro;
Have you ever thought something you might do change the world?
Something you do in your own little world/could change
Afraid you might fail/so you didn’t do anything.
Illustration;
Thomas Alva Edison;
Credited for inventing the light bulb/discovered 2999 not to make a light bulb.
Experiments continually failed.
Pressed on. Became a world changer.
Abraham Lincoln has many set backs before he became president.
Almost drowned as a child.
Suffered depression growing up.
Failed in business.
Pressed on. Became a world changer.
Oprah
Come from single parent family.
Grew up in the getto.
Abused and given away for adoption.
Pressed on. Became a world changer.
Given away more gifts than that guy in the Red Suit!
She one thing the world is searching.
Hope
Relationships.
Health.
Life.
Things are going to get better.
You know what these people (World Changers) common?
1. Selfless Servants.
2. Passionate People.
3. Committed Christians.
Something interesting.
None of them stepped out expecting to change the world.
They only stepped out expecting to change their world.
When you change your world the world around you changes.
Family/Friends/Co-Workers.
Slide:
“Becoming a World Changer”
I’m really excited about the scripture today because it challenge you.
“Become a World Changer”
For you to step up. Go into the world/neighborhood.
Front lines.
Tip of the spear.
Front on the boat.
Illustration;
Movie Titanic/front of ocean liner/Kate Winslow/Leonardo Decaprio.
Winds in their face.
Going to a new destination.
Problem;
Guided by the world/disastrous results. (Sailing/dark)
Solution;
Today Christ offers you the same excitement. (He’s Captain/ He’s the light in the darkness)
Maybe you won’t change the world.
But you might changes someone’s world.
Let’s see how Paul did it.
Slide:
Acts 17: 1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
NKJV
Paul and Silas, traveled south (Major trade route)
Amphipolis/Appolonia to Thessalonica.
100 south of Philippi
Came to Thessalonica/synagogue
v.2 Then Paul, as his custom was…
His normal routine.
His M.O.
He went in to them…
That just means he went to where they are.
That’s how you become a “World Changer”
You go…Matt 28:19 “Go therefore”
1. You become a “Selfless Servant”
You person that cares less yourself/more serving others.
Great theologian: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
If you want to be a “World Changer”
1. Selfless Servant.
Need to learn to share one on one.
Illustration;
Barna Christian Research Group
½ of 1% became Christians/Crusades.
Less than 2% from some church program.
Only 2% meet Jesus through church service.
80% of people who come to Christ are because one person was willing to share with them.
We’re not talking some distant Amazon jungle/USA
180 million people outside of these walls.
v. 2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures.
Slide;
Acts 17:3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”
NKJV
Not only does scripture tell us what to do.
It tells us what to say…and how to say it.
1. He reasoned with them.
Conversation. Questions and answers.
“Do you believe good people go to heaven.”
“Do you consider yourself a good person.”
2. He explained to them.
Open scripture/share with them.
“God say’s we are all sinners.”
“If you say you’ve never sinned your liar”
3. He demonstrated/show in scripture
You could be redeemed.
How Jesus had to die for our sins.
4. He preached/ “announced”
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The resurrection is the heart of Christianity.
That’s the gospel, “Good News”
Becoming a “World Changer” doesn’t mean everyone want’s to change.
Slide;
Acts 17:4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
NKJV
Some of them were persuaded…
Some, but not all.
“A great multitude of the Greeks believed”
“and not a few of the leading women”
Paul had a passion for what the Lord had called him to do.
To change the world one soul at a time by sharing the gospel.
You want to be a “World Changer?”
2. Have a “Passion for People”
Care enough to share.
It’s not the hearing the word of God that changes lives.
It’s the heeding the word of God that changes lives.
v. 5 the Jews were not persuaded, and became envious…
Jews continue to reject the message of Christ.
Stirred up the crowd using evil men from market place.
Created a mob scene
Illustration;
Remember the movie Frankenstein?
Mob scene/torches/burn him out.
“Went to the house of Jason”
Slide:
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”
NKJV
Didn’t find Paul/Grabbed Jason/brought him before city rulers.
“He has turned the world upside down”
Like the demon possessed girl.
They speak the truth.
But in a negative light.
Christ will change your world.
Christ will turn it upside down.
Weak/Strong
Poor/Rich
Lost/Found
Sadness/Joy
Darkness/Light
He will change your world forever!
How do you become a “World Changer”
3. Be a “Committed Christian”
Slide:
Acts 17:8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things.
9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
NKJV
They went to the synagogue of the Jews…
That’s Paul’s normal routine.
That’s his MO
1. He’s a “Selfless Servant”
2. He’s got a “Passion for People”
3. He’s a “Committed Christian”
He’s a “World Changer”
Illustration; We have some world changers here today;