The Next Generation
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The Next Generation
The Next Generation
10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
judges 2.10-
judges 2.8-10
8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old. 9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. 10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
Revival Losing Our Influence
In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.
6 problems and 5 Answers
In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.
And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance. 25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
loosing influence
Pul Harvey in 1965 called it out....
Pul Harvey in 1965 called it out....
Have things changed?
Christianity is in trouble
· America is in trouble.
· America is in trouble.
The financial world has been rocked. Most stocks are overvalued and a bubble may burst...
· The financial world has been rocked. Most stocks are overvalued and a bubble may burst...
· We read every day about horrific crimes against children.
We have had scandals involving the priesthood, the Catholic priesthood and protestants as well and Baptist
Every day there is an ideological blood bath in our schools and universities. Prayer taken out of public arena.
Free speech about faith is being challenged on a regular basis.
PC - is the state of affairs today and the mere mention in the public arena of absolutes is hate speech and deserves to be banned.
Student loan debt for degrees that Universities fully well knew offered no chance for a job in that career are in the trillions. These chickens are coming home to roost
Young people are so in debt that many live at home until their mid twenties
Church’s are in Trouble
Church’s are in Trouble
· Church attendance is interrupted by sports, ball-games and leisure activities - we will fit it in is the new mantra. parents remember whast you do in moderation your children will do in excess
· Pastors and leaders have to offer bigger and better to people will go to the “other church”
· Pastors and leaders have to offer bigger and better to people will go to the “other church”
Mean while the unchurched of as some call it “nones” is the largest demographic group now.
You
· Acceptance of clear Biblical standards such as sex outside of marriage , homosexuality and lesbianism is eroding. many church will not even discuss them
In conservative church they have locked themselves in a bubble and thrown away the key
In conservative church they have locked themselves in a bubble and thrown away the key
thinking the methods of the 50-70 will make some comeback
·People give and spend so much on themselves but never can’t even tip God on Sunday for a tithe…..
1,000’s of churches close every year
You know, we see these as problems and certainly they are problems and they are reflections of the fallenness of our world.
Key - But we see them against a backdrop of comfort, prosperity, wealth, freedom, democracy.
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
What we're seeing in America is depravity bursting through some of the protective fences that we've tried to build around it.
6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
Key - We've tried to deal with morality on a cultural basis, on a law basis. We've tried to maintain a Judeo/Christian moral standard in America and we've been able to do that through the centuries.
Moral standards, and all of those things seem very clearly to be in rapid decline.
But guess what not anymore!
The
And as the non-Christians began to out number the Christians and as they begin to gain the ascendency and the power and the culture moves away from the Christian beginnings, such as we had in America and the same is true in Europe
Moral standards, and all of those things seem very clearly to be in rapid decline.
It is an indication of the fact that ungodliness dominates to the point where, you know, there is this tremendous forceful lobby that wants to allow for freedom and wants to make sure that no Christian standards impinge on anybody and they keep it at bay by saying,
People have lost their mornings....
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
If you just look in the short span of my life time at the decline of society, the level of hostility against Christianity, the looseness of our moral standards, and all of those things seem very clearly to be in rapid decline.
The answer please listen
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
What is the Answer - we need to know the God of the Bible and see Him work
10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
The next generation believes:
Its that we have left our first love
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Problem # 1 – Truth is Relative
Problem # 1 – Truth is Relative
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16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
7 Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.
The Bible is the standard for all faith and practice.
However, for those that claim to know God …for some the truth found in God’s Word is relative and only applied in situational ethics.....
If it is true what some people say that “Everything is relative” then nothing is because that is your truth and not mine or it might be my truth but it’s not yours.
If the Word of God was true thousands of years ago then it is still true today. If we trust on human opinion or feelings, then we throw out objective truth.
Today, everything in society seems to be subjective or relative to the culture today.
It is like “Well, that is your truth but for me this is what is true.”
If 2 + 2 equals 4 then that is going to be true a thousand years from today. If truth is relative or subjective, a student who received their test paper and received a wrong checkmark next to 2 + 2 = 5 then the teacher can’t teach anything.
The child might say, “Well to you the answer is 4 but for me, it was 5 because that is my truth.”
Something is either true or it is not. There is no rationalizing objective truth. There are object truths and these truths are found in the Scriptures.
If someone says that biblical teaching is irrelevant today or that some of the teachings are not for us today, then ask, “Well, what about Jesus’ death? Was that only for then too?”
Post-modernism which says, you know, modernism was the search for the truth; post-modernism is there is no truth,
Post-modernism which says, you know, modernism was the search for the truth; post-modernism is there is no truth,
Post-modernism which says, you know, modernism was the search for the truth; post-modernism is there is no truth,
· You have your truth,
· I have my truth,
· Whatever works for you is fine for you
· Emerging Church,
· The standard is gone the lines of distinction are gone
And now you have a massive collision without a standard, without a plumb line, without an objective, definitive standard that applies to everybody.
no winner
No looser
everybody get a trophy for trying
No base line - laying out a building
The next generation knew not the Lord!
Problem # 2 No Standard - In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes
Problem # 2 No Standard
Problem # 2 No Standard
6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
related to #1 - no base line to judge....
We make it up as we go along ....
it you say this is right or this is wrong ..... you will be torn apart.
Correctness is determined by you ..... you are Gods.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes
DIY – Church and Christianity
DIY – Church and Christianity
DIY – Church and Christianity
Christianity for dummies
service
Sacrifice
Humility
Love for others
Love for the community
Caring
Online church
Get under the authority of the local church
Teach you children that the church is not here for your enjoyment
Cultural relativism in biblical teaching always occurs when people say something like this: “That is what the verses say but that was when or that was then…or today I feel it is…”
I mean, we understand the value of that.
Cultural relativism that relates to what the Bible says always holds to a low view of Scripture.
They ignore the fact that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” () and that “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but [His] words shall not pass away”
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
The will of God is always revealed in the Word of God and so the Word of God does not change for God will does not change just as God does not change ().
The will of God is always revealed in the Word of God and so the Word of God does not change for God will does not change just as God does not change ().
() and “until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass away” (). The Apostle John wrote that “the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (). The will of God is always revealed in the Word of God and so the Word of God does not change for God will does not change just as God does not change ().
You can't have a law against child abuse and rape and murder or whatever for those people who want to live that way and obviate the law for anybody who doesn't.
Teach you children that the church is not here for your enjoyment
There is no universal fixed, objective permanent standard for moral and spiritual reality to which everyone is held accountable.
#2 - Problem # 2 No Standard
#2 - Problem # 2 No Standard
Problem #3 We Dealing with Fruit Not the Root
Problem #3 We Dealing with Fruit Not the Root
Problem #3 We Dealing with Fruit Not the Root –
Problem #3 We Dealing with Fruit Not the Root –
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
God dealt out punishment to Adam and eve immediately! God takes sin seriously !
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
gen 3.
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
We must deal with the heart not the fruit ….. it is a loosing battle….
The major moral issue that confronts our country today is not pornography, it's not homosexuality, it's not abortion, it's not liberalized education, or any of these other things that we typically identify.
mankind need to be saved ....
We are wasting our time yelling and complaining about the cultural they are only doing what come natural.
Wilds handout
We act like the debauchery is new…..
We act like the debauchery is new…..
Philadelphia in the late 1800’s incest, rape, peturid conditions….
Pompeii which was preserved because of the volcano, Vesuvius, and I looked at the walls of the homes in Pompeii and I saw the most gross obscene pornographic stuff painted in the first century in Italy that would rival anything pornographic today.
The only difference was the medium was different, today it's in a magazine or a piece of film or the internet….
The wretchedness of the human heart which is bent on sexuality,, heterosexual sin and homosexual sin, that is nothing new at all.
the heart must change!
Even abortion, you can go back in history, abortion has been done throughout all of history.
Problem # 4 Doubting God’s Word Gen
Our Culture and some Christians believe a lie!
Exegete and 2
He disguises himself as an angel of light.
He comes along, offers himself as the source of the best information, the right approach to life and undermines the truth of God.
What you have is a population of the children of the devil.
If you're not a Christian, Jesus said, you're of your father the devil.
says if you're not a Christian, you are under the authority of the prince of the power of the air. Then he makes this statement, that the spirit that works in the children of disobedience.
So, you know, you have unregenerate people who are under, to whatever degree, the control of Satan who are espousing his viewpoint
#2 - Problem # 2 No Standard
#2 - Problem # 2 No Standard
They're in the majority in the society, and so consequently the satanic agenda rises and the Word of God is undermined.
Problem #5 Church’s Fail to Affirm the Authority of Scripture
Wherever the church, let's be specific, wherever a pastor, wherever a preacher, wherever a theologian, wherever a teacher, wherever a person claimed to be a Christian failed to uphold and affirm the absolute inerrancy and authority of Scripture, they bear a huge weight of blame.
Are Christians supposed to confront the sins of our culture?
Not only are we mandated to confront the sins of the culture, we are mandated to confront the sins of the church.
Judgment begins where? It begins in the house of God.
We should confront the sins of the culture, and confront the sins of the church
Don't we believe that in order to be saved a person has to come to grips with sin?
He has to see himself as this bankrupt person, you know, mourning over his wickedness, understanding his wretchedness,
In other words, he's bearing the weight and the shame of this oppressive sin in his life.
#3 Problem #3 We Dealing with Fruit Not the Root
#3 Problem #3 We Dealing with Fruit Not the Root
Obviously we have to confront the sins of the culture.
It's not that we're trying to fix the culture, it's that we're trying to call the people who make up the culture to repentance.
To call the sinners in the culture to recognize their sins and to cry out for forgiveness.
Problem # 6 The Church has Lost its Salt or influence
He meant by salt. Of course the picture is influence.
You bring to bear upon the world influence and it's not just the influence of a good guy, it's the influence of gospel truth.. It's the influence of the message of redemption. As light, you shine the message of salvation into darkness.
· Illustration Robert Parker - Legal Counsel
· Jim parenti – Threats
· Marvin Jefferson – many walk out …..
Some of the same churches and Christian organizations who want to take the posture of collectively being against abortion and homosexuality and all of that and we're all against that, wouldn't think of confronting those sins in person's life
Problem # 4 No Repentance in Salvation
Problem # 4 No Repentance in Salvation
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
False conversions
“I gave my heart to Jesus when I was a child. Then I became involved in drugs, robbery, muggings, rape, murder, pornography, torture, gambling, money laundering, adultery, perjury, treason, extortion…and other things I’d rather not mention. I was filled with anger, hatred, and greed. But all the time I knew the Lord and gave my heart back to Him when I was forty years old.”
D. James Kennedy said, “The vast majority of people who are members of churches in America today are not Christians. I say that without the slightest fear of contradiction. I base it on empirical evidence of 24 years of examining thousands of people.”
A. W. Tozer said, “It is my opinion that tens of thousands, if not millions, have been brought into some kind of religious experience by accepting Christ and they have not been saved.”
“Such were some of you!”
“Such were some of you!”
“Such were some of you!”
What am I...as a preacher...what am I going to do?
The that preaching the gospel involves preaching repentance.
The that preaching the gospel involves preaching repentance.
· “You need to clean your life up so you can understand the gospel?”
· I'm going to say to the guy, “Do you understand the depth of your sin? Do you understand the guilt that you bear before God?
Do you understand that you're headed for judgment and eternal hell and you need to repent and you need to embrace the wonderful gift of salvation in Jesus Christ because you can't change yourself.
That's the message. And when we as, quote/unquote, evangelicals talk all the time about cleaning America up, we are articulating a false message
Key - They can't do that, they won't do that. And in the end of the day, that's not how the problem is solved. We would be better off to just proclaim the damnation and the judgment of God on the sinners who do these things than to try to attack the structures that allow these things.
The that preaching the gospel involves preaching repentance.
Repentance –
— And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
— I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Well what is repentance
Well what is repentance
Repentance is not I'm going to clean my life up.
Repentance is, “I am sorry for the way my life is, I can't clean it up. O God, deliver me from it.” That's repentance.
It is the Publican pounding his chest in and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
Read - It's when you're at the point of spiritual bankruptcy, spiritual poverty, spiritual blindness, spiritual despair. When you feel like a captive prisoner to your sin and you're without hope. And all you can do is cry out to God in mercy like a drowning man who can't swim and is about to go under for the last time, cries to somebody on the bridge who has a life raft.
So what are the fruits of a new convert? Well, according , there is
the fruit of repentance. If we are soundly saved, we will have evidence of repentance. Zacchaeus said, “Behold, Lord, I give half my goods to the poor; and if I have wronged anyone, I will pay back fourfold” ().
: The fruit of good works.
If you read the book of Titus, Titus continually says things like, “Let those who have believed in God be careful to maintain good works” (). Jesus Himself said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” ().
: The fruit of thanksgiving. Oh, once you’ve seen the cross, you will say, “O thanks be to God for the unspeakable gift” ().
: The fruit of the Spirit. If you are soundly saved, if you are a genuine convert, you will manifest the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
: The fruit of righteousness. You will do that which is right. “He will lead you in the paths of righteousness” ().
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Solution for the next Generation
Solution for the next Generation
How can we as Christians make a difference in all of this?
For me to become a political activist, for me to take my time, my energy and money to try to orchestrate some alteration of American cultural structure to somehow externally force people into certain behavioral categories would be really a terrible distraction and waste my energy and resources because in the end that's not what they need.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
WE need revival-
Salvation will brink life to dead body
Salvation brings life to a church
Salvation means church and worship a vibrant
Salvation means I love people and will be kind
6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, And shall declare thy mighty acts.
We don't need politics
We don't need building
We don't need programs
We need the presence of God to wake up God’s people
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Are you concerned about the next generation?
How can we as Christians make a difference in all of this?
Is God surprised by the decline in our culture. It made me think of which starts out, “Why do the heathen rage?”
And it portrays the culture at large, the anti-God culture as raging. They're furious, they're out of control and raging and yet goes on to say, “God who sits in the heavens just laughs.” He's not perturbed by it at all.
He's in control, He's sovereign.
As you look at the church today, lots of Christians seem agitated and perturbed and almost frantic to do what they can to turn the culture around.
How can we as Christians make a difference in all of this?
We have to realize that this is life as usual. This...this is the way the world has always been.
I mean, you know, you go back to the book of Genesis, this is the very beginning and what do you find there? You find murder, you find rape, you find incest, you find homosexuality and a myriad of other crimes in acts of lust and lewdness and all kinds of horrific things.
And you're not even out of the book of Genesis. This is life. This is fallen life in a fallen world.
I mean, as a kid growing up, I never saw anybody commit adultery.
I never saw any homosexuals engaged in homosexual activity. I never saw any acts of fornication. I never saw any pornographic behavior as a kid, I never saw that.
Key - So I think we have to start by realizing we don't have to reinvent God's solutions.
And so when you understand that, life is just the same as it's always been, it's not any different, only the shapes and sizes are different in terms of the imagery, the solutions then must be, “Let's go back to the Word of God and see what the answer is.”
Answer- And the answer is that we have to proclaim the only message that transforms the heart and only when the heart is transformed will the life changed.
Answer # 2 – Follow Our Mandate “Make Disciples”
If you study particularly Paul's letter to Titus, Paul encourages the believers in Crete to conduct themselves in the world in which they're in with understanding you used to be like that !!!!!
For you to ask these people to become something other than they are, you might as well ask a dog to stop barking and a cat to stop meowing. It's not going to happen.
It's exactly the same thing Peter wrote in his epistle, that we conduct ourselves as godly people in the society, we submit to the king, we submit to the authority. We are model citizens.
In the end, the mandate, the single mandate that we have is the proclamation of the gospel from person to person to person to person.
This does not mean we don’t confront sin in the culture….
But to do that is to fulfill the biblical mandate.
You know, Obama for example.
To force him by the sheer power of the religious right and the potential impact on his future by lobbying or to see him converted to Christ?
I mean, there would be no question. Because if he was really transformed, I mean everything would change.
Answer # 3 Be Salt and Light
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
The Bible's mandate to be salt and light, not really mandate but a description of the Christian.
You are salt and you are light of the world, that's often portrayed as a call to social action.
Anything but...anything but.
Well it simply means that we are to live gospel lives.
We are to live lives that demonstrate the gospel and to proclaim the gospel in the culture.
Our influence is not to try to push culture into certain moral perspectives. The light that we bring to bear is not the light of morality, it is the life of saving truth.
And the influence that we bring to bear is the influence of that saving truth.
Illustration - I could be living in my neighborhood and I could be against all of the cultural sins of the day, I would be, you know, married and have a model family and live a moral life and be an honest guy and pay my taxes and go to work on time and come home on time and not, you know, cheat my employer. I could do all of those kinds of things and I wouldn't be salt or light. I wouldn't be salt or light until I opened my mouth to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, and therein lies my influence.
Be passionate about what the Bible teaches and I'm passionate about what's right, preaching the gospel, that's what we need to do.
That's what we're mandated to do, that's what we're commanded to do.
Were The disciples commanded to end slavery?
What is the danger in taking up social causes?
One of the dangers, it seems to me, of the church aligning itself too closely to any political party or political agenda is that it requires a compromise.
JOHN: That is a grief to me, that is a very, very major problem. Let's say I've decided I'm going to be against abortion or homosexuality and I'm going to get into some kind of coalition with Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, etc., there goes the gospel, I can't bring it up.
It has to be set aside. I can't bring it up because as soon as I bring it up I blow up the organization.
Okay, so I go to the meeting. This has happened in the past. There's a Buddhist. There are Roman Catholic priests. They're Mormons, liberals that don't believe in the inerrancy of Scripture and question the deity of Christ.
But they're against these things. So we're all going to do this and all of our churches and religious organizations are going to cooperate, we're going to produce these fliers. We're going to write these petitions. We're going to...
That only works if I never introduce the gospel.
Wow - As soon as I say, “Gentlemen, the message we need to give the world, the message we need to proclaim here is that this is wrong, to do this is sin. It is a sin that God will judge and all sinners will be punished eternally in hell. So we plead with you to embrace t he only hope of salvation which is Jesus Christ.”
As soon as I said that...Bam, there goes the organization.
Sometimes the hard-edged political agenda of the religious right is actually turning the mission field into the enemy.
They must think we hate them when the truth of the matter is Jesus Himself loved them.
You remember, it was He that went to Matthew who was the most despicable man in Jewish culture because he had bought a tax franchise from the Romans who were blaspheming idolatrous pagans who had occupied the land of Israel.
When Matthew was converted, you remember, he had this big dinner and he invited all the drunkards and prostitutes and riff-raff and petty criminals and all of the, you know, strong armed guys that helped him collect his taxes. And Jesus went there and the Pharisees said, “What in the world are you doing with that crowd?”
Wow - And Jesus said, “It's not the righteous, sarcastically, who need...it's not the well, you know, the healthy that need the physicians, it's the sick.” And then He said, “You know, you righteous people, I can't do anything with you.”
Answer #4 Keep it Simple – Go into the World.
You know, how complicated is the Great Commission? Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
There's this idea that we like a certain moral comfort zone for our kids so that it's self-serving, so that it's not nearly so burdened by the destitute sinner's plight as it is by the impinged Christian's discomfort, right?
I mean, I just think we've got to get back to what the Great Commission is and I don't think it's ambiguous, I don't think it's fuzzy, I don't think it's hard to get.
You go, you make disciples, which means you proclaim the gospel to every creature, you make disciples, you teach them everything that the Lord's commanded. That's the commission.
1950's Russia, what would they do where they had horrendous oppression, Atheism dominating a society? What would they do?
If they made it a political movement they would wind up in Siberia for the rest of their lives, so they wouldn't do that.
I'll tell you what the church did.
The church patiently, carefully, one person at a time proclaimed the gospel. And when Parastroka(???) came and Glasnos(???) came...
Boom, there were millions of Christians, millions of Christians above ground and under ground that surged into the light.
China
John, let's look way down the road into the future. One of these days you'll stand before God to give account, I know you know that. I know it's on your mind constantly.
Are you confident that you're going to be able to say you have made the right choice, that you've done everything you could as a Christian to make the world a better place for my two grandchildren?
I have done what I understood the Word of God to mandate me to do.
I can't make the world a better place for my kids.
I can't make the world a better place for my grandkids.
What if one of my grandkids decides to be a missionary in the inner city of New York, what if one of my kids decides to be a missionary in India and spend their life there, is that a better place and to raise their kids in the middle of Hinduism?
I'm not concerned about making the world a better place for my grandchildren. I'm trying to make my grandchildren better in the midst of this wicked world and that only happens through the gospel.
I have one legacy to leave my grandchildren.
Not a better world, but the gospel of Jesus Christ and a better life, the only life, the life in Christ.
Folk we do not need reform we need revival1…….