2019-08-10 Community Service
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21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose.
23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better—
24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,
I. Do we actually live worthy of the gospel of Christ?
I. Do we actually live worthy of the gospel of Christ?
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,
A. As citizens of heaven, our orders are gospel orders.
A. As citizens of heaven, our orders are gospel orders.
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,
Illus: What does a gospel centered life look like. My fear is that if we went around this room this evening we might have 10-20 different answers.
I want to be crystal clear about what the gospel is, and what God expects of us.
The gospel is the message that while we were still sinners Christ dies for us. It is that God himself became a man, lived the perfect life, died in our place, rose from the dead, and calls us to respond in complete faith.
If you have trusted Christ by faith, one mission should drive you: to be a representative of Jesus Christ to men and women who do not know him.
This means that the very words that come out of our mouths should speak the gospel to every person we meet.
OUr lives should match our message as well. If we speak of the grace of Jesus Christ to the world around us… we should live lives of grace as well.
If we speak of the love of Christ, we should live the love of Christ. That means when we are spat at, cursed, gossiped about, falsely accused, and whatever else, our response is to say father forgive them, just as Christ did for us.
Every thought, every word, and every action should lead people to follow Jesus Christ.
To often we gladly proclaim the gospel in church and in the public square, but then allow the clicks of our phones to discredit our witness to the world around us.
18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
B. As citizens of heaven, our life should match our message.
B. As citizens of heaven, our life should match our message.
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,
Illus: Far to often our lives Monday through Saturday do not match our our polished image on Sundays.
We bless our fellow church members on Sundays all the while cursing and gossiping during the weekdays.
We allow our anger to rule our hearts towards our fellow man.
We worship the idols of politics, hobbies, money, drugs, drinking, gossip, lust, porn and still call ourselves Christians.
I believe our most blatant sin is beyond those.
To often we gladly proclaim the gospel in church, but then allow the clicks of our phones to discredit our witness to the world around us.
This is what I mean. We are living in a viscous culture war around us. With this we feel our culture or political identity will be lost if we do not jump in the mud pit of internet rage.
So we join in mocking and slandering the very mission field we are called to love.
We share Facebook posts which do not honor Christ and allow our hearts to be angered towards the very people Jesus forgives and calls us to serve.
2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
II. Do we stand together in one spirit?
II. Do we stand together in one spirit?
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,
A. Let’s be honest, we do not contend together for the gospel.
A. Let’s be honest, we do not contend together for the gospel.
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,
Illus: I’m an outsider. I was given the gift of being being able to see coming in what is often assumed or ignored in our town.
We do not have gospel unity in Vidalia Louisiana. When I looked into Vidalia Louisiana, There is a white community and an African american community. We are not contending together for the gospel. We might have a ceasefire but nothing more.
The picture scripture gives of gospel transformation is not you stay on your side of the road, and I will stay on mine. It is not, be cordial with one another, but keep to your community.
Scripture says we are ONE in Christ. Scripture teaches that one’s economic place does not define you, nor their skin color. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ.
Perhaps it is time we started acting like family.
This means when our African american brothers are hurting, we hurt with them, because we mourn with those who mourn.
It means we don’t allow the race baiting culture wars to define us, but we defy the culture wars standing together being defined as one body, black and white coheirs with Christ.
Listen to what scripture says....
11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.
14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
B. The believers of Vidalia should display a gospel picture of heaven for the world to see.
B. The believers of Vidalia should display a gospel picture of heaven for the world to see.
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,
Illus: I wrote an article a while back painting a vision where the church would be defined by Christ and not the colors of our skins. I got messages from all over our community.
This was the message: they’ve got theirs and we’ve got ours.
That ain’t the message I get from scripture, and it certainly is not the message of heaven.
Part of our witness to a world in need of Jesus is that when a nonbeliever walks into our church they say— wait that janitor is worshiping next to that bank president. They don’t walk in and think this is a white church, a black church, or a Hispanic church.
Instead the gospel is clearly spoken in a world of culture wars like ours when the church brings every part of our community together.
My heart for First Baptist Church of Vidalia and every church in Vidalia is that what brings us all together is that we are a Jesus people.
9 After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.
10 And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!
III. Do we live for Christ?
III. Do we live for Christ?
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,
There is only one real way to live in this world: For Christ.
There is only one real way to live in this world: For Christ.
Illus: Walking away tonight you might say, wow that was a great sermon, or you might even say, I’m sure glad I don’t go to First Baptist.
I’ve don’e church events for years and know the the natural reaction to an event like this is to consume it and move on.
My goal this evening was not to entertain you. I hope I challenged you, spoke scripture to you, poked you in the idols a bit, and led you to give something to Christ.
If we walk away from our meeting tonight the same we have wasted our time.
Starting right now, will you make the gospel a priority. Will you look at your life, your posts, your words to see whether your walk matches your Sunday talk.
Will you take steps to love others who may anger you, to forgive others as Christ has forgiven you?
Will you take the time necessary to build unity in our community by stepping out of your culture, and getting to know a new brother or sister in Christ?
21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose.
23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better—
24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,