A Worthy Life

Intro:

If you would live a life that matters you must:

1. Be controlled by the love of Christ.

When we do the wrong thing for the wrong reason, that is often obvious

When you lie on a sales call to get a purchase agreement,

when you go back on your word with your friend because a better opportunity comes up,

when you compromise your integrity to indulge in sin, etc

But we often do the right thing for the wrong reasons

When we participate in ministry to earn recognition

When we don’t sin because we are afraid of getting caught

When we speak the truth in order to be right rather then to help

Here’s a truth: gospel ministry—that is sharing the love and power of Jesus Christ—is hard.

it can be lonely and isolating

think about all the times you seem to be the only one not conforming

it can be humiliating

why does David speak often of the mockers and the scornful? because belief in God is “foolishness” to the world

it can leave you vulnerable

you may poor your life into someone who will turn and reject you and reject the gospel—think of Christ!

it can be physically dangerous

60 countries actively persecute Christians

Approximately 10,000 believers are martyred each year

it can be socially stigmatized

it will be costly

The cost of discipleship is clearly laid out in Scripture

In some ways, the Christian life reads like a horrible job advertisement

Uncle Matt’s add

“We are looking for a senior account manager. If you’d like to work for a company run by a fat bloke with a drink problem and a moral compass that only points south, then apply here today.” -A top London PR company

“Waitress needed, must be 18 years old with 20 years experience.”

“Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honor and recognition in case of success.” -Earnest Shackleton Endeavor Expedition

See how all of this was true of Paul’s ministry to the Corinthians, and more

—>Therefore, gospel ministry cannot be fueled by a superficial motivation

>Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons won’t work when adversity strikes

What fuels you? What motivates you in your life of discipleship?

>For Paul it was the worth and beauty of Christ and His sacrifice

“May ever effort of my life,

display the matchless worth of Christ!

Make me a living sacrifice,

be glorified today!” -A Christian’s Daily Prayer

Gospel ministry is empowered by the matchless worth of Jesus Christ

2. Be spiritually minded (not earthly or fleshly minded)

We no longer have our minds darkened, but the Spirit of God has opened our eyes to the truth of the gospel

We are therefore to be as a new creation, in Christ

That means we have put off old manners of thinking and doing (you may not succeed at point 3 without achieving point 2)

In Paul says we are not to return to our former ways of living as the gentiles “for you have not so learned Christ”

What does it mean to learn Christ?

What does it mean to “put off the old man”

What does it mean to renewed in the spirit of our minds?

This is the soul-liberating power of the message that God has reconciled us to himself

Do you understand the power of what Paul says in Philippians when he says “let this mind be in you that is yours in Christ” ?!?!

We have new minds in Christ—all things are passed away and become new

3. Be the ambassador of Christ

What does it mean to be an ambassador of Christ?

How is the American church succeeding or failing at this task?

When the message of the church “cheap grace” that is grace without confession of sin and forgiveness, we fail—that is not reconciliation, that is amnesty

When the message of the church is condemnation, we fail—that is not reconciliation, that is Jonah pouting under the gourd that he can’t make fire and brimstone fall

When the church is immoral and unholy, we fail to portray Christ

When the church is unkind and unloving, we fail to represent Christ

When your life and my life is inconsistent with gospel, we fail to honor Christ.

When you and I are imitators of evil rather than imitators of Christ, we fail to be the disciples of Christ

—>The ministry of reconciliation is too great a thing to be taken lightly, the person of Christ too worthy for us to represent him casually and disinterestedly

To be the ambassador of Christ means to be about the King’s business. In what ways are you and I engaged in the work of the kingdom of God?

Is our life a constant pleading to the lost to be reconciled to God?