Ministry of Reconciliation and Restoration

What is Ministry?

Week 1

It is easy to be very focused on the “how” instead of the “what”

Plant churches, lead worship, bible study, etc.

But what is ministry and what are we called to?

Human point of view- vs 16- 17

This is not about “who we like” “who do we add to the church, to make it more fun, or appealing”

This is not about “who is good?”

None are good. Jesus surrounded himself with the outer “bad”

Not the “wealthy”

Not the “talented”

Not the “beautiful”

We do not minister to receive back…

What is reconciliation-καταλλαγῆς, (katallages)

Roots and meaning with

καταλλάσσω- “exchange”

Why is this important?

vs 21- read

He became the sin-

Genesis- what will happen if they sin?

Die-

Wager of sin- - Has anything changed regarding sin?

No. Why?

Still same consequences. Separation from God and death.

Jesus had no sin, yet He dies and was separated from God.

We become the righteousness of God.

Beautiful exchange- We become what Jesus was and is…

Ministers are ambassadors for Christ, asking and begging that people become reconciled to God.

Pleading that (They receive this exchange)

Then, they become new creations.

Practical application-

Your “life” must be viewed through this lens-

If God loves you so much and has great affection for you, which He does, then where would He ultimately like you to be right now?

In Heaven with Him.

Why are you here though?

You are the ambassador- You are “sent”

Sent- You home is now Heaven- though you may live in the same town as you were born, you are a foreigner now.

Every person now must be viewed through this lens:

You are here to be an ambassador of Christ to them-

Does it matter if they are fun? Friendly? Your type of people?

(3DM) I now disagree with their Chemistry perspective…

Back to the beginning: Your calling is not to “plant churches, lead worship, etc.”

Those are vehicles- “how we do it”

Reconciliation is “what we do”

How do you know if your ministry is successful?

What does God count?

Restoration- beautiful exchange taking place.

Homework: real conversation- then write a brief synopsis of that conversation…

Week 2

Restoration-

The second part of ministry- restoration

vs 5-6 People Group- Side Note: Know who you are called to.

The Mission- Preach- The Kingdom of Heaven is near-

What is the Kingdom of Heaven?

(asking about a physical Kingdom- Jesus speaks of something different)

(Lord’s Prayer)

Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Whatever we see that is not as it is in Heaven, we can do something about.

What was lost in the Garden- The Cycle

Garden- Fall- (Already but not yet Kingdom)- restoration of all things/ complete

What is already but not yet?

Access to Heaven and its’ authority and power.

Not yet fully restored. Jesus has not returned.

We live in this tension. We are ministers of this restoration.

The Mission- Demonstrate the Kingdom of Heaven-

vs. 8

Heal the sick- no sickness in Heaven

Raise the dead

Cleanse lepers

expel demons.

There will be persecution and not all will listen-

Not our responsibility- shake the dust off of our feet.

Persecution- vs 24- 25 we will like our teacher be persecuted.

We can rejoice- we will share with authorities and high influence people

Let’s see his played out-

- Actively doing the mission Jesus sent them to do

- Getting persecuted because of it.

- they get flogged

flogged- whipped repeatedly and brutally. Some died in floggings

Rejoiced- Worthy to suffer for the NAME

vs 40-42: