Marching Orders

Information Age

There is more information at the tips of your fingers today then previous generations imagined possible.

Hey Google, how much information can I access presently?

in 2004, it was estimated that the worlds information storage was 5 zetabytes, that’s 4500 stacks of books, each stack goes from the earth to the sun. (wikipedia)

The question is, what do we do with all of that information?

Slacktivism

“the practice of supporting a political or social cause by means such as social media or online petitions, characterized as involving very little effort or commitment.” (dicitionary.com)

you read about a cause that touches your heart, so you click like, you share it, and you’ve done your part.

Is there a Christian version of Slacktivism?

we hear a good message, or read something wonderful, and we give agree with it in our minds, but then never take the necessary steps to live it out.

Have you ever learned something wonderful in a sermon, and then forgotten about it within a month?

I know I have. And I don’t want for that to happen with this critical series that we are in right now.

I want to live out the messages, and I want that for you as well.

This wont be a typical sermon today. Because instead of presenting new material, I am going to review old material.

The goal, is to give us a chance to apply it to our lives.

Marching Orders

These are our Marching Orders as Church. Jesus is the one calling the shots, and we are going to go forward in unity IF we are all obeying his Marching Orders.

Glorify God

Enjoy Him Forever

Introduce People to Jesus

Fully Devoted Followers

The Great Commandment

The Great Commission

What’s My Purpose? To Glorify God

REVIEW - Main Point - (from Sept 15)

The Bible cleary tells us that God created us to glorify Him and we are commanded to glorify God in everything we do to fulfill our purpose.

-Pastor Kent

Remember the message?

“What’s Your Purpose” video asked people that question

Not many people had a good answer.

Since that time, I hope that you’ve had a chance to think through the question.

Are you living your life “On Purpose”

1 Corinthians 10:31 HCSB

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.

APPLICATION - Act in a way that causes others to give glory to God.

Matthew 5:14–16 HCSB

14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

ACTION - Consider the next 6 days of your life. Do you want for those days to have purpose? If yes, then write down 1 or 2 things that you can work toward that will help others to give glory to God.

30 SECOND TIMER

Enjoy God

Our purpose combines glory and joy like this.

Our highest purpose is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

MAIN POINT - Giving glory (praise) completes the enjoyment.

CS Lewis said it better than me.

I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment . . . It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.

Jesus lives to Glorify God. And Jesus is full of Joy. During his time on earth, and even now as he rules the earth, Jesus does everything for the glory of God the Father..

John 12:28 HCSB

28 Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!”

Everything about Jesus life was like a light that shone. He stood out from culture, his love was revolutionary, his teaching was authoritatie and life giving, his greatness was found in that he was the servant of all. And his entire being shone with God’s glory.

If you are a follower of Christ, you want to live in such a way that is alive with God’s goodness. Its a joy filled life, because it is a life that is lived in the freedom of Jesus Christ, who has forgiven your sin and made you alive in the way that is only possible through Jesus.

APPLICATION: If you are to see something glorious, then it follows that you will want to express that. As we express God’s glory, and goodness, and character and salvation we are enjoying God.

We can do this as we sing, pray, as we talk with others, as we share, as we work, as we shine, as we celebrate.

We experience God’s Goodness only through Jesus Christ.

ACTION: Dedicate some time to expressing God’s goodness. Here are some ways you might do that.

Journal

Song

Dance

Count your blessings

Share with someone else

_______________

Pick one or two of those, and set some time aside this week to purpose to enjoy God through expressing his goodness.

30 Second Timer.

Introduce People to Jesus

Main Point -

Introducing people to Jesus is a significant component of your and my marching orders. It is one of the ways we glorify God.

-Pastor Kent

Andrew, who would be become one of Jesus 12 disciples, was eager to introduce his brother Peter to Jesus.

WHY?

John 1:40–41 HCSB

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Him. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which means “Anointed One”),

Why was Andrew eager? Because he had found the Messiah.

that enthusiasm followed Andrew for the rest of his life.

QUESTION - Rate your enthusiasm 1-10 for introducing people to Jesus. 1 is no enthusiasm. 10 is Andrew levels.

Show me on your fingers what rating you gave yourself.

There are some risks associated with telling other people about Jesus, and inviting them to learn more.

can damage your reputation

can change a friendship

can leave you feeling bad, (maybe it doesn’t go so well.)

But God calls us to obey him, and to trust him.

We don’t get to use these risks as reasons for disobeying God.

Penn Jillette is a magician (Penn & Teller) who is also an athiest. You can find a video of him online telling a story about someone who wanted to introduce Penn to Jesus.

(from churchpop.com)

A few years ago, Jillette recorded a short video about someone who came to talk to him after one of his magic shows. He said the guy was about his age and had participated in one of the acts as an audience member.

The man complimented Jillette on the show, then said, “I brought this for you.” The man held up a small book. It was a New Testament with the Psalms, something that could fit in a person’s pocket.

“I wrote in the front of it,” the man said, “and I wanted you to have this.” The man explained he was a businessman and not crazy.

Jillette, moved by the man’s gesture, recalled: “He was kind, and nice, and sane, and looked me in the eyes, and talked to me, and then gave me this Bible.”

“I’ve always said,” Jillette explained, “I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe there is a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward.

“How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate someone to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?”

APPLICATION - Introducing People to Jesus is a responsibility and a joy that all Christians have.

We don’t have to change somebodies mind or heart, but we do need to be willing to share with them about Jesus.

ACTION - Deal with your excuses today.

If you say that you have no training, then resource yourself.

If you say that you don’t know people who aren’t Christians, then make a plan to get to know them.

If you say that you aren’t confident, then start practicing.

If you say that your heart is cold, then start praying.

Fully Devoted Followers

Our church mission is:

To introduce people to Jesus and together become fully devoted followers.

MAIN POINT - Many people identify with Jesus, but he calls us to be Fully Devoted Followers

Luke 9:23 HCSB

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

Following Jesus is a daily recomitment to live the whole of your life in his service.

RECAP - 3 Different Responses to Jesus Call to “Follow Me”

Security

There were some who chose security over Jesus.

Following Jesus is does not guarantee safety for us on this earth.

Many will choose safety & security over being Fully Devoted Followers.

2. Top Priority

This is when people agree that Jesus is good, but they don’t give him priority in their life as their King.

You want Jesus, but not more than other things.

This attitude shows up in what you give priority to.

A fully devoted follower gives top priority to Jesus.

3. Fully Devoted Follower

This is one who daily chooses again and again to follow Jesus. This person wants to learn his truth, to be in a healthy relationshp with God, and to be a part of his mission on the earth.

There is Hymn called “I Surrender All” that gives us words to sing and pray that can help us to refocus on this truth.

ACTION - Would you consider starting off each day this week by praying the words of this Hymn.

All to Jesus I surrender All to Him I freely give I will ever love and trust Him In His presence daily live

I surrender all I surrender all All to Thee my blessed Savior I surrender all

The Great Commandment

Main Point: The Great Commandment is to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind & strength and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Mark 12:29–31 HCSB

29 “This is the most important,” Jesus answered: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 “The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”

What is novel about these two commands is that Jesus connects them together.

Its easy to say that we love God, we cannot see. It takes more of a sacrifice to demonstrate love to our neighbors.

Being a Christian has a big affect on the people around you.

Loving God means that you will live out his love to those that you meet.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is one that you might be familiar with.

The Good Samaritan

You will find this parable in Luke 10, and it is a story that Jesus tells to help his audience know how to be a loving neighbor.

In the story a Jewish man is travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho and falls into the hands of robbers.

he is left for dead on the side of the road.

Then 2 men, one after the other, find this man in his wretched condidtion. Each one of those 2 was paid to show God’s kindness and love, it was their vocation.

But first the priest, and then the Levite, avoided the man.

The third man to come onto the scene was the one the most unlikely to show love. He was a samaritan, and the jews and samaritan’s despised one another.

But it was the Samaritan who showed mercy.

Luke 10:36–37 HCSB

36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

APPLICATION:

Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself.

ACTION:

Reflect on the grace that God has shown you. Think about the mercy that you have recieved. You were the stranger on the road, left in a wretched condidtion, just like in the parable of the Good Samiritan. But Jesus has sacrificed everything to save you.

Pay Attention & Show Compassion.

-Practice here at Church. Pay attention to those around you, and demonstrate God’s mercy and grace.

The Great Comission

Main Point: Make Disciples who Make Disciples.

I happen to believe that it is necessary to always be in a place of discipleship. Where you are asking for others to challenge you, and study the Bible with you and just get into your life and care about you.

I also believe that it is necessary to be looking for oppertunities to do the same for others. That belief comes from the Great Comission.

CONTEXT:

The Great Comission is a command that is given by Jesus. It is the very last thing that Matthew includes in his gospel.

ANd that is worth noting, because Matthew is written to a Jewish Audience. They are being told, the Messiah isn’t just for you, Jesus is for this whole world. So GO, and make disiples.

Here is the account.

Matthew 28:16–20 HCSB

16 The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Then 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.”

Lets remind ourselves of some of the highlites.

All Authority in heaven and on earth

Jesus has all the authority, and he is commanding his followers to make disciples. We must obey.

He gives us his authority to carry out the command. This does not mean that we can force people to be disciples becuase Jesus has commanded it. Instead, it means that we have the power of Soverign God at work.

We can be faithful and obedienct to obey, and trust God that he will be the one to change hearts and minds and draw people to Jesus.

Teaching them what I have commanded you

We learn what Jesus taught SO

We can live what Jesus taught SO

We can teach what Jesus taught.

Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

They are not our disciples, they are disciples of Jesus. This means that when a person is baptized, they then identify in the triune name of God.

Baptism is not the same as salvation. But it is incredibly important. Jesus included baptism in this great commission. He commands us to baptize people. If you are not yet baptized, maybe the action step that is most important for you today, is to sign up to be baptized.

Go, Make Disciples

This is probably the part that we overlook the most. We’re good with teaching, we can get our heads around baptism.

What we need to add to that potent mix is to GO.

A helpful way to think of this is

As you Go, Make Disciples

As you go to work.

As you go to school.

As you go to grocery shopping.

As you go to make music

As you go to take your kids to bed.

As you go out for the night with friends.

As you go throughout your life, make disciples.

ACTION:

Talk about Jesus.

Talk about his ideas. Talk about what you learning. Talk about what it means to trust him, and put his words into action in your life. Talk about Jesus. Invite people to learn more. And do this everywhere that you go.

CONCLUSION - SLACKTIVISM won’t result in this church shining for God. But, when we become doers of the word, (by the grace of God), we will collectively shine so that everyone can see our good works and give glory to our father who is in heaven.

As the song is played:

Pray for the truths in the songs over the lives of the people sitting around you. (Then, if you have some encouragement for someone after the service, go share it with them.)

Listen to the words of this song, which are taken from the Sermon on the Mount, and consider their place in your life. Do you want to live out this song, do you want for it to be about you? By the grace of God, it can describe all of us who will call Jesus Christ the King of our Lives.