Crossing Over Personally

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1:

Mr.Kimball, a Sunday School teacher had his heart set on winning a young man for Christ. After praying about the matter, he arranged to visit this young man at the boot store where he worked. Mr. Kimball said he was “determined to speak to him about Christ and about his soul.” So Mr. Kimball started down to Holton’s boot store. When he was nearly there Mr. Kimball began to wonder whether he should go in during business hours. He thought his call might embarrass the boy, and that when he went away the other clerks would ask who he was, and tease this young man he was only trying to make him into a good boy. While Mr. Kimball was thinking all of this over, he ended up passing the store. He determined then to just make a dash for it and get it over with at once. Mr. Kimball found the young man in the back part of the building wrapping up shoes. He went up to him at once, and putting his hand on his shoulder, he made an awkward weak plea for Christ. He simply told him of Christ's love for him, and the love Christ wanted in return. That was all there was. Then there in the back of the store in Boston, this young man gave his life to Christ. This young man was Dwight L Moody, a great evangelist who is thought to have led as many as a million people to confess faith in Christ and the founder of Moody Bible Institute. Because one Sunday School teacher had a heart to reach D.L. Moody, many others lives were changed as well. This is the power of each one crossing over to Reach 1.

imballL. Moody, the famous Evangelist, when eighteen years of age, was a boot salesman in his uncle's store in Boston. His Sunday School teacher was a Mr. Kimball, and he had set his heart on winning the young man for Christ. After praying about the matter, he arranged to visit him at the boot store. "I was determined," to use his own words, "to speak to him about Christ and about his soul, and started down to Holton's boot store. When I was nearly there I began to wonder whether I ought to go in just then during business hours. I thought my call might embarrass the boy, and that when I went away the other clerks would ask who I was, and taunt him with my efforts in trying to make him a good boy. In the meantime I had passed the store, and, discovering this, I determined to make a dash for it, and have it over at once. I found him in the back part of the building wrapping up shoes. I went up to him at once, and putting my hand on his shoulder, I made what I felt afterwards was a very weak plea for Christ. I don't know just what words I used, nor could Mr. Moody tell. I simply told him of Christ's love for him, and the love Christ wanted in return. That was all there was. It seemed the young man was just ready for the light that then broke upon him, and there in the back of that store in Boston, D. L. Moody gave himself and his life to Christ."

Estimates vary, but Dwight Moody is thought to have led as many as a million people to confess faith in Christ. Among his many achievements on either side of the Atlantic was the founding of Moody Bible Institute.

Imagine the impact if every Christian had ONE person they prayed for and shared the gospel with. - show the chart! That one’s going to become two, three, four, and it could ignite a spiritual movement of people turning to the Lord - a great awakening that we so desperately need in America right now. And it begins with you. It begins with each one crossing over to reach 1 with the gospel of Jesus Christ. It begins with each one of you. Watch the following video this morning to see the impact each one crossing over to reach 1 can have in our church, city, nation, and world.

This morning we are going to be in , and we are going to look at the beginning of a movement for the early church - a movement that started with the question, who is your 1? Turn with me this morning in your Bibles to . In honor of God’s word stand me as I read the passage aloud. Thank you, you may be seated. In our passage this morning, we see how the Holy Spirit began a movement through two individuals, Peter and Cornelius. The Holy Spirit touched Peters heart and led him to Cornelius and the culture of the day was radically transformed. Peter crossed over to Reach 1 and a movement started - Gentiles coming to faith in Christ. Let’s see this morning how each one crossing over to Reach 1 looks like as we consider the meeting between Peter and Cornelius.

The Holy Spirit began a movement that

“We serve the movement, but we’re not the tip of the spear of the movement.”

In our passage this morning, we see how the Holy Spirit began a movement through two individuals, Peter and Cornelius. The Holy Spirit touched Peters heart and led him to Cornelius and the culture of the day was radically transformed. Peter crossed over to Reach 1 and a movement began - Gentiles coming to faith in Christ. Let’s see this morning how each one crossing over to Reach 1 looks like as we consider the meeting between Peter and Cornelius.

When God begins to work in a people’s heart movement takes place. This is where individuals begin to say “God will save the lost and he’s using me.” That one’s going to become two, three, four, and it could ignite a spiritual movement of people turning to the Lord. When you study church history, you see that every great awakening and massive spread of the gospel always happened through so-called ‘ordinary’ people, not through people that are in full time ministry. Us as pastors and leaders simple serve the movement, we serve you who are the tip of the spear for the movement to have significant impact.

Imagine the impact if every Christian had ONE person they prayed for and shared the gospel with. Who are you committing to pray for?

Us as pastors and leaders simple serve the movement, we serve you who are the tip of the spear for the movement to have significant impact.

This morning we are going to be in , and we are going to look at the beginning of a movement for the early church - a movement that started with the question, who is your 1? Turn with me this morning in your Bibles to . In honor of God’s word stand with me as I read the passage aloud. Thank you, you may be seated. In our passage this morning, we see how the Holy Spirit began a movement through two individuals, Peter and Cornelius. The Holy Spirit touched Peter’s heart and led him to cross over to Reach 1 starting the movement of Gentiles coming to faith in Christ. Let’s see this morning how each one crossing over to Reach 1 looks like as we see what happens between Peter and Cornelius.

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1: God-Orchestrated

Wherever God is at work, He leads at both ends of the line. God orchestrates the divine meeting between Peter and Cornelius, a meeting that will forever change their lives and the lives of many to come after. God prepares Cornelius first. We discover that Cornelius was a centurion, an army captain, and that he was also a man of integrity; a man of religion. The Bible tells us that he feared God, took care of the needy, and led his family in their worship of God. Cornelius was a righteous, good religious person. What Cornelius had was religion. What he didn’t have was a relationship. He did not know God intimately because He was not saved. He was lost. He had no understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sure, he loved his neighbor, prayed often, and took care of those less fortunate, but he did not truly know God the Father.

Many churches today are filled with the religious. Christians who know how to act, how to behave, and read the Bible. But they do not have a personal relationship with God. Like Cornelius, they are lost. They have no hope of eternal life because Jesus is not their Lord and Savior. And that’s why God reaches out to them and that’s why God reached out to Cornelius - to show how that religion does not save, only Christ Jesus the Lord saves. An angel of God appeared to Cornelius and told him where to go and find Peter who would share the gospel message with him. So, Cornelius sent men to Joppa to find Peter.

How

While these men were on their journey, the Lord then appeared to Peter. In a vision, God prepares Peter to receive his guests. God was working in Cornelius’s life at the exact same time He was working in Peter’s life. God was orchestrating all of the details, events, and happenings to Peter and Cornelius. God was leading at both ends of the line. My friend, when God calls you to reach your one, He prepares you for what He is preparing for you. In this case, God was preparing Peter to cross all ethnic, religious, and cultural norms so he would share the gospel to the Gentiles. He was preparing Peter to pull his bow so the gospel would move forward and touch Cornelius’ heart.

My son Judson just started learning archery with 4H. On Christmas Eve we bought his first bow and arrow set with targets for him to begin practice. He will soon learn that to reach the target you must keep your eye on the target and pull the bow at the right angle. Only in this way, will he hit his target and hopefully the bullseye. When you cross over to reach your 1 God targets one individual and works in his or her heart to hear from you. You are the archer. God chooses you to be the one to pull the bow and shoot the arrow towards your target. The gospel arrow then flies to the heart of your friend, loved one, co-worker, and neighbor so they are impacted with the gospel truth. Crossing over to Reach 1 is God-orchestrated. He works in the heart of you the archer and also the heart of the one who is far from God.

and then He prepares Peter in verses 9-22. God prepares Cornelius’ heart to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ and prepares Peter’s heart to go and proclaim the gospel message.

and then He prepares Peter in verses 9-22. God prepares Cornelius’ heart to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ and prepares Peter’s heart to go and proclaim the gospel message.

Vs. 1-6 Trusting and when God send us a vision or s signal

In How Life Imitates the World Series, Dave Bosewell tells a story about Earl Weaver, former manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Sports fans will enjoy how he handled star Reggie Jackson.

Weaver had a rule that no one could steal a base unless given the steal sign. This upset Jackson because he felt he knew the pitchers and catchers well enough to judge who he could and could not steal off of. So one game he decided to steal without a sign. He got a good jump off the pitcher and easily beat the throw to second base. As he shook the dirt off his uniform, Jackson smiled with delight, feeling he had vindicated his judgment to his manager.

Later Weaver took Jackson aside and explained why he hadn’t given the steal sign. First, the next batter was Lee May, his best power hitter other than Jackson. When Jackson stole second, first base was left open, so the other team walked May intentionally, taking the bat out of his hands.

Second, the following batter hadn’t been strong against that pitcher, so Weaver felt he had to send up a pinch hitter to try to drive in the men on base. That left Weaver without bench strength later in the game when he needed it.

The problem was, Jackson saw only his relationship to the pitcher and catcher. Weaver was watching the whole game.

We, too, see only so far, but God sees the bigger picture. When he sends us a signal, it’s wise to obey, no matter what we may think we know.

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1: Requires Risk

VS. 9-15. How did God prepare Peter’s heart to meet Cornelius? If Peter was to spearhead the Gentile mission, God had to move Peter out of his Jewish identity and comfort zone. God had to move Peter completely out of the familiar into the unfamiliar. How did God do this? God prepared a menu for him. On the rooftop, God lowered a large sheet and on it were all the animals of the world. God then told Peter to “Get up, kill and eat.” Peter was commanded to eat anything and everything off this menu. Now if I had that same opportunity today at Black Eyed Pea, Olive Garden, or Texas Roadhouse I would not hesitant. I would eat whatever I could. But for Peter here this new menu was not about enjoying a full five course meal, but was rather a call for Peter to risk it all for the sake of the gospel.

By giving Peter this new menu, God required Peter to go against all social and cultural norms of his day. He told Peter to eat meat prohibited under Jewish law. It was a risk, a huge risk, because if Peter ate he would become unclean. Remember the Hebrew word for unclean or profane is Chalal (Kuhlel) and it means to be cut off or be separated from the voice of the Shepherd. So for Peter he risked being cut off from his family, friends, his entire community and even being cut off from the Lord. All this is what was at stake if Peter ate any of the food off of the new menu. But God required Peter to take this risk. God led Peter to the unfamiliar so he would cross over and reach his 1. Peter can no longer remain a cultural Jew. He can no longer remain where he is at, the all too familiar surroundings of his Jewish upbringing. Rather, he must dare to become Chalal, profane, common and an outcast so he can reach his 1 in Cornelius. Crossing over to reach 1 Requires Risk.

He would be cut off from his community and perhaps from the Lord. . That’s what is at stake for Peter - losing his family, losing his friend, and losing his relationship with God.

But God leads Peter to the unfamiliar. God requires Him to take a risk so he can cross over and reach 1. Peter can no longer remain a cultural Jew. He can no longer remain where he is at, the all too familiar surroundings of his Jewish Identity. He must dare to become Chalal, profane, common and outcast so he can reach his 1 in Cornelius. Crossing over to reach 1 Requires Risk. no longer remain in the past. Peter must now leave all He has ever known behind and cross over to to reach his 1.

Peter can no longer remain a cultural Jew. He can no longer remain where he is at, the all too familiar surroundings of his Jewish Identity. He must dare to become Chalal, profane, common and outcast so he can reach his 1 in Cornelius. Crossing over to reach 1 Requires Risk. no longer remain in the past. Peter must now leave all He has ever known behind and cross over to to reach his 1.

On April 16th, 1775, Paul Revere began to gather tips that a British raid was planned for the city of Concord in the coming days. With this intelligence, Revere began making plans to alert the surrounding countryside by horseback that the British would indeed be arriving to ransack their military supplies. There were two routes that the British soldiers could take: by land through the Boston Neck and by sea across the Charles River. Paul Revere arranged to have a signal lit in the Old North Church – one lantern if the British were coming by land and two lanterns if they were coming by sea – and began to make preparations for his ride to alert the local militias and citizens about the impending attack.

Peter must no longer remain a Jew. He must no longer remain in the past. He needs to reach his 1 by getting out of his comfort zone. God is leading Peter to the unfamaliar and God leads you to the unfamilair and an uncomofrtable place to cross over and reach your 1.

In the year 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived in the New World with six hundred men and, upon arrival, made history by destroying his ships. This sent a clear message to his men: There is no turning back. We will advance, we will move forward. Two years later, he succeeded in his conquest of the Aztec empire. 

📷Manipulated photo showing a reenactment of Paul Revere's Ride. John W. Penney. 2011. 

There were two routes that the British soldiers could take: by land through the Boston Neck and by sea across the Charles River. Paul Revere arranged to have a signal lit in the Old North Church – one lantern if the British were coming by land and two lanterns if they were coming by sea – and began to make preparations for his ride to alert the local militias and citizens about the impending attack.

“One if by land, and two if by sea.” ~ from “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

📷Paul Revere. Copley, John Singleton. 1768. Museum of Fine Arts. Boston. 

In the year 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived in the New World with six hundred men and, upon arrival, made history by destroying his ships. This sent a clear message to his men: There is no turning back.

Vs. 9-15. In the year 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived in the New World with six hundred men and, upon arrival, made history by destroying his ships. This sent a clear message to his men: There is no turning back.

The Regulars are About!

On April 18th, 1775, 700 British soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith gathered on Boston Common and boarded ships to raid Concord. These soldiers included eight companies of grenadiers, or soldiers who stood on the frontlines and heaved grenades at the enemy, and eight companies of light infantry. During this time, Paul Revere, along with two other riders, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, began their nighttime rides to rouse the minutemen and warn citizens of an attack. Revere rode to Lexington, where Samuel Adams and John Hancock were staying en route to the Second Continental Congress, and managed to persuade Adams and Hancock to leave the city for their safety as they faced possible arrest. Revere was later captured, but fortunately for the Patriots, this occurred after the news of a British attack had already been

On April 18th, 1775, 700 British soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith gathered on Boston Common and boarded ships to raid Concord. During the boarding, Paul Revere, along with two other riders, began their nighttime rides to rouse the local militia and warn citizens of the attack. Revere rode to Lexington, where he led Samuel Adams and John Hancock  to safety - avoiding possible arrest. Revere was later captured, but his midnight ride was his moment of crossing over. He crossed over to reach 1 place in particular, the Old North Church to set up two lanterns warning the citizens of the upcoming attack. Each one crossing over to reach 1 requires Risk. Paul Revere risked his life setting up two lanterns in the Old North Church and then riding to other towns doing the same which prepared the people for battle and saved many lives. What risk is the Lord leading you take as you cross over to reach your 1?

Two years later, he succeeded in his conquest of the Aztec empire. 

He needs to burn his ships. In the year 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived in the New World with six hundred men and, upon arrival, made history by destroying his ships. This sent a clear message to his men: There is no turning back. We will advance, we will move forward. Two years later, he succeeded in his conquest of the Aztec empire. 

What is your ship that needs to be burned? If each one of us is crossing over to reach 1; risk is required. We cannot stay where we are in our Christian bubble, we must reach out to others so we can share the gospel. So what’s your safety net? What are you afraid to let go of? What do you need to burn so that someone will hear the name of Jesus?

As leaders taking our people into new territories as unknown and potentially hazardous as did Cortés, we need to ensure those we are leading that there is no turning back. He knew how to be a great leader. We need to be certain there is no off-ramp our people can use to avoid the challenges of our own new business worlds. We need to burn the ships.

What’s your safety net? What are you afraid to let go of? What’s your safety net?

1519, Captain Hernán Cortés landed in Veracruz to begin his great conquest. Upon arriving, he gave the order to his men to burn the ships.

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1: Demands Obedience

(vs. 7-8, 16-18)

Vs. 16-18. God had to tell Peter three different times to “Get up, kill, and eat.” Peter was slow to get it. He was slow at understanding the important of vision and the meaning of the vision. He was perplexed, confused, disorientated at what he just experienced. And while he was pondering everything, trying to get a sense of what was going on, in God’s perfect timing, Cornelius’ men knocked on the door. God brought clarification, meaning, and confirmation to Peter about the vision. Cornelius’ men confirmed to Peter that God was destroying all barriers between the Jews and Gentiles, between all peoples of any ethnicity or race. God was bringing the gospel to everyone and now is was time for Peter to obey.

Crossing over to reach 1 demands obedience. At first Peter did not obey, he was trying to discern what God had in store for him. But when Cornelius’ men knocked on the door, Peter realized where God was leading him. God told Peter to “Get up, go downstairs, and go with them with no doubts all all, because I have sent them” (vs. 20). Peter obeyed the voice of God. He got up. He went downstairs. He opened the door. He immediately invited Cornelius’ men into this home. And he invited them to stay the night with him. A Jew named Peter and a few Gentiles now lodged together, they came together, they welcomed each other. Two enemies, who once before would never have looked at each other on the side of the road now shared a roof together. History was changed - Jews and Gentiles were now friends. Peter realized that day that crossing over to reach 1 demands obedience. Each one crossing over to reach demands you go and find your one.

You go without hesitation. You go without doubt. You go to the one individual God has given you a burden for. Sir Leonard Wood once visited the King of France and the King was so pleased with him he was invited for dinner the next day. Sir Leonard went to the palace and the King meeting him in one of the halls, said, “Why, Sir Leonard, I did not expect to see you. How is it that you are here?” “Did not your majesty invite me to dine with you?” said the astonished guest. “Yes,” replied the King, “but you did not answer my invitation.” Then it was that Sir Leonard Wood uttered one of the choicest sentences of his life. He replied, “A king’s invitation is never to be answered, but to be obeyed.”

God haSir Leonard Wood once visited the King of France and the King was so pleased with him he was invited for dinner the next day.

Sir Leonard went to the palace and the King meeting him in one of the halls, said, “Why, Sir Leonard, I did not expect to see you. How is it that you are here?”

“Did not your majesty invite me to dine with you?” said the astonished guest.

“Yes,” replied the King, “but you did not answer my invitation.”

Then it was that Sir Leonard Wood uttered one of the choicest sentences of his life. He replied, “A king’s invitation is never to be answered, but to be obeyed.”

I would like to invite one of our missionaries up here this morning, Ashley Hamman. A few years ago the Lord led here to Peru. He invited her there and she obeyed. Ashley lived in Peru for two years serving our Lord and this year will return in the summer time. Ashley knows the importance of obedience when you cross over to reach your one. So Ashley come on up as I’ve got a few questions for you this morning.

Ashley’s testimony here?

1.What vision did God give you for the future?

2. What did you have to leave behind?

3.What acts of obedience then God demand of you?

4.How did God meet you in Peru? Who was your 1?

Thanks Ashley for sharing. So we see thus far that each one crossing over to reach 1: is God-Orchestrated, requires risk, demands obedience and then it is divinely connected.

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1: Divinely Connected

(vs. 23-33). Let’s look this morning at the first meeting between Peter and Cornelius. Up to this moment God was orchestrating everything behind the scenes as he prepared Peter’s heart and as he prepared Cornelius’ heart. So, what happens now that Peter and Cornelius actually meet? How was their first get-together? Well, it was anything but smooth. It was awkward. It was weird. It was uncomfortable. Both Cornelius and Peter were stumbling over their words and actions, as they together stood against the deep-seated taboo of Gentiles and Jews coming together. Cornelius had his whole family gathered waiting for Peter and when Peter arrived Cornelius fell down at his feet in reverence. But Peter lifted him up, grabbed him by the hand and said I am just like you. I’m just a man. Let us go into the house together. Then when Peter enter’s the house he feels awkward for everyone is looking at him and he forgets the reason for his visit and asks, “May I ask again why you sent for me?” And so Cornelius shares with Peter what he already knew. Why he was there. Wow! That meeting was socially weird and awkward, but praise God the meeting did happen. We rejoice and celebrate that every crossing over to reach 1 is divinely connected.

God’s grace divinely connects two individuals together. God prepares one to receive His message and another to proclaim His message. So, all gospel encounters are divine connections. I went to a village several times in Southeast Asia while I lived there. The first time I went to visit the villagers to get to know them and how many were there. The second time I went to pray over the homes and ask God for a person of peace. I asked God to touch someone’s heart to open up their house for me to share the gospel to the village. I met a family and they welcome me in and they invited me back. So I went a third time to visit the village and I met the family in their home. Within 5-10 minutes of me arriving there, the house completely filled up with people. People were there wanting to know who I was and why I spoke their language. So I proceeded to share the gospel with all those gathered there. I then prayed for everyone, drank some more tea, talked some more, and then left. No one made a decision for Christ. But as I walked back down the mountainside into the jungle, I heard someone yelling my name. “Sai Moong Mueang! Sai Moong Mueang! Stop. Please. Wait for me. Sai Moong Mueang Sai Moong Mueang!” One villager was running towards me. Out of breath he asked, “how can I be saved? How can I know God?” And then there in the jungle I shared with him the way of salvation. He lifted his hands in prayer, just like this, and received Jesus as His Lord and Savior. We experienced a divine connection.

When I crossed over to reach this one it was awkward, it was different. A white man who spoke their language and ate differently from them, and dressed a bit differently shared a strange message. But God blessed the divine connection and one new soul was brought into the kingdom of God. You can trust that God will divinely connect you with your 1 when you cross over. The connection, the meeting, the intersection though does not save your friend. It is the gospel that saves. And so when you cross over to reach 1, you must proclaim Jesus to them.

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1: Proclaim Jesus

Vs. 34-48. Once Peter and Cornelius got over the initial weird stage and became a bit more familiar with each other, Peter proclaimed Jesus. He shared the gospel truth to Cornelius and his whole household. Peter did not continue to simply engage in social conversation, rather he transitioned the conversation towards the gospel truth. He begins his message saying, “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism.” Peter shares to everyone gathered at Cornelius’ house how God loves them. God loves all people, all ethnicities, everyone in every place. He desires for every soul to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth. Peter tells Cornelius and his family that the gospel is for them! Jesus came for them! Peter then proclaims the distinctiveness of the gospel message - that Jesus is Lord of all. Jesus lived, died, and came back to life so that “through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.” Peter never shy-ed away from proclaiming Jesus and His death and resurrection that provides eternal life for all who believe. Peter knew that there could be no faith apart from the message of Christ being proclaimed () and so he shared Jesus to all who gathered in Cornelius’ home. The Holy Spirit soon came down and touched everyone’s heart and those who believed were saved and baptized. Whew! That’s a move of the Spirit. That’s a powerful moment.

Paul Rees says, “The gospel is neither a discussion nor a debate. It is an announcement.” In order for your loved one, your friend, your relative, your co-worker, your one to come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, you must verbally proclaim Jesus. Each one Crossing over to reach 1 means you will proclaim the gospel. Let me share with you this morning the gospel of Jesus Christ. What must you do to be saved? It’s as easy as A, B,C. A - First, you Admit to God you are sinner. Second, you Believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. You believe that through Jesus’ death on the cross your sins are forgiven and that through his resurrection you have eternal life in heaven. Then C - you must Call out to God in prayer to receive Jesus into your life. This is the gospel message we tell others and this is what I share with you today.

Invitation and Commitment:

As Mason leads us in our next song, if you have never trusted in Christ and want to follow Him today then be saved with the ABC’s. If you are a Jesus-follower today I have another request for you. In your seat you saw a card and it says, “Who’s your one?” I want you to write one person’s name on this card and then bring it up and place it in this vase. This year, your pastoral team will pray over each name as you cross over to reach your 1. Let’s pray.

Invitation and Commitment: Who’s your one? Write their name on the card and place it in the vase up in the front.

Who’s your one?

Numbers slide?

Invitation and Commitment: Who’s your one? Write their name on the card and place it in the vase up in the front.

“When you study church history, you see that every great awakening and massive spread of the gospel always happened through so-called ‘ordinary’ people, not through people that are in full time ministry,” Greear said. “We serve the movement, but we’re not the tip of the spear of the movement.”