Committed to God's Mission

The vision starts with a clear statement of exactly what we are about. Vision Statement: “Glorifying God by creating Christ followers who change the world.”

The vision starts with a clear statement of exactly what we are about. Vision Statement: “Glorifying God by creating Christ followers who change the world.”

We have three key values that guide us as we pursue that vision. We can say them in three words. We must be Captivated, Connected, and Committed.

During our Vision series we have been talking about what these mean. The first week we talked about.

Value #1: Captivated by God’s Glory

“creating worshipers by leading people to treasure God.” This is a worship value. So week 1, we saw that the beginning of the Christ following process starts with becoming a worshipper. That is really what salvation really is. It is placing faith in Christ in such a way that you treasure God above all things.

Value #1: Captivated by God’s Glory

“creating worshipers by leading people to treasure God.” This is a worship value. So week 1, we saw that the beginning of the Christ following process starts with becoming a worshipper. That is really what salvation really is. It is placing faith in Christ in such a way that you treasure God above all things.

This is the greatest commandment,

Luke 10:27 ESV

27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

“And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” ()

Value #2: Connected to God’s Family

“fostering community by guiding people into Christ-Centered discipleship.” Here we said that we Christ connects us with God he also connects us to believers. When we are saved, we are born again. Like we are born into a earthly family, we are also born into the family of God.

God intends for us to grow in Christ through connection to a community of faith.

Luke 10:27 ESV

27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Luke 10:27

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” ()

Your first neighbor is your brother and sister in Christ. It’s in that community of faith that we were created to grow in Christ, and help your faith family grow in Christ. It’s in the community of faith that we fulfill the mission that God created us for.

It’s that mission that we are going to talk about this morning.

Value #3: Committed to God’s Mission

Value #3: Committed to God’s Mission

“producing servants by sending people to fulfill the Great Commission.”

“producing servants by sending people to fulfill the Great Commission.”

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he made sure that the disciples understood that his followers were here to accomplish his mission. This is the value that we are discussing this morning.

Our neighbors our also those in our influence which are outside of Christ.

That’s why Jesus tells us in the Great Commission,

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

““All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” ()

This is what we mean when we say, “Glorifying God by creating Christ followers who change the world.” There is a particular type of change that God wants us to make. He wants us to make lost sinners into redeemed Christ-followers.

What kind of scope should we be concerned about? Jesus tells us.

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ()

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ()

If you were looking at a map of Israel, you would see that this is starting at home and expand outward. Jerusalem is where they were. It was there home. Judea was the region of Southern Israel. Samaria was the region just north of them. Then to the end of the earth.

I take that we must strive to change the world starting in our own city and extending, to our state, nation and world.

We need to constantly ask ourselves, “What kind of difference are we making?” “If Mt. Gilead were to shut its doors tomorrow, would our community know we were gone?” Would they miss us? How about our state and nation? How about the nations? Would they feel the absence?

If we are just a church of consumers here to get what we can from the teaching and programs of the church, then they wouldn’t miss us. But, a church that is here to touch its community and world with the love of Christ, it would be missed.

I’ve put together an acrostic for CHANGE that will give insight on how we can be a church of Christ followers who CHANGE the world.

I. Commit to personal, spiritual growth

Matthew 5:13 ESV

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. ()

So, salt should be salty. But in the ancient world, salt that was defiled by being mixed with impure substances could no longer be a good spice or preservative had to be thrown out. It was useless.

In the same way Christians, regardless of what gifts and skills you have as a Christ, can lose our ability make disciples if our sin defiles us in such a way that we lose our witness.

*Someone once said, “Your skills are the floor and your integrity is the ceiling.” No Christian will ever rise higher than their integrity will allow them.

This is true pastors over the last several years that had to step down for sexual indiscretions or ethical violations or substance abuse.

These issues affected these men’s ability to pastor.

+You might say, “Yeah but I’m not a pastor.” A lack of integrity can absolutely affect your witness.

Paul said it like this:

1 Corinthians 9:26–27 ESV

26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Would it not be terrible having someone that needs to know Jesus, you tell them about Jesus, only to have your lack of integrity disqualify you from being heard.

“So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” ()

Would it not be terrible having someone that needs to know Jesus, you tell them about Jesus, only to have your lack of integrity disqualify you from being heard.

Commit to Personal Spirit Growth. Your are either moving closer to Christ or moving farther away. Quiet times are essential. Being a part of community that hold you accountable is essential.

II. Have the heart of Christ for others.

Matthew 22:39 ESV

39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus said the first commandment was to love God and the second commandment was like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” ()

Philippians 2:3–4 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ()

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ()

That passage goes on to say that is exactly what Christ did when he came to save you. He humbled himself, but our interests above his. He came and redeemed us from our sin.

*Being a change agent starts with humility and compassion.

The English Puritan Richard Baxter once wrote,

“Humility is not a mere ornament of a Christian, but an essential part of the new creature. It is a contradiction to be a sanctified man, or a true Christian, and not humble.” -Richard Baxter (17th century English Puritan)

Our world recognized this in the late, great Arnold Palmer. He was famous for being just like everyone else. His humility is what made him great. He would talk to anyone who wanted to talk to him. He stayed out on the course for hours after a round and signed every autograph anyone asked for. It is said that everyone he me he made to feel special.

As well as being the greatest ambassador for the game of golf that ever lived, he started a children’s hospital and a woman’s hospital. He died in 2016, and he was known as the King.

He showed us imperfectly, what Jesus showed us perfectly. You can’t be great without first being humble. To make a real difference, we must esteem others around us much higher. Even higher than ourselves.

III. Act outside your comfort zone

Hebrews 13:11–13 ESV

11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

Hebrews “For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. (The blood for the sacrifice was sprinkled in the Temple, but the bodies were burned outside the camp. It was a placed considered unholy.)

“For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. (The blood for the sacrifice was sprinkled in the Temple, but the bodies were burned outside the camp. It was a placed considered unholy.)

12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. (Jesus was the final sacrifice who went to a unholy place and a unholy people. His sacrifice makes us holy.)

13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.” ()

Jesus went to places that he didn’t want to go. He endured the wrath of God for our sins. Not something that was particular comfortable for him.

On the Mount of Olives, Jesus prayed,

Luke 22:42 ESV

42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

“saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. (the cup of God’s wrath on sin that Jesus was about to endure) Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” () If Jesus had done what was comfortable, you would be headed for hell right now.

So, Hebrews says that following Christ means that we are going to be asked to do things that we don’t like. We are going to have to get out of our comfort zones. We are going to have to get our hands dirty.

But, we have got to stop asking ourselves, “What am I comfortable with,” and start asking God what his will is.

IV. Notice the opportunities God places in front of you.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

If we are in Christ, we can be assured that there are opportunities for us during the day because God placed them there.

If we are in Christ, we can be assured that there are opportunities for us during the day because God placed them there.

If we are in Christ, we can be assured that there are opportunities for us during the day because God placed them there.

But, most of us live in tunnel vision. Tunnel vision is caused by our routine. Think about it, each day of the week is usually set. Monday there is School or work, come home, meal have to be prepared, or there is a ball practice or game to go to. Come home homework or the news and bed.

Our routine is often all that we can see. But has placed opportunities to impact people for Christ in the midst of our routines if we will just open our eyes to see them.

If we aren’t routinely impacting people for Christ, we are missing opportunities. is saying the problem is not that opportunities are not there. The problem is that we don’t notice them. Or, if we do, they are too uncomfortable for us to engage in them.

Opportunities to teach your children spiritual truth. Opportunities to touch poverty in your community. Opportunities to help families in distress.

V. Get involved in what God is doing in front of you.

Henry Blackaby famously said “Stop worrying about God’s will for your life. And look to see where God is working and get involved.”

Luke 9:23 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” ()

Christ followers must be action takers. (Church ministries, Wiregrass Hope, Through Wired and DiscipleNow I have learned and have taken part of several ministries in the Wiregrass Area. On April 29, all of our Sunday School classes are going to be engaged in ministries throughout this community. We want our whole church to be involved.

Our goal is for you to experience what opportunities are here in Dothan for us to make a difference. Ultimately we would like for every Sunday School class to be engaged in one ministry project in the city once a quarter.

Of course, mission trips are also opportunities to make a difference.

One important note. We do not do good just to do good. We do good to glorify Christ and make disciples. If all we do is feed the poor, without speaking of Christ. Otherwise, we make well fed people who die and go to hell separated from God.

VI. Entrust the Results to God

Mark 4:26–29 ESV

26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

The Kingdom of God is like a farmer. He works the ground, plows the field, puts seed in the ground. But then he leaves it and goes to sleep or tends to other business of the night and day.

The Kingdom of God is like a farmer. He works the ground, plows the field, puts seed in the ground. But then he leaves it and goes to sleep or tends to other business of the night and day.

While he sleeps, the seed sprouts and the plant grows and produces grain.

The farmer has a lot of work to do to prepare the seed and the ground. But once he’s done he knows that only God can bring growth. So he sleeps and trust God to bring it.

Impacting the world for Christ takes a lot of work, a lot of money, a lot of time, a lot of planning, energy and effort. All of it is important. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that we produce lifechange. We don’t. We do all we can do and we trust God to produce the fruit in someone’s life.

So, we must work as hard as we can for Kingdom Gain, and then we can sleep well knowing God is at work and will bring the fruit he desires.

I. Commit Yourself to Spiritual Growth.

II. Have a heart for others.

III. Act outside of your comfort zone.

IV. Notice the Opportunities in front of you.

V. Get Involved in what God is doing in front of You.

VI. Entrust the Results to God.

That’s how we will create Christ followers who change the world.