First Responder Sunday

Intro

First Responders

lay down comforts and lives to save others

whatever it takes to save others

Hudson Taylor

Today we ask, “In what ways are we letting ourselves get in the way of the gospel?”

Freedom to a slave (19)

Paul was a free man

Roman Citizen, Jewish by heritage

slaves had to do bidding of their masters

Paul a slave to no one

free to make own choices

as he traveled was free to make own choices

made himself a slave to all

in other words

engaged in cultures and people he came to

gave up his preferences in order for others to know Christ

His freedom in Christ he laid aside so the gospel would go forward

What are you willing to give up, for someone else to be saved?

First Responders give up themselves in order to save others

what would you give up?

Paul was willing to lay aside all his preferences and freedoms in Christ

so others can know Christ

some examples in next text

So that (20-22a)

7 “so that” statements

Jews

though heritage was jewish, he was a christian

but engaged in traditions and customs to show them Christ

“Those under the law”

Without the law - Gentiles

engaged in their culture

yet still remained under God’s law

The weak

the Corinthian Church

looked down upon the weak

“So that” (7x)

Followed by “I might win”

gain

his purpose not for his gain

not to satisfy a lust in his heart

(not to fulfill desire for sin)

“Paul was only a vessel, a messenger of the gospel. It was not His message so he didn’t put himself into it. He made it all about God and Christ, not of himself.”

For the gospel (22b-23)

As Hudson Talyor learned, you must be willing to give up of yourself, so others will hear the gospel

(Ukraine, Ute Indians)

Paul engaged every culture

without breaking God’s law

to win them for the gospel

That means

did what makes him uncomfortable

did what he was not use to

talked with those whom he normally would not

what about you?

Is your chief concern building the kingdom of God?

Are your freedoms and comforts getting in the way?

There are times they do get in the way for me

I must step aside, so that Christ may work

This message is not about sharing your faith

we know we must do that, I have made that clear over the years

it’s about getting out of the way of the gospel

I must forgo my comforts, my favorites, my desires

truthfully, they should not even exist

Colossians 3:2-4 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

For i have died and only Christ remains

if that statement is true there is not stopping you!

3 things usually stop you

your comfort

how you view yourself

how you think others view you

How freeing it is to know it’s not about you

You are not in control

it’s not about you

Conclusion

Courage comes from God

the courage of First Responders

The courage of military

the courage to go, step out of your comfort zone and share Jesus

To be whom they need you to be

so they can see Jesus in you

Jesus

died all those millennium ago

so they could be free