Christian Challenge Charge

Christian Challenge

11-11-2020

Intro

My name is Jeremy Leithoff, my wife and I are both alums of Pitt State, and of Christian Challenge although when we went it was Cross Quest

So you will have to forgive me if I call it Cross Quest

We both served on leadership and I was blessed to serve on staff with Mike

Right now I am the pastor of Maranatha Baptist Fellowship in Topeka, KS

And a police officer for the school district in Topeka

I emailed Mike earlier this week to let him know that we would be in town and we would like to come tonight

His response was that is great and would you like to speak

I thought that would be awesome, because this ministry holds such a dear dear place in my heart

Then I began to scramble about what I wanted to share with you all

This is actlually the third messages I had come up with for tonight

When I prayed about what to share I heard God say share what Paul told Timothy

Timothy was Paul’s Child in the faith

I finally landed in 2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4:1–2 NASB95

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

Paul charges Timothy to Word

Be prepared to always share the Word

Be prepared always to share about the Good news of Jesus Christ

I believe this charge is to you and I also

This is not just for preachers and evagenlist or missionaries

But each and everyone of you us should always be prepared to preach the Word in its entirety

Not just the parts we like or are comfortable with but the entire Word

Reprove - reprimand or censure (someone).

Rebuke - express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions.

We are to gently, lovingly call people on the carpet for the sin in their lives

We are to share with them they are sinners, mean nasty horrible human beings, to show them the sin in their lives

Exhort - strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.

We are to also encourage others, and walk with others as they run to Jesus

As believers you and I should be doing that

2 Timothy 4:3–5 NASB95

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

I believe we are currently in that time when people refuse to hear truth and with only come to a church if it fits their agenda

You want to know how to grow a church super fast

Tell people what they want to hear

We could talk about God is love and God is grace all the time and never touch on the fact that Jesus hates sin and that you and I have sinned

We, you and I are to be doing the work of an evangelist

Someone who shares the Good News of Jesus

Matthew 28:19–20 NASB95

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This is our command

Notice it doesn’t say when it is easy, when you are done with college, when you have time, money,

We are to go and share the Gospel

Now maybe you are here and you say ok but what do I say

Romans 3:23 NASB95

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

You and I have sinned

We have missed the mark

Sin is an archers term and it means that you have missed the mark

Each and everyone one of us have missed the mark we have sinned

We have missed God’s standard of perfection

Romans 5:8 NASB95

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Favorite verse

You are a sinner and even when you were up to your head in sin and continuing to sin

Jesus loved you enough to die on the cross your and your sin

Even if you never accept that gift He still did that you

Romans 6:23 NASB95

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

See sin will always lead to death

Jesus’s death on the cross will always lead to life

Romans 10:9–11 NASB95

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

To accept that free gift you confess that Jesus is Lord and when you are doing that you are saying sin is no longer my Lord but Jesus is my Lord

You are turning from sin, you are repenting

Then you also believe that Jesus is who he says he is

You trust that Jesus did what He said he did and will do what he says he will do

To accept that free gift

Jesus sums it up

Mark 1:15 NASB95

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

To repent and believe

This is what we are to be preaching to our friends, and co coworkers, to our neighbors, to our teachers, and classmates, to our families

So rather than have an invitation

I want to challenge you

So go and share the Gospel with someone this week

To begin now to prepare yourself to preach the WORD as Paul charged Timothy todo in 2 Timothy 4:2

Continue to pray and seek the Lord and as He opens then door for you to share the Gospel walk through that door

I do also want to say that if there is anyone here who does not have a personal relationship with Christ, and you would like to begin one or have questions I will be around after and would to talk with you!