Church Alive - Breaking Quarantine

Breaking Quarantine

a state, period, or place of isolation in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to infectious or contagious disease are placed.

We have been isolated and cut off for a while

People are getting out again - doing stuff

The issue is when we use it as an excuse not to go or do - we let fear dictate

Honestly - before Covid - many churches isolated themselves - they didn't want to catch anything - also dint want to spread anything like the Gospel

“A tiny group of believers who have the gospel keep mumbling it over and over to themselves. Meanwhile, millions who have never heard it once fall into the flames of eternal hell without ever hearing the salvation story.” -K.P. Yohannan

We have been talking about a Church alive - kind of a health check

Our temperature - Love god and love people

Her d immunity - we need each other, we need to gather

Today it is time to break quarantine and isolation

We are called and commanded to be on mission

Matthew 28:18–20 CSB

Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This is a command not a suggestion

It covers all believers - not just “professionals”

We come together to worship, be encouraged and equipped, sent back out

We are not here to make you or me comfortable and happy - “I want this for my kids, and I want this for me”

We exist for them, those outside

The last command of Jesus should be the church’s first priority

Turn your bible to Matthew 28

Let’s pray

Break Quarantine

Believe the claim Jesus makes

Matthew 28:18 CSB

Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Break Quarantine

Believe the claim Jesus makes

All authority - Matthew in his Gospel showed

Jesus had authoriy over - sickness, weather, demons, sin, everything

Since He has authority do we have fear anything - we can obey

2 Corinthians 5:20 CSB

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

Break Quarantine

2. Obey the commission Jesus’ gave

Matthew 28:19 CSB

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,

Break Quarantine

2. Obey the commission Jesus’ gave

Go - as you are going

The command is to make disciples - wherever you are - as you are going

Disciple was one whop believed and baptized - grew in understanding of their faith - go and win others

Today we pay a pastor to do that - everyone else cheerleader

It is all of us -

It is not just telling them it is investing and walking with them

1 Thessalonians 2:8 CSB

We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose. --C. S. Lewis

Break Quarantine

Matthew 28:20 CSB

teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Break Quarantine

3. Embrace the comfort that Jesus shares

This is not a promise - this is a fact

He is not just with us when we gather - wherever we go He goes

There are no conditions - as believers He is with us -

When you thought you were alone - you were not - if you say you are you call Him a liar

To the end - He will complete what He started - there is an end - He is coming back

So if it is hard - remember

2 Corinthians 4:17 CSB

For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

Breaking Quarantine

Church this is not an option or for only a few

This is for all of us - Not a few

“His authority on earth allows us to dare to go to all the nations. His authority in heaven gives us our only hope of success. And His presence with us leaves us no other choice.” -John Stott

Romans 10:13–14 CSB

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?

Breaking Quarantine

It is on us - we are plan b - anything less is disobedience

We are here for them and the His kingdom growth

We are not here to complain, to demand, to posture or position ourselves for what we want

The cost is too high for us to miss this

The price they will pay if we take our eyes off the goal

The Gospel is the only hope they have - we are the one who will carry it

Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth. --John Wesley

Breaking Quarantine

What about you - you want to change the world or you want to watch it go

Obedience - Disobedience

It is the only choice today.

Let’s pray