Vision Sunday
Notes
Transcript
How should we respond when gospel calls us out of our comfort zone?
Conversation with Christian in Africa. Talking about difficulty of life, and reality of poverty. Western Christian commented - how hard it must be for people to have faith. How much harder it is for you who have everything, epecially when your comfort is threatened.
As we read scriptures we read about believers whose very lives were under threat because of their faith in Jesus, yet reality is that for most of us worst we will ever face is ridcule.
Jesus says to be his disciple we must take up our cross and follow him - to live for Jesus and carry out his mission in our lives and in world. but what does that look like in civil society and relative comfort? Should we go seeking out trouble? Stop enjoying life?
Give yourself completely to Jesus and his mission.
Give yourself completely to Jesus and his mission.
Key question: What did mission life look like and feel like for Paul?
Read Acts 20:13-37
We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.
Context. Paul is on journey. He has been travelling from place to place preaching the gospel - but his direction has always been the same - West. Take gospel to to nations. And he is willing to do whatever it takes. We don’t have same specific call - but called to live as disciples of Jesus, and serving him and speakng for him. Called to take up our cross and follow him. Paul’s situation very unique, but 3 princples we can take from it - so we know what it will look like to carry the cross in our every day lives.
COUNT THE COST
COUNT THE COST
Sometimes I wonder if we see missionary work as a bit of an adventure. Chance to see the world. But nothing like that for Paul.
He is heading to Jerusalem, and would later head to Rome. But he knows it will be no tourist trip. The Spirit has warned him that in every city he faces prison and persecution.
Under no illusion about possible cost of following Jesus. But he is prepared to count the cost. The cross shaped life is death.
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
While Paul’s apostolic calling is unique, his Christian calling is the same as ours.
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Reality is this. Whether we are called to go to dangerous places, or whether it becomes difficult or dangerous simply to be a Christian, we are all called to count the cost of following Jesus and being on mission for Jesus. The Christian life is one of death and life. Dying to self, and recieving eternal life united to him.
Challenge to us as Christians in the West. We are far too comfortable. Paul warns elders about false teaching - calls them to be on guard, and I wonder how relevant it is to us in world that tells us we are entitled to everything. to fall into trap that what God wants most is for us to be comfortable now. All kind of things that stop us counting the cost, and giving our all to Jesus.
Monkey trap
Following Jesus is a call to die to self, to count the cost - whatever that might be. Doesn’t mean we go searchign for trouble or hardhsip. But it does drastically challenge us to hold our possesions, comforts, preferences very lightly. Let go of anything that stops us living and speaking for Jesus.
What is in the monkey trap for you? What its cost you find hard to count. Thing that gets in the way of your being completely committed to Jesus?
We’ve been feeling some of the costs already over last few years. We’ve multiplied services in order to grow. But its meant we don’t see everyone we used to see. Our ministry teams are stretched, and more is being asked of each of us.
indivisible costs. in church life and outside
deny ourselves.
pour preferences, comforts, convinience, possessions, time, efforts,
might effect how we use our homes
money
time
. It might mean being more outspoken about faith. It might mean being willing to be alienated or overlooked by individuals or even by society.
It might mean tears and hardships. It might mean saying goodbye to loved ones,
If we are to live on mission - we are to count the cost.
How will we know where to count the cost? What it will look like?
But secondly that will mean keeping our eyes on the prize.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
A life on mission is about being single minded.
DIVER ILLUSTRATION. Can’t partically dive into the water.
(Better illustration about full commitment)
What a great statement of Christian life. v24. Is that true for us? How easily we find our hearts divied.
Not all called to specifc call like Paul. But ini general sense we all have this same calling. Summed up from these verse like this. To live for Jesus - seeking to do only what he calls us to do. And speak for Jesus - testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
It means living whole lives with single aim - to live and speak for Jesus. When we are alone or with friends, at home or at work, at church or at the pub. In times of quiet and in conversations. There is no divide between the sacred - church stuff, and secular.
Why? Because we know this world is not our home and this life all there is, but rather we are made by God for purpose of his Glory, and eternal life - enjoyed in right relationship.
How does Paul continue his journey knowing where it’s going - compelled by Spirit -
not relucatant compulsion. Resisting every step of the way. In Colossians writes that he contents with all his energy. Why because he knows who he is serving.
He knows where his true life is found, and he knows where he is headed.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
As we saw last week, he knows he is loved and safe. That nothing can harm him.
Runs the race set before him.
Are we living our lives knowing who is in charge, and the one who knows best, and do will we trust him enough to know that whatver it looks like, life lived for him will be the best we could live. And with eternal perspective knowing its preparing us for eternity.
are we living whole lives with gospel intentionality, live for Jesus in everything, and testify to his grace with every opportunity
Reality is that is not easy?
I’m so easily distracted.
distraction of watch breaking?
How are we to keep Paul like focus. How can we continue to count the cost?
GIVE YOURSELF OVER TO GRACE
GIVE YOURSELF OVER TO GRACE
Paul knows that he will never see these brothers again. These leaders of church he loves. What words would you leave with someone.
What is Paul’s one desire for Ephesians church - that he planted and established. GOSPEL LEGACY.
Paul tells them about his life - not boast, but as testimony of God’s grace, and as example. Show them that his only purpose with them has always been about their Spiritual life. v20, that always preached what was helpful. that he preached to all the gospel of grace, recieved by faith.
And then he leaves them with warning about false teaching. desperate that they don’t find themselves lead astray, and that they likewise don’t lead flock astray. But rather are built up.
Where is his confidence that this will happen. Not just in his example.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
He commits them to God and to the word of grace.
How are these leaders to keep themselves and flock safe from false teaching - by continuing as they started - in gospel of grace.
How are they to live under Paul’s example, in church in hustle and bustle of major city and not get distracted - gospel of grace
How are they to endure as Paul will perseuction for sake of Christ - in the gospel of grace.
Paul urges towards gospel centred grace filled lives.
How can we continue to hold on to our mission to live and speak for Jesus as individuals and church. And not be distracted by comfort or led away by wordliness. How can we count the cost whatveer may be for sake for seeing Jesus mission acocmplished in our lives and in community. By committing ourselves and each other to God in dependent prayer, and his word of grace.
His word that shows us that there is no life apart from Jesus. His word that shows us that we deserve nothign expect by grace of God, that he gives us everything in Christ. His word that helps us to fix our eyes on Him the author and perfector of faith who for glory set before him endured the cross. And whose word promises us that nothign can seperated us from his love, and that our lives is safe in his hands. His word that promises that he build his chruch and gates of hell shall not previal. Word that tells us that its through church God is working out his purposed in the world. His word that promises that we will one day sit before our maker, a vast multitude around the throne, enjoying eternal life we were made for.
how are we to count the the cost, to live single mindedly for Jesus, with everything. discerning what it looks like and carrying it out? as we commit ourselves to God and his word of grace.
ending?
