CHALLENGE!

Good morning and a very joyous, prosperous and healthy new year to you all on this first Sunday of 2022.

So much happened in 2021 and we find ourselves entering another new year with the COVID-19 pandemic at the forefront of our lives, just as it was this time last year.

Fires are still raging, tornadoes have ravaged entire towns, mass shootings are still occuring. If we were to focus on world events or the people around us, it would seem as if there was no hope.

But I’ve got good news for you, if you’ll stay with me for just a little while. Please hit like, hit share and if you have not already done so, go to our Love Christian Center, Douglasville YouTube channel and subscribe.

Let us get to the Good News.

Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. praise ye the Lord.

This is your call to worship.

Let us pray

2 Corinthians 5:13 NLT - If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Today’s message is titled, “CHALLENGE”

In this particular passage of Scripture, this part of the letter the Apostle Paul has written to the Corinthian church, he is giving encouragement to the believers and straightening out some misconceptions some may have had about him.

So really has anything changed? How many of you have attempted to do something and your good intentions were spoken evil of? Well this Scripture, that was penned over two thousand years ago proves nothing has changed. But Paul gives you a response for those who would criticize.

It would seem that there were some who felt Paul was bragging about himself and the believers that were with him. But he assures them no it’s not about us, we’re giving you a reason to be proud of us, so when others come at you bragging about their spectacular ministry instead of having a sincere heart for Christ, you’ll have a response for them. You’ll be able to tell who we are and what we’re really about.

Paul was giving them a response for those who may have looked down on them because what they were doing was outside the established norm for the time. He was letting them know, it’s not about how grand your church building may be, how packed your seats may be, how long your roll may be, or how great your choir may be, it’s about are you doing what you’re doing out of a sincere heart for Christ or is it just a show?

You see, true ministry is not about the number of people that come to the church or follow you or subscribe to your platform. The true mark of a great ministry is one where the people have a heart for God. And not just for God, but also for the people of God. How can you say you love God whom you’ve never seen and hate your brother or sister who you see every day?

What are you doing in your community, whose life are you changing with your words and your deeds?

Paul says, “If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God.” Sometimes the things we do may seem really crazy to someone who wants everything logical and in a neat package.

For instance, praising God while you’re yet in a storm, not because you’re in the storm but because God is in it with you and you know that this too shall pass. And so you praise.

Like at the service of a loved one who died in the Lord and we sing and rejoice rather than mourn and weep. Don’t misunderstand, we grieve their passing, but we also rejoice in their situation of being with the Lord, for to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Or when we break out in a shout and a dance and there’s no music, we were just thinking about the goodness of the Lord.

Or when you have a HALLELUJAH shout in the middle of telling someone about how God has blessed you.

Or when you start praying in the produce section of Wal~Mart, because someone is in distress.

You see, when you’re truly sold out for Jesus, when the Holy Spirit has rule over your heart, when you have a zeal to tell others about Christ, there are some things you will do that will make others think you’re crazy, but when it brings glory to God…go ahead, be crazy.

Then Paul says, “And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.” For those who can’t handle that level of praise, for those who can’t deal with us losing our minds over the God of the universe, OK, OK we’ll tone it down, just for you. For your benefit we’ll be in our right mind,

so you can understand the reason for our praise

so you can have a chance at eternal life

so you can experience the goodness of the Lord for yourself.

And so we’ll wait… but “Either way, Christ’s love controls us.” Paul said, “I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.” Not everyone will believe, not everyone will even appreciate the effort. Some, dare I say, will even be hostile toward you, but when you allow the love of Christ to control you, when your motives are pure…shake the dust from your feet and move on to the next person.

There were people who rejected Jesus, even after seeing him perform a miracle, surely you know there are some who will reject what you’re offering. Don’t pout, don’t fret, more importantly—don’t stop.

Believing that Christ died for all, we die to our old life. The life of envy and strife and jealousy and revenge and bad attitudes and gossip—those lives full of unrepentant sin, have died.

Jesus died so those who believe and receive their new life will no longer live for themselves. When you live for Christ, it’s not about you anymore. Thinking about yourself all the time can be an exhausting task, because the more you have the more you want, to the point you become impossible to please and satisfaction is non-existent.

When your goal is to help others, when you’re striving to please others you’d be surprise by how easy that can be. Purpose to tell a sister you don’t know, you look nice today, that’s a beautiful blouse, or your hair looks really good and see how their countenance will change, watch how their face will light up.

Men, call a brother and tell him, brother I was just calling to see how you doing or if he’s local invite him to lunch. You never know how a simple act of kindness, or a few words of encouragement can affect a person.

When you display the love of Christ, you can cause a change in a person, in a household, in a community, in a state, in a country, in the world. It starts with just one person.

There was research done that concluded 82% of unchurched people would likely come to church if invited. Love Christian Center, we will be back to in person worship soon, observing social distancing, requiring face mask be worn and vaccines, while it may make it a little more challenging; what unchurched person will you invite to join us? If not in person, how about online? We will continue with online worship services.

When you live for Christ, you understand that he died for them and for you. Our salvation cost Jesus his life. No one else gave their life to save us from our sin, only Jesus.

And since Jesus decided we were all worth what it cost him, who are we to evaluate others from a human point of view. Who are we to place our standards of what is acceptable or not on others?

When Jesus hung on that cross it was for all the sins that had ever been and would ever be committed. There was no sin he didn’t shed his blood for. There is no big sin or little sin. We tend to categorize and decide what’s acceptable sin and what isn’t. And the litmus test falls somewhere along the line of what’s visible and what’s not, what’s offensive and what isn’t, what affects you and what doesn’t.

But when you come to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, when you have relationship and not just religion, when the love of Christ dwells in your heart, when the Holy Ghost lives on the inside of you, you now know that anyone who belongs to Christ becomes a new person.

They don’t do the things they used to do

They won’t go the places they used to go

They won’t say the things they used to say

They won’t think the thoughts they used to think

They will see the intrinsic value of people and not judge them by their outward behavior

Love will constrain you to tell others of the goodness of the Lord. Love will constrain you to be zealous in your pursuit of the lost. And what you must know is this—if you’ve never accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, you are lost.

For the believer, will you invite an unchurched person to church? Will you share the zoom code with them so they can participate live in the service?

For the unbeliever, will you try Jesus?

For the one who has experienced church hurt, will you give it another try? The kingdom needs you. Don’t give up on God because man let you down.

I can tell you that here at Love Christian Center, we preach and teach the whole Bible, not just the popular parts, not just the parts we like, and not just the parts we want. We believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and that it was penned by inspired men of God.

We do our best to demonstrate the love of God and live our motto, “Where the love of God is at the center of all we do”.

We welcome you with open arms, open hearts and a sincere desire for to live to your full potential, to exercise your God given, God inspired gifts and talents the way God intended them to be used.

We have strong leadership to carry out God’s plan and soft hearts for God’s people who have the tools. Will you join the team to build the kingdom?

When you’re building, there are supplies you must have. You need hammers and saws, 2x4’s for framing, drywall, nails and screws, mud and tape, you need paint and flooring and even base boards. Just to name a few.

Then you need a leader to keep the project moving and the expertise to do all of those things. It’s a rare person who can do it all, do it well and do it quickly. And the most experienced person can still learn something new.

In building the kingdom of God, there are also some must haves. We need a pastor, preachers, teachers, ushers, musicians, greeters, singers, hospitality, kitchen workers, evangelism teams and more.

And just like when you’re building a physical building, to build the kingdom of God you need many hands. There’s an adage that says many hands make light work.

What gift has God given you for the edification of the saints? Remember, in 2022 it’s no longer about you. This is the year we’re going to strive to bless others, we’re going to operate outside our comfort zone and get into our God zone.

In the God zone there is no failure

In the God zone I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

In the God zone, eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of mankind what God has prepared for those who love him

In the God zone, He will do exceeding, abundantly above all you could ask or think according to the power that works in you.

In the God zone, the battle’s not yours, it’s the Lord’s.

In the God zone, you’re never alone, because he will never leave you nor forsake you.

In the God zone, there is no fear, because God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind.

In the God zone, you’re special, because you have been fearfully and wonderfully made by God in the image of God.

In the God zone, there is purpose to everything that has happened in your life, because we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

In the God zone there is no lack, because my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Get in the zone, the God zone and watch him turn your life around, watch Him fulfil your heart’s desire, watch him do what no one, including you, thought could be done. So it’s time to strengthen your faith, because without faith it’s impossible to please God.

It’s a new year, and I challenge you to shed your old life so you can begin your new one. If you’ve never given your life to Christ, what better day than today? Pray with me

God, I confess I’m a sinner, please forgive me. I believe Jesus is your Son, that he was born of a virgin and died for my sins. I believe he rose from the dead and sits at your right hand praying for me. Jesus I give you my heart and my life, in your name I pray, amen.

Perhaps you received salvation before, but you fell away and you need to rededicate your life. Pray with me—Lord, I rededicate my life to you, I relinquish control and return it to you, lead me and guide me back to the path you have laid out for me, in Jesus name I pray, amen.

And finally you may be walking with the Lord, but you have not committed to a church to work out your soul salvation, we invite you to make Love Christian Center your home.

If you received salvation for the first time today, rededicated your life or would like to join Love Christian Center, please contact us by tagging us on whatever platform you may be viewing this message or send us an email to [e-mail] and let us know of your decision so we can congratulate and connect with you.

Perhaps you appreciate what this ministry stands for or it’s blessed you in some way and you would like to support us financially, you can send your tithe or offering through

CashApp - $LoveChristianCenter

Givelify - Love Christian Center

PayPal - [e-mail]

Mail to 3500 Hwy 5, Ste 101, Douglasville, GA 30135

You can see all of this information and more at our website www.lovechristianctr.org.

God is getting ready to move in a big way through this ministry and we’d love for you to be a part.

On Jan 15, 2022 we will have an Open House with food, games and prizes at 3500 Hwy 5 from 12:00 noon - 3:00 p.m. And our grand opening to return to in person worship will be Jan 16. Sunday school will begin at 8:45 and worship service at 10.

God bless you and “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”