Christ-Centered Outreach

Matthew 28:16–20 CSB

16 The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

HOW

Pushed Out

Matthew 9:35–38 CSB

35 Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

Outreach is not the mission of the church

Preaching the Gospel is

Outreach can be a means in which we do this

the church has been on outreach throughout history (Harriet Tubman, MLK, hospital, orphanages, etc

we must have the right perspective of outreach (Jesus miracles were done with compassion but they ultimately pointed people to Him

Ethnos (Nations) Culture (a number of people living together)

Culture is not a social construct (God created it and we should honor Him with it)

Culture is a group of people with shared values that are expressed through artifacts (give an example: soda or pop, sneaker or tennis shoes or jumpers or shoes)

Genesis 4:16–18 CSB

16 Then Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 17 Cain was intimate with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain became the builder of a city, and he named the city Enoch after his son. 18 Irad was born to Enoch, Irad fathered Mehujael, Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.

(this was the development of a culture that did not honor God) (Lamech has two wives and murders a man with a weapon that was developed by his son [the ability to create comes from God but they used it in an evil way)

effective evangelism (and outreach) should have some understanding of the culture

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 CSB

19 Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law. 21 To those who are without the law, like one without the law—though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ—to win those without the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. 23 Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings.

When we do this we are understanding that culture is something that God has created for His glory (and we honor that) and that because of sin man has taken that which was made for God’s glory (culture) and has used it for our own glory.

WHAT

We are Ambassadors

2 Corinthians 5:16–20 CSB

16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

Ambassadors-in Christ we have a new ethnos

1 Peter 2:9–10 CSB

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Practical Outreach