The Heart of the Church

Introduction

What is the heart of the Church?

What should be our mission, motivation—what drives us as a community of faith?

Text

Matthew 9:35–38 ESV

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Matthew 9:35–38 LBLA

35 Y Jesús recorría todas las ciudades y aldeas, enseñando en las sinagogas de ellos, proclamando el evangelio del reino y sanando toda enfermedad y toda dolencia. 36 Y viendo las multitudes, tuvo compasión de ellas, porque estaban angustiadas y abatidas como ovejas que no tienen pastor. 37 Entonces dijo* a sus discípulos: La mies es mucha, pero los obreros pocos. 38 Por tanto, rogad al Señor de la mies que envíe obreros a su mies.

Transition

To be fully alive in our faith in Christ, we need to align our heart with His!

We need to see the world and engage with the world as He did!

Point 1

There are people.

People without Christ are harassed and helpless—without hope.

Ephesians 2:12 ESV

12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Ephesians 2:12 LBLA

12 recordad que en ese tiempo estabais separados de Cristo, excluidos de la ciudadanía de Israel, extraños a los pactos de la promesa, sin tener esperanza, y sin Dios en el mundo.

Point 2

There is a reaction.

Jesus responds to the needs of others with gut-wrenching compassion.

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9 LBLA

9 Porque conocéis la gracia de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que siendo rico, sin embargo por amor a vosotros se hizo pobre, para que vosotros por medio de su pobreza llegarais a ser ricos.

Point 3

There is healing.

Jesus responds to the needs of others with authority to heal and deliver.

Matthew 14:14 ESV

14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Matthew 14:14 LBLA

14 Y al desembarcar, vio una gran multitud, y tuvo compasión de ellos y sanó a sus enfermos.

When we see people, what is our reaction?

We need to see people as Christ sees people.

Point 4

There is the Gospel.

Jesus responds to the needs of others with empowered proclamation of the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Mark 6:34 ESV

34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

Mark 6:34 LBLA

34 Al desembarcar, Él vio una gran multitud, y tuvo compasión de ellos, porque eran como ovejas sin pastor; y comenzó a enseñarles muchas cosas.

Point 5

There is a call to action.

There are people ready to receive the good news of Jesus Christ, but there are few believers willing to share this good news.

Jesus addressed the problem.

Matthew 9:37–38 ESV

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Matthew 9:37–38 LBLA

37 Entonces dijo* a sus discípulos: La mies es mucha, pero los obreros pocos. 38 Por tanto, rogad al Señor de la mies que envíe obreros a su mies.

Pray for the lost.

Pray for the workers of the Gospel.

Pray to be more like Jesus.

John 14:12–14 ESV

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John 14:12–14 LBLA

12 En verdad, en verdad os digo: el que cree en mí, las obras que yo hago, él las hará también; y aun mayores que estas hará, porque yo voy al Padre. 13 Y todo lo que pidáis en mi nombre, lo haré, para que el Padre sea glorificado en el Hijo. 14 Si me pedís algo en mi nombre, yo lo haré.

Pray and obey

Conclusion

The world is a mess, and people are lost (harassed and helpless) in their sin. They need a savior!

Like Jesus our response as a believer is gut-wrenching compassion. (a grief looking for a solution).

You have been given the authority through the Holy Spirit to engage this world with power.

Healing and miracles are the sign of God’s grace, mercy, and love.

But the word (the Gospel) must be preached, must be shared!

How can we do this? Pray and then obey!

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