Tell me why #4

Northside Church

Tell Me Why #4 Missions/outreach

Jamey Mills

9/18/22

Good morning Northside,

My name is Jamey, I’m the lead pastor here and it’s always good to be with you…

I love driving… always have.

I remember one night I was out with a friend who had just gotten his license… he picked me up from work and we headed out for the evening…

In central Oregon it was pretty normal to have snow everywhere on the road but where your tires were… and he was probably showing off a little… going way too fast in a neighborhood I knew well…

I knew there was a corner coming… but I didn't want to look like a wuss by saying… dude there is a 90 degree corner coming you need to slow down… so I waited and waited and waited… until it was far too late and I yelled… TURN… he freaked out and got off the pavement and into the snow… we did a few circles, hit the curb hard… and ended up in someone's front yard.

It was quiet for a little while… and then he looked at me and said “why didn’t you tell me”...

That night went to his house and crashed… got up the next morning for church and on the way, I noticed the steering wheel was all over the place… his dad turned around and said… any idea what happened to the car, and my friend almost interrupted and yelled nooooo… and I had no idea what to do.

I learned a valuable lesson that day…

Saying something… before it's too late matters.

If you know something that could have prevented something like that… and don't say it… because it's uncomfortable or… how you might look… is rough.

And honestly… that’s mild. There have been other times I wish I would have said something.

One night after work, it was the summer after I had become a Christian… one of my friends came to the house with a girl I’d never met. I could take you to the exact place they were sitting… they tried to get me to go out with them that night… I knew what that meant so I said no… and sure enough they went out and drank way too much and got behind the wheel… She ran a stop sign and was hit by a log truck. Two teens died that night including the girl that sat in my living room. My friend actually died several times on the way to the hospital, but ended up surviving.

I made the right choice not to go I think… and even though I don’t think they would have listened… for years I wrestled with this idea of what could I have said when I had the chance…

We are in the 4th week of our sermon series “Tell me why”… where we are asking the question… Why do we do some of the things we do at Northside…

And knowing why we do what we do is so important… It helps us live with greater intentionality… it helps us to invest in and get the most out of these kinds of things… because we understand the point behind them… and so our question today is…

Why do we invest so much of our time, effort, and resources into missions and outreach.

and… what does that have to do with you?

A few things that I think are good for you to know…

We have a missions ministry team. Intro our missions team:

Terry Lambright (MTL), Chris Rowley, Kurt Powell, Phil McPherson, Julie Scholl…

They just finished Northside’s first missions policy… and they are the ones that prayerfully consider which missions and opportunities to bring to the MT for support.

If you didn't know, Northside currently supports Val and Waffle Lomilo in Uganda, Kurt and Beth Powell preparing to go to Papua New Guinea, and Love inc in Benton County. We also sent a good chunk to refugee relief in Ukraine. options preganncy

Just so you know… 5% of all of Northside's internal giving… goes straight into missions, that is our missions budget. We are expecting that to be in the neighborhood of __________ this year…

One quick update… Waffle Lomilo… will be coming to share with us on Oct 2nd. Not sure if you were able to be here when his wife shared with us… incredibly powerful. We prayed for him… that night he was attacked by bees… sounded really scary, life threatening… Oct 2… you won't want to miss it.

Historically, church plants have played a unique role when it comes to reaching outside the four walls of the church… and there are some good reasons for that.

Church planters are usually wired that way…

Church plants do all sorts of demographic work before launching in a community… they get to know the people…reach out accordingly.

Church plants often put together a team… and share the objective.

And honestly… if church plants are going to survive, they really don't have a choice.

And one of the things most church plants get is this…

The ministry of missions and outreach doesn’t just belong to pastors, staff, and church leaders

Healthy churches of any age understand, invest, and engage in this truth… that reaching those outside of a relationship with Jesus… is something that all believers are called to.

Wait, even me… yep, even you.

Why do we invest like that?

I believe that three of the greatest things Northside can do are right here…

Honor God to the best of our ability in everything we do.

Do whatever we can to help people come to this place of knowing the reality of Jesus and experiencing the new life, the fullness and freedom that is found in Him alone and that God desires for Them.

Equip, support, pray for, encourage, and empower believers to do the first two well.

And conversely…

one of the most unhealthy things a church or even small group can do is becoming ingrown

… so inwardly focused that it loses its sight of the world around them and their need for Jesus. That's not what God has in mind for you or for His Church. Almost every unhealthy church that I know of, somehow found itself there…

There is something that God does in us… that is totally unique to engaging people…

Healthy and growing Christians… Healthy and growing Churches… actively invest in the most loving and life giving thing we can do, which is helping people come to this place of understanding the reality of Who God is, His love over them… Their identity in Him and the hope that is found in Christ alone… and they will work tirelessly to that end.

You cannot look at the scripture and come to any other conclusion.

Missions… and and reaching people is near and dear to the heart of God…

From the very beginning we see that…

God cares a lot about people coming to know Him.

A HUGE part of God’s heart, His plan, and His passion… is right here…

In

Genesis 12:3 NLT

I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

God is telling Abraham to go… that God will be with Him… He will be blessed and He will be a blessing… that All people groups on earth would be blessed through what God is doing through Him…

HOW… you read it out and realize it's through the coming of Jesus… God, through Jesus, is bringing people back into relationship with Himself…

You can see it all through the OT… God’s people are struggling, and He is constantly leading… guiding… calling people to Him… pointing out the total bankruptcy of sin and human effort when it comes to being right before God… and God is showing outrageous patience with people in that process.

God’s plan has always been to bless all people through Jesus. It's not just talk. You hear it in the very heart of God, you see it in the way Jesus talked and treated people… You see it in what he taught and even in what He confronted. This idea of reaching people… of real change… of new life… or real hope… is exactly why Jesus came.

John 3:16–17 NLT

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

(NLT)

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

Luke 19:10 NLT

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

(NLT)

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Matthew 9:12–13 NLT

When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

(NLT) To religious leaders that asked why Jesus was eating with scum… sinners… this is what he said

12 “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

This language about the sick and the lost… helps us realize that Jesus didn’t just come for those who look like they have their life together… but for those who are far from God and live lives that are far from God.

Such a small sample…

God’s heart is to see people reconciled to Him, He makes it clear…

2 Peter 3:9 NLT

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

(NLT)

9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

God is patient… not slow. It's for you…. It's for those you know… God doesn't want anyone to be destroyed… to perish… to live outside of His presence but he wants them to come to this place of repentance… of turning from sin and turning to Him… where life and freedom are found.

It goes on to say that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night… and that we should be ready… God is patient… but there is also this urgency…

Are you… are you ready the day when Jesus returns…

What about those you love… what about those around you… what about those you struggle with and what about those who are far away…

That's exactly what it says in

Acts 1:8 NLT

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

(NLT)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jerusalem… those who are close/family, Judea was their region, Samaria was the enemy, and to the ends of the earth was a Gen 12 bless all people statement.

It's clear that God’s plan is to use us in reaching people.

In the great commission (Matthew 28:19–20) it was one of the last things that Jesus told His disciples… to make disciples of all nations… teaching them the truth, teaching them to obey… baptizing them… and to be brave knowing that He was with them to the end of the age…

In

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 NLT

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

(NLT)

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us (entrusted to us) this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Those who belong to Christ… the old life is gone, full of its old ways… and the new life is here… full of new things…

And one of them is… as His representatives that have the message of reconciliation (Jesus)... allowing God to make His very appeal through us which is to come back to Him.

Isn't that an odd way to say it… come back… that is where you are from… that is where you belong… and that is why it uses that language… Sin is what carted us away… and Jesus is what brings us back… to fullness, freedom and to our true identity in Him…

Last week I told you we’d never preach to be popular… that we won’t be the kind of church that simply says what you may want to hear… that we will follow what Paul told Timothy and preach the Word… to correct, rebuke and encourage… so here we go.

If we know God’s heart and plan is to reach people and that all who are in Him are to engage in that, How are you investing in it?

Flat out it's hard…

I’ve been in ministry a LONG time… and I would say this seems to be an area that we have a hard time engaging in…

For all kinds of reasons.

I don't feel like I know enough

I don't know what to do

I don't know where to start

I don't want to damage my relationships.

And those are all legit in my view… things we wrestle with and through…

I was at a conference probably 15 years ago with tons of other pastors…

When this older guy got up to speak… and remember that as he opened his mouth… you could almost feel the years of wisdom come out…

And he led this exercise… again room full of pastors…

He said, I’d like you to stand up if you’d say your life has been impacted in a major way by Jesus… they all stood. And He asked us to consider the value we’d put on that… and gave us time to consider it…

He said I want you to keep standing if there are people you’d say you actually know and love… deeply love. No one sat.

He said… stay standing… if you’d sacrifice for… care for… do whatever you could, even in uncomfortable ways… if they had a legit need or hurt… no one sat

And then he said… stay standing if there are some that you know and love… that are walking outside of a relationship with Jesus… and no one sat…

And he went on to kindly talk about the disconnect… that we say we’d love, sacrifice, and even to the point of discomfort… but… so many really struggle to engage with what they need most… which is Jesus.

It wasn't a guilt trip at all… but he pointed out that most of us, even in the room… don't really know how to engage… and then he went on to share three words that have challenged me ever since… I think they have the power to change us… and those around us… they're incredibly practical…

If you want to engage with God’s heart… and within His calling on believers to live our lives on mission and to reach out… you can start with

Prayer

Care

Share

There was a note card and pen on your chair when you came in today…

I really want to encourage you to use it…

One the front 1\2 I want you to write out what Jesus means to you… how did you come to know Him, how has He changed your life? What is it worth to you?

And on the back… I want you to write down the first name and last initial of those you know and love that are living outside of a relationship with Jesus…

And I’d ask you to commit to praying for them… daily.

If we want to engage with God’s heart and calling this is one easy thing you can do.

Pray for them by name… Pray that God would give you the words, wisdom and opportunity… pray for their heart… pray for their health… pray for their salvation…

Pray by name… pray often… it has a way of engaging you in the process.

I wish I had the time to have my wife come and share a story of someone she loves VERYmuch… that she prayed for often for years… and about the day she gave her life back to Jesus…

Praying is huge… praying consistently has the power to change them… and you…

It helps us CARE…

Caring means time… it means being there… it means listening and understanding… It means fostering a relationship… not one that's manipulated… hoping to get something out of it… but one that honestly cares patently… gently… seeks out God’s very best for them.

Caring for people consistently… is one of the most powerful things we can do…

I’ve shared this before… people often need to know how much you care, before they care how much you know…

Caring… is a card, an invite to coffee or dinner… the offer of prayer… a listening ear…

Worship team and Dan to come up

And then SHARE…

1 Peter 3:15–16 NLT

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

(NLT)

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear.

I think it's important that you understand the gospel…

And i think its important that you know how to explain why you said yes to Jesus and the difference He’s making in your life… to share your story and how that fits into His story.

Matt… we need to produce those two videos I think… What is the gospel and how do I share it… and how do I share my story.

I think it's important… like Peter tells us… to be ready. I think you need to know it's not rocket science… you don't need a PHD to pray… to care… or share.

I’m not saying I do this well… in fact, I am embarrassed at how poorly I have been doing lately… but can you imagine what would happen if all of Northside said… yes… I’m going to pray, care and share…

This week I read a quote from Tim Keller that said this…

“it’s impossible to meet the real Jesus and leave indifferent”.

God’s heart is to see people come to know Him… and be set free.

If that’s not you… can we talk… like right after the service… I will be right over here..

And if that is you… you are his representative… making His very appeal… that people would come back to where they belong…

Will you pray… will you care… and will you share…

Over the next few songs… communion… but also… worship through writing things out on the index card…

Dan