Controlled By Christ’s Love
Understanding Our Mission • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 11 viewsThis sermon discusses the answers to two major questions that define the mission of the church. (1) What do we do? and (2) Why do we do it?
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
2 Corinthians 5:11–15
11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.
12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.
13 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.
INTRODUCTION:
There are two questions that are necessary for the church to answer with conviction: What do we do? Why do we do it?
I- THE MOTIVATION BEHIND WHAT WE DO (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
I- THE MOTIVATION BEHIND WHAT WE DO (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
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.
A. There is a motivation that Channels all that we do.
A. There is a motivation that Channels all that we do.
1. “controls us” (συνεχει ημας)—with irresistible power limits us to the one great object to the exclusion of other considerations. The Greek implies to compress forcibly the energies into one channel. The idea is not urging or driving, but shutting up to one line and purpose, as in a narrow, walled road.
B. The Channeling force is Christ’s Love
B. The Channeling force is Christ’s Love
1. “The love of Christ” (ἡ ἀγαπη του Χριστου).
Subjective genitive, Christ’s love for Paul as shown by verse 15. “Controls us” (συνεχει ἡμας). Old and common verb, “to hold together, to press the ears together” (Acts 7:57), “to press on every side” (Luke 8:45), “to hold fast” (Luke 22:63), “to hold oneself to” (Acts 18:5), “to be pressed” (passive, Luke 12:50; Phil. 1:23). So here Paul’s conception of Christ’s love for him holds him together to his task whatever men think or say.
2. The phrase “the love of Christ” means His love for us as seen in His sacrificial death.
He loved us when we were unlovely; in fact, He loved us when we were ungodly, sinners, and enemies (see Rom. 5:6–10). When He died on the cross, Christ proved His love for the world (John 3:16), the church (Eph. 5:25), and individual sinners (Gal. 2:20). When you consider the reasons why Christ died, you cannot help but love Him.
C- The goal is to penetrate lostness
C- The goal is to penetrate lostness
1. With the message that Christ died for all (vs. 15a).
(2 Co 5:19.)
19 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.
2. Seeking to disciple all people to Christ. (vs. 15b).
(2 Corinthians 5:15)
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.
(Matthew 28:19)
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
II- THE MANDATE THAT GIVES US A PURPOSE (2 Corinthians 5:11).
II- THE MANDATE THAT GIVES US A PURPOSE (2 Corinthians 5:11).
11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.
A- The mandate is derived from God.
A- The mandate is derived from God.
(2 Corinthians 5:11 NLT) “Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others.”
1- Our mandate is directly from the Lord.
2- Our mandate involves accountability to the Lord.
B. Our purpose is to persuade people to follow Christ.
B. Our purpose is to persuade people to follow Christ.
(2 Corinthians 5:20-21) “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him..”
1- We are Christ’s ambassadors to the world.
2- Our mission is to plead with others to be reconciled to God.
3- Our message is the gospel message.
C- We are accountable to God and to one another to fulfill the mandate.
C- We are accountable to God and to one another to fulfill the mandate.
(2 Corinthians 5:11)
11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.
1- The mission that God has given to us involves a two-fold accountability.
a. To God
b. To each other.
III- THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS THAT WE STRIVE FOR (2 Corinthians 5:9-10, 12-13).
III- THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS THAT WE STRIVE FOR (2 Corinthians 5:9-10, 12-13).
A- The first measure of success is faithfulness in pleasing Christ.
A- The first measure of success is faithfulness in pleasing Christ.
(2 Corinthians 5:9-10)
9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.
10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
1- The primary goal for the believer is to please God!
2- The potent realization: We will be judged by Christ!
B- The second measure of success is our testimony among fellow believers.
B- The second measure of success is our testimony among fellow believers.
(2 Corinthians 5:12).
12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.
1- What kind of testimony do you have with other members of the body of Christ?
C- The third measure of success is abandonment to the cause of Christ.
C- The third measure of success is abandonment to the cause of Christ.
(2 Corinthians 5:13)
13 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.
(Philippians 1:20-21)
20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.
21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.
1- We are not to abandon ourselves to worldly causes, but to the mission of Christ!
D- The fourth measure of success is encouragement of each other to pursue abandonment to the cause of Christ.
D- The fourth measure of success is encouragement of each other to pursue abandonment to the cause of Christ.
(2 Corinthians 5:13b)
13 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.
(Hebrews 10:24-25) “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
1- Am I encouraging other believers (and nonbelievers) to surrender themselves to the cause of Christ?
CONCLUSION:
Video