Sermon Tone Analysis

The center of God’s will is never the safest place.

One of the greatest misnomers and severest contradictions often said in the local church is, “The safest place for me to be is in the center of God’s will.”

It may be the best place but it is never the safest.

It may be the best place but it is never the safest.

One missionary in PNG wrote last month, as his wife was recovering from a life threatening case of Bacterial sepsis, “It’s an encouraging sentiment...Too bad it’s wrong.

Watch this and you will see what I mean.

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STAND WITH ME TO HONOR GOD AND HIS WORD

Reckless Abandonment

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Reckless Abandonment

Today’s sermon title is a perfect description of that video.

Today’s sermon title is a perfect description of that video.

The text we read is the Biblical requirement of every Christ follower to do the same.

Reckless - yes Karen and the PNG missionary appeared to lack proper caution.

Yes, a woman with 40 cases of malaria, or a man who moves to murderous neighborhood of Chicago are seen maybe as people who, to their own demise, cared nothing about the consequences of their decisions.

Reckless Abandonment

But they went with Abandon

Reckless - yes these two missionaries and millions of other Christians over the centuries were thought to lack proper caution and were seen maybe as people who, to their own demise, cared nothing about the consequences of their decisions.

Abandon - giving up control of their lives to another person, Jesus who died for her.

They gave up their lives with the intent of never again claiming a right to that life or to demand of God some preferences and comfort in that life.

Abandon - yes Karen and the many like her gave up control of her life to another person, to Jesus who died for her.

Yes Karen and the many like her gave up their lives with the intent of never again claiming a right to that life or to demand of God some preference in that life.

The text we read is the Biblical demand confronting us with the same truth which confront them.

The truth that every Christ follower must commit to live on mission with the same approach.

David Platt said, “The most glorious reason you exist is for the proclamation of the glory of God to the ends of the world.”

v.1 - Jesus delegated his ministry to his disciples because it was never intended for Him, their leader, to do all the work of ministry.

In order to learn how to do ministry and how to tell the gospel, they had to do ministry and go tell the gospel.

The same is true for each of you.

I spent 9 months after high school going through the JTPA practicing how to weld, but our instructor drilled it into our heads that the real school started once we left the building and started working as a welder.

We could not spend our lives in the school building and ever expect to become a qualified welder.

Why does Matthew begin this chapter with Jesus’ commissioning of the 12 disciples?

What is the point he tries to make?

Back in Jesus told these people to follow Him, and He would make them into people who reach other people in need.

Between that verse and v.1 we find Jesus teaching them, as says, what it looks like to reach lost people in need.

Jesus being the master teacher knows that in order to learn they had to do.

Jesus delegated his ministry to his disciples because it was never intended for Him, their leader, to do all the work of ministry.

In order to learn how to do ministry and how to tell the gospel, they had to do ministry and go tell the gospel.

The same is true for each of you.

V.1 & 7-8 - tells you what to do.

It gives you your ministry and your message.

The lepers of their day were the outcast.

They were avoided at all cost.

They were the untouchables, the stinky, the filthy, the disgusting.

But Jesus said go to them and heal them.

The lepers of their day were the outcast.

They were avoided at all cost.

They were the untouchables, the stinky, the filthy, the disgusting.

But Jesus said go to them and heal them.

The lepers of their day were the outcast.

They were avoided at all cost.

They were the untouchables, the stinky, the filthy, the disgusting.

But Jesus said go to them and heal them.

The lepers of their day were the outcast, the stinky, the filthy, the disgusting.

But Jesus said go to them and heal them.

Go Take Care of Needs No Matter How Awful or Ugly

The lepers of their day were the outcast, the stinky, the filthy, the disgusting.

Go find the people with the greatest Needs in your community and minister to them.

To reach the nations begin at home.

Jesus detailed an inside out approach to missions.

Go take care of sick people

Go take care of dying people

Go help poor people, orphans and widows who can’t help themselves

Go talk to those who are dirty and despised (like they are your best friend)

Give them a simple message

What you are experiencing is not a part of God’s original plan of perfect harmony.

- Everyone is guilty of sin, wanting their way instead of God’s way, even you.

- the only result of sin is death for forever separated from God.

Jesus came to live a life you could not, one without sin, meeting God’s plan of perfection.

He died a death on the cross you should have died, one that to took God’s punishment/judgment for sin for you, he rose again three days later to do what we could not, to beat death and live forever.

He did all that to have the right to give you back the life God wants for you.

You can have that life if you believe this truth and if you will change your mind about your sin and wanting to live the way you want.

Just ask Him to forgive you and trust Him to do it.

The gospel addresses both their physical need and their spiritual need because both are effected by sin.

The gospel is given to us to give to them.

Give w/o Caring What You Get In Return

v. 8b - Eternal Forgiveness.

Eternal Life.

Eternal Rewards.

Love of the Father .

Jesus reminds the disciples they did nothing giving them a right to not go and give it away.

Don’t hoard what you have been given.

Church is not a Savings and Loan.

Church is not a secret society of comfort and pleasure where only a select few know the password.

You and I have been given the most precious gift in the entire universe from the One who controls the Universe for the purpose of giving it away.

Nowadays people can be divided into three classes:

the Haves,

the Have-Nots, and

the Have-Not-Paid-for-What-They-Haves.901

Nowadays people can be divided into three classes:

the Haves,

the Have-Nots, and

the Have-Not-Paid-for-What-They-Haves

v.9-10 - Jesus did not want his disciples to carry any provision.

This would test their faith in God’s providence.

God’s design is for His Haves to help the Have-nots without His Haves worrying about what they have after the Have-nots have because without God we are all have-nots.

This chapter is a confrontation of most of Americanized Christianity.

Most Americans with any sense would not give when they hardly have any to give.

Most Americans with any sense and a little extra resources would hold onto them, just in case.

Most Americans would not waste a vacation to go on mission.