6 Witness to the World
Live the Jesus Life! • Sermon • Submitted
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· 2 viewsBig Idea: True disciples make disciples. Followers of Jesus Christ share their story and lead others to follow Him.
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Introduction
Introduction
(list out the core values and give a brief statement on each as a review)
Fifth value was belonging to the community of Faith – the church. Bringing the first four together in the body.
The rest of the core values are more group driven as the church, although they are also high values to individuals as well.
(list out the core values and give a brief statement on each as a review)
Live the Jesus Life Live the Jesus Life
We value the free gift of salvation in Christ Jesus and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
Core Value 1 - Experience God’s love and grace. We value the free gift of salvation in Christ Jesus and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
Core Value 2 - Believe the Bible. We value the Bible as God’s authoritative Word, study it together, and build our lives on its truth.
Core Value 3 - Worship God. We value heartfelt worship that is God-honoring, Spirit-directed, and life-changing.
Core Value 4 - Follow Jesus. We value whole hearted obedience to Christ Jesus through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.
Core Value 5 - Belong to the Community of Faith. We value integrity in relationships and mutual accountability in an atmosphere of grace, love, and acceptance.
Core Value 6 – Witness to the World. We value an active and loving witness for Christ to all people.
Description – Living the Jesus Life means sharing Christ in word and deed in every relationship, context, and opportunity.
Called To Go
Called To Go
Called To Go
Called To Go
Jesus declares He sends out His disciples just as the Father sent Him out.
18 As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
Jesus taught, not only in words, by example but also by sending and then discussing. He sent His disciples out. On Mission.
Final command - Great Commission
Read in the Bible
– go and make disciples, authority from Father to Jesus, given to disciple makers.
Matthew 28:16-20
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.”
parable of lost sheep, leave 99, rejoice over the one rescued.
18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
1 All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable:
4 “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it?
5 When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,
6 and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’
7 I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.
parable of lost sheep, leave 99, rejoice over the one rescued.
20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18
All authority, I am with you - Jesus has the authority/power, He sends us out, goes with us, empowers us
Jesus declares He sends out His disciples just as the Father sent Him out.
Active = going instead of waiting for someone to come. Actively and intentionally looking for opportunities to connect.
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,
Active = going instead of waiting for someone to come. Actively and intentionally looking for opportunities to connect.
Go, Make, Baptize, Teach - all active.
Matthew 28:19Witness, or Testify = sharing the story of what we see, hear, experience.
20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Go, Make, Baptize, Teach - all active.
Teach to observe/obey - love God, love others.
Witness, or Testify = sharing the story of what we see, hear, experience.
Loving witness = sharing your story and experience with others in a way that shows care and concern rather than judging and condemning.
Witness does not have to be a difficult, burdensome, structured, awkward presentation with intent to convince and convert.
Witness is the natural response of an overflowing heart, joy-filled awareness of our blessings and riches in Christ.
Naturally sharing experience – here’s what I was like before Jesus found me, here’s what happened – and mostly, here’s what Jesus is doing in my life now.
Everyone who has received grace is now to carry grace to others.
To be “an active and loving witness for Christ” encompasses one’s entire life, as our words, actions, and lifestyle all give off a fragrant aroma of God’s love and grace.
A Story To Tell
A Story To Tell
You share excitement about what excites you. The story is about the person or thing that raises your excitement.
When your life is truly transformed you want to see that same transformation happen in the lives of others.
The message of the Bible is God’s rescue and restoration of His creation. He invites people into that mission all throughout the story.
Noah. Abraham. Joseph. Moses. Prophets. Jesus. Holy Spirit. Apostles. Disciples through today.
What if you don’t have a story to tell? Why don’t you have a story to tell?
Is your heart overflowing? Are you daily being transformed? Are you daily in awe at God’s work in your heart and life? Do you have an excitement about your walk with Jesus Christ? That is your story.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
you will receive power, Holy Spirit. Be witnesses local and abroad.
you will receive power, Holy Spirit. Be witnesses local and abroad.
Matthew 5:13-14
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.
salt and light
salt and light
To All People
To All People
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,
make disciples of all nations/peoples
make disciples of all nations/peoples
(a only) make disciples of all nations/peoples
15 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them.
Jesus came to save sinners.
Jesus came to save sinners.
3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus,
God desires all people to be saved, know truth. One God, one mediator Jesus.
(3b) God desires all people to be saved, know truth. One God, one mediator Jesus.
How do we become a loving witness to all people?
Faithful Presence
Going. Living the Jesus Life. On mission. Intentional connection with others around us wherever we are.
Be intentional in going to and welcoming the “least of these” the needy
Read from the Bible
Faithful Presence
1 All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable:
4 “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it?
5 When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,
6 and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’
7 I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.
7 I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.
parable of lost sheep, leave 99, rejoice over the one rescued.
-7parable of lost sheep, leave 99, rejoice over the one rescued.
parable of lost sheep, leave 99, rejoice over the one rescued.
10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
Parable of sheep and goats in
“I have come to seek and to save the lost.”
Engage the Culture
Witness begins with prayer. Taking the names of those you want to reach to Jesus and asking Him to move their hearts by His Spirit. Prayer aligns our hearts, makes us more sensitive to the needs around us, and prepares us to share with others.
Witness begins with prayer. Taking the names of those you want to reach to Jesus and asking Him to move their hearts by His Spirit. Prayer aligns our hearts, makes us more sensitive to the needs around us, and prepares us to share with others.
Engage where God’s Spirit is at work – God is always at work calling people to Himself. We look for signs of His presence and join Him in His work (Experiencing God – Blackaby)
Bring light into the darkness – walk beside people rather than attempting to help them up. Develop authentic relationships – not witnessing projects.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Remain anchored in the Kingdom and in God’s Word – context does not mean compromise.
Remain anchored in the Kingdom and in God’s Word – context does not mean compromise.
Include Others – Meet and accept people where they are and invite them into the transforming process.
Misguided ways to engage the culture
Be defensive (take a stand) against the culture – try to legislate sin, boycott, get caught up in and take sides in political and cultural battles, talk about what you are against rather than Who you are for.
Be defensive (take a stand) against the culture – try to legislate sin, boycott, get caught up in and take sides in political and cultural battles, talk about what you are against rather than Who you are for.
Examples - how do you minister to/with people from Rios? What if someone comes to an activity and you find out they recently had an abortion? The world is messy. we have to enter the mess - go after the one - to rescue, to redeem, the restore.
Isolate/Disengage from culture – Essenes, separatists, escapism. Reject and isolate from culture to remain “pure”.
Remaining unstained means not aligning with the worldview of the kingdom of the world. But We can’t reach people we will not associate with.
Relevancy – opposite of isolate = join the culture, live like the culture, accepting kingdom of world worldview. Looking and sounding like the world without living the difference, the transformation Jesus works in us.
Example - being careful not to take on
Summary - an active and loving witness for Christ to all people - We’re called to go, we have a story to tell, go and tell to all people by being a faithful presence among those who need Jesus.
What If We Don’t Go?
What If We Don’t Go?
There are warnings and examples in Scripture of what happens when God’s people don’t go.
Babel – the people gathered and stayed gathered, not doing God’s will but their own. God confused languages and scattered the people.
Israel – were God’s chosen people to bless the world. Patterns of disobedience, defeat, exile, scattered, rescued and restored to give another chance.
Early Christians and Apostles – Go and make disciples, but they hung around Jerusalem. Persecution, scattered, witness where they were sent.
Parables of talents - given resources to invest in the Kingdom of God.
and other passages say To those given much, much is required. Matthew and Mark - to the one who uses it more is given, to the one who doesn’t what he does have is taken away.
and other passages say To those given much, much is required. Matthew and Mark - to the one who uses it more is given, to the one who doesn’t what he does have is taken away.
The use it or lose it principle.
The use it or lose it principle.
God has a way of moving and motivating His people if they don’t take the initiative.
God has a way of moving and motivating His people if they don’t take the initiative.
God has a way of moving and motivating His people if they don’t take the initiative.
Current day examples – Papua, current persecution
Closer to home – Mt. Rock Church, we are forced to think differently about our facilities, interacting with the community. We have a choice to leverage the situation and maximize our opportunities to reach the community or may lose what we do still have. Rios, other churches, community organizations, neighbors, etc.
48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected.
To those given much, much is required.
Conclusion
Conclusion
and other passages say To those given much, much is required. Matthew and Mark - to the one who uses it more is given, to the one who doesn’t what he does have is taken away.
The use it or lose it principle.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Do we believe the Bible when it says Jesus is the only way to the Father? Do we believe that we, and especially important to witnessing, the person next to us is lost without Jesus and needs to know Him? Are we ok with that? Are we willing to get up and go? to be a faithful presence? to tell our story?
Big Idea: True disciples make disciples who make disciples.
Big Idea: True disciples make disciples who make disciples.
Followers of Jesus Christ share their story and lead others to follow Him.
What About You?
What About You?