Vision for The Lost

Norm Porter

Blueprint for a healthy church • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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Transcript

SO What

Series Blueprint - Last week we looked at

Over the weekend there was a storm on the east coast in NL

People knew it was coming and there were pictures on FB of grocery stores with bare shelves and posts all over about people got their storm chips

Storm came and left a mess to clean up

It is so bad that NL just declared a state of Emergency #snowmagddon

People spend hours shoveling their way out and then went on to go on rescue missions to help others who were trapped

Here are some pictures/videos

There was an urgency for people to help those who were stuck

It got me thinking, we live in urgency in times like this but when it comes to the urgency of the gospel I feel we may have become complacent

In the second thing for the healthy church is to have a vision for the lost or a passion for the lost

To be witnesses - lets read

What’s What

Acts 1:1–11 NLT

In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 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.” After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Baptized by the holy spirit and and be witnesses to the ends of the earth, it was urgent.

If you look back at the gospel of Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 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. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

After Acts - The disciples had a passion for Christ where they were willing to die for the good news

Paul ones known as Saul a enemy who had the encounter with God on the road to Damascus - Now Paul a believer, in prison for the gospel more than he was out -

Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

They were ready and prepared to share their story and how they followed Christ.

They built relationships as Jesus did. They met with people who most people would avoid. Ate meals, had conversations, healed the sick, etc..

1 Peter 3:15 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.

We have an incredible story to share and if we once again realized the urgency.

We know there is a heaven and a hell and yet often we don’t talk about it

We know Jesus is the way to heaven and yet we miss opportunities to share our hope

We know that not accepting Jesus leads to spiritual death and eternal torment and often we miss the times to share the good news of Christ love for the whosoever.

- The words are more than a nice saying for a plack they are life giving for those who need a savior.

Maybe today you feel like you have become too shy or too undaunted to be a disciple who proclaims the good news

Maybe you have lost your passion and zeal and I will admit there are times I get so caught up in life I also have not be good at being a good witness of this life giving saviour.

Yeah But

Maybe you feel that was for the old days and yet the gospel is just as true today as it was back then.

Maybe you have lost your passion and zeal and I will admit there are times I get so caught up in life I also have not be good at being a good witness of this life giving saviour.

Here is a clip from Commissioner Kenneth Hodder that I feel is inspiring

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMLQfpSj1uY

IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Now What

2 Corinthians 5:19–21 NLT

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.

2 corintians 5: 19-21

The storm in NL will soon be cleaned up, Things will go back to normal, the state of emergency will still be over

Things will go back to normal

It may have been a good reminder though that we need to place a state of emergency for those who are in need of Jesus

How do we do it, shouting at people don’t work any more, caring for people and building relationships will.

Be intentional this week to reach out to someone who does not know Christ, build a relationship and when the time is right tell your story of Christ in your life. Testify

Lego application

Community

If all of us this week committed to one person just think of the kingdom impact that would have.

God give us a sense of urgency this is an emergency and God is calling each one of us to action. Give us a holy ache