A Mission that Matters
Notes
Transcript
Scott’s Story: A businessman and church goer—who’s compassion for people led him to do a short-missions trip to Haiti. “Everyone—including the most impoverished deserve to hear the message of Jesus Christ.”
What Scott and many others have discovered is how taking the message of Jesus seriously impacts everything one does in life.
Conversely, if we don’t take the message of Jesus seriously, life has minimal meaning. For the Christian, life becomes unbalanced, unfruitful, and self-centered. In other words, not taking the message of Jesus seriously is disobedience.
God has something better for you!
Ignoring the message of Jesus invites all kinds of turmoil: lack of blessing, doubt, fear, discouragement, unanswered prayer, critical spirit, anger, and backsliding.
This is not God’s destiny for you!
What has God called you to do?
Matthew 28:16-20
Matthew 28:16-20
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
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 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
A Mission that Matters
A Mission that Matters
As the resurrected Lord, Jesus calls upon his followers to make disciples of all people groups through the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom.
This is what every Christian and every church should be doing! However, it is not necessarily the priority of the American church OR the American Christian.
Why?
The calling of Jesus is focused on others, not ourselves; it is selfless, sacrificial, faithful—hard work!
The mission of God should be the priority of our prayer life, our generosity, and our activity.
But, it is not always!
As I said last week, the American Christian has bought into the idea of consumerism—the church exists for us—to be happy and fulfilled.
We want an experience to entertain us and make us feel good. We want a place where we can sit back and relax—with minimal expectations on us. We want to be served, rather than to serve.
In other words, we tend to chase after things—anything—but the mission of God.
Example: Spiritual gifts not centered on their purpose to empower us to engage in the mission of God to reach people.
What are the results of this disobedience?
Dissatisfied
Critical
Judgmental
Uncaring
Faithless (we can become unfaithful to the mission of God)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
What is the Cure?
What is the Cure?
Dan Betzer, pastor of First Assembly of God in Fort Myers, Florida said we need to get the passion back.
He said: “Passion to tell the story of Jesus to those who have never heard is contagious.” It is the game changer for the church!
Do you want your church to be healthy—to grow—to have purpose—and be blessed of God? Let’s get the passion back!
Prayer is the Cure!
Prayer is the Cure!
We need to get our prayer life back into balance—both corporately and personally.
The priority of balanced prayer is the lost and unity.
Jesus said:
2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
Prayer for unity:
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
Why is unity so important?
23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
Let me ask you a question: think of the last time you prayed (corporately and personally). Was praying for the lost and praying for church unity included? Was it a priority?
Aligning our prayer life with what is important to God will yield abundant blessing!
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Prayer is the cure that will change and transform our heart for missions.
Generosity is the Cure!
Generosity is the Cure!
A balanced prayer life will yield a generous commitment to support the mission of God.
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.
2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
We give what is important to us. Since, for the Christian, the message of Jesus is important (critical), we should give to support Missionaries—enabling them to reach people with the message of Jesus.
Next Sunday, I will speak to how we do this at Racine Assembly of God.
Generosity in giving toward evangelism is evidence that the message of Jesus is taken seriously.
Action is the Cure!
Action is the Cure!
What action is involved in maintaining and building passion for the mission of God?
Going!
This church has a strong and long history of sending people into the mission field.
We are a sending church—not just a receiving church.
In this place right now are people whom God is preparing to call to do the work of missions.
We might be tempted to resist!
But resistance will only result in discouragement and frustration.
Obedience will yield blessing and holy contentment.
Kinds of missions experiences/callings:
Week/two week short term missions trip.
One to two year short term missions trips.
Missionary Associate
Career Missionary
Make it a priority in your life to participate in a missions trip.
A Mission that Matters
A Mission that Matters