Reflections from my message today at NRN - Keeping the main thing - the main thing!

Here are notes from my sermon this morning.

Focusing on the Mission

The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”               Matthew 28:16-20

1. What is your VIEW of God?

ILL: Your life is a miracle, and the Creator of the universe knows you by name.  He's big enough to breathe out stars, yet intricate enough to fashion together the trillions of cells that make up every facet of who you are. The God who spoke the universe into existence made you, too, and knows everything about you.

 From the smallest molecule to the situation you find yourself in right now, He's aware of your circumstances and intimately acquainted with everything you do. And He cares about you and promises to carry you through. He will hold onto you and hold you together, giving strength to those who hope in His unfailing love. He is the everlasting God!   - Louis Giglio

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple.  Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts. Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs.  He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed and your sin is atoned for. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Who should I send? Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me.                                                             Isaiah 6:1-8

2. What is your EXCUSE ?

Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.                     Matthew 28:18

We forget about the Gospel. 

ILL: Do you remember 1997? 17 years ago… I think I know a man who will remember it well:  One Minnesota newspaper story told of a fellow who jumped from a plane and his chute didn't open properly. According to the story, it took more than a minute to fall 3,000 feet. That's enough time for a lot of life to flash before your eyes. And yet, he lived!

Another man is going to remember 1997. In July he woke up in a morgue refrigerator after 12 hours in a coma. (This was in Cairo, Egypt) In total darkness he felt around and surprise! He discovered he was resting among the dead. He cried out for help and the paramedic who opened the door collapsed in shock and died.

Back of outline

	In 1973 John Stott wrote: “For all around us we see Christians and churches are relaxing their grasp of the gospel, fumbling it, in danger of letting it drop from their hands all together.”

 

3. What is your PART in the process?

ILL: In a recent survey of over 1,000 Protestant Christians, 43% claimed they felt a "personal responsibility to share my religious beliefs about Jesus Christ with non-Christians". However, 78% had not "shared with someone how to become a Christian" in the past six months.

Other statistics emerging from the data proved similarly discouraging. Although 58% of those asked reported that they felt comfortable sharing their faith, 59% had also not invited anyone to church for at least six months. Twenty-one per cent said they had invited one person to church in that time, while only 10 per cent said they had invited three or more people.

We water down the Gospel when we attempt to live it out in isolation, instead of in the context of community.

4. What do I DO with the Gospel?

• ADVANCE  it.

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.”                                                                              Philippians 1:12–13

	The key to being a church on the “go” is being a church full of contributors   versus a church full of consumers.

 

5. Are you a WORSHIPPER or a DOUBTER ?