Three Seasons Community Church– 4-1-07

Jesus: In the same way that you gave Me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. Jn. 17:18

How would your attitude change if you saw your workplace as a mission field?

"As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you." John 20:21 (NIV)

"The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me - to tell people the Good News about God's grace." Acts 20:24 (NCV)

My 5th purpose is to _________________________________________ = Evangelism

Once I know that God is in control, once I know that God made me to love me, once I know that my life isn't an accident, that life has a purpose, all the things we've been talking about, God expects me to share that with other people.

Now, one thing Christians and non-Christians have in common is, neither of them like evangelism.

Evangelism is just the Greek word for "good news." Where am I supposed to share this good news?

"You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."Acts 1:8

"Jerusalem" = the people closest to me

"Judea/Samaria" = people near but different from me

"Ends of the earth" = everybody else!

You don't have to defend God. You don't have to be a salesman for God. All God wants you to do is He wants you to be a witness. What is a witness? A witness is somebody who just tells what they have seen. I saw this, and then I saw this; and this is what happened. And a witness tells what happened to them. You see, you are the expert on your life. Nobody can be a better witness of what God has done in your life than you, because you are the authority on your life!

"This was God's plan for all of history which He carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord." Ephesians 3:11

The mission that Jesus Christ started when He came to earth, He says, "I want you guys to finish it."

1. I must share ____________________________________________ world.

"‘Go back home and tell people how much God has done for you.’ So the man went all over town telling how much Jesus had done for him." Luke 8:39 (NCV)

It says he went all over town. That's what God wants you to do. He wants you to go to your friends, your family, your coworkers, your neighbors, anybody who crosses your path, the person who delivers the paper, helps you with gas or a clerk somewhere. God says, "I want you to share the Good News with the people first in your Jerusalem, with the people in your home."

"Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you." 1 Peter 3:15

...God does not want anyone to be lost, but He wants all people to change their hearts and lives! 2 Peter 3:9

Are you prepared to witness? To whom?

2. I must dare _____________________________________________ my world.

"Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him." 1 Corinthians 9:22b (LB)

I just don't hang out with people like me. Christians are called to build bridges, not walls. And repeatedly in this book, the Bible, we're told to reach out. We're to reach out to others. God expects us to make the first move. In fact, over and over again God says it in one word: "Go."

"Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law." Galatians 6:2 (Msg)

Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight... James 1:27 (Msg)

"I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me." Mt. 25:35-36 (NLT)

That, is what Christianity is all about. It is about healing broken, messed up lives. The whole business of Christianity is healing hurts and helping people. It's love.

Now, I’m not going to kid you, if you get involved in your mission in the world, it is going to cost you. It will. It is going to break you out of self-centeredness and comfortable things, and it is going to cost you time and energy and effort and money and maybe even your privacy sometimes; but God has promised eternal rewards.

Jesus replied, "Let me assure you that no one has ever given up anything... for love of Me and to tell others the Good News, who won't be given back, a hundred times over..." Mark 10:29 (LB)

3. I must care _____________________________________________ world.

Jesus said to His followers, "Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone." Mark 16:15

He's talking to just normal followers. If you're a Christian, Jesus said, "Follow Me, and I'll make you a fisher of men." If you're not fishing, you're not following. He says to His followers, go everywhere, because everybody deserves to hear the Good News.

"If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for My sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live." Mark 8:35 (LB)

Is anybody going to be in heaven because of you? When you get to heaven, is anybody going to say thank you, thank you for telling me the Good News? Remember, we can’t control their response, we’re only called to be a witness!

"David served God’s purposes in his own time..." Acts 13:36a (TEV)

The most dangerous prayer you can pray is "God use me." I dare you to say it. Do you have enough courage to say, "God use my life"? Watch what happens! Little becomes much when you put it in the Master's hand!