The Rub
Our Mission • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsThis series will encourage us to live in concert with our purpose as a body of believers called to Christ's mission.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
CISeries: As a body of believers, we have been called to Christ’s mission. Let us live in concert with his mission. If we do not, we are sabotaging the very purpose of our existence as a worshiping body.
CIT: Subject: What is the significance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Compliment: It is the key to our salvation. Without it being preached people cannot obey the Gospel.
CIS: Dover Chapel, will you help me get this body of believers on mission for Christ?
SO: Apply the lesson of the Series to substantiate my plea for their help and to help ease and introduce a transition of style for the service.
I was away at SOS the last month and half and had a great time learning many lessons that will hopefully be useful to me throughout my career. The first section was on leadership. Like all course on leadership we learned about the significance on knowing your purpose, values, and mission.We also learned that to lead others effectively, we will need to lead ourselves.Generally speaking, these statements are true with regard to our Christian faith.We need to understand who we are, what we belong to, what our values, purpose, and mission are.
But if I were to be honest, I am not sure I knew what my purpose was as a Christian beyond just being saved at first.The Scripture clues us into what our mission is a believers.Together believer form the body of Christ and we have been commissioned with a great mission.This means that we have a specific purpose to play. And my friends, its more than just being saved until we die so that we can got to heaven.
So over the last few weeks we have been in a short series that I am entitling Our Mission. Together I want to rediscover what the Scripture calls us to be working toward with our Christian faith. We have covered what the attitude of a church on mission: A fulfilled Christian life comes when we live with an orientation to others, just as our Christ humbly came to serve us. We covered our actual mandate: We are called to make disciples of everyone. Last week, we over viewed the biblical foundation from Genesis to Revelation. Has this series been a good one for you? Today, we end our series on the rub. What happens if we fail? So, y'all ready to finish this thing out? Will come along with us as we journey through the word to determine our mission and pray with me?
Pray
Context
Paul
Missionary
Likely written just before his return to Jerusalem from Coritnth ( on his third missionary Journey (late 50’s). Lines up well with Acts 20.
Wanted to get to them and then go on to Spain to preach, but wasn’t sure how it would go for him.
He wants to express to the Romans some fundamental elements of the Gospel and his reason for ministry.
Content
I. Confess and Believe and you will be Saved (v. 5-9)
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Explain
The OT way, The Law, was hard to impossible to live by, v.5.
The NT covenant is actually much easier.
One does not have to go up to heaven and bring God down (Incarnation) - Jesus already did that for us. We couldn’t do it. v.6
One does not have to raise someone from the dead (Resurrection) - Jesus already did this for us. We couldn’t do it any way v.7
We have a much easier imperative, one that we can easily reach and that is initiated in our hearts and our mouths. v.8
Our salvation comes from our confession and belief in the true Christian (Nicene) faith.
Illustration
Do you remember when you were saved?
What was it like?
Did you have someone help you through it?
Did you start off a little rocky, but became more comfortable as you went along?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if that was the marked characteristic of what was going on in this chapel?
II. Those who Call Jesus will be Saved (v. 10-13)
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Explain
Paul is using this portion to explain why he is saying that the word is near you.
A proper response to the Gospel requires an inner (heart) change and an outer (mouth/confession) change. (v. 10-11)
There however is no longer an out-group, a group segregated away from the people who do not have access to God. (v. 12)
There was in the past. But that changed at Pentecost.
Everyone who calls will be saved
Everyone who responds properly.
Should we then be willing to share with just certain folks or anyone?
Illustration
III. But the Word of Christ must be Preached (v. 14-17)
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Explain
What is the basic requirement/prerequisite for the a person to call on Jesus? (v. 14-15)
Calling > Belief > Hearing > Preaching > Going to those who Need it (They will be blessed with good feet)
God is with those who preach.
They, specifically, are the Jews who did not receive Christ. (v. 16) This is true for us gentiles as well.
Expect that some will not receive/respond appropriately to the word expressed correctly.
So should we stop?
Faith in Christ comes from the preached Word of Christ.
So what happens if we fail? - What can we expect?
Application
Have you seen the news?
IV. A Plea for Help (v.18-21)
18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for
“Their voice has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.”
19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,
“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;
with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”
20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,
“I have been found by those who did not seek me;
I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
Explanation:
This final peace of our text today is Paul’s heart-wrenching recognition of the status of his home culture
They had heard and rejected.
The special people of God would not receive and those ignorant of what had God had done from the ancient past would receive God’s blessing.
They were contrary and disobedient.
Paul wishes that they would come to Christ. He would become a missionary to the Gentiles in order to bring his home people to God, by the recognition of what God would do in the gentile and jealousy for it themselves.
His heart pleads for his people to accept Christ.
Application
Have you ever just wanted make some understand how what they were doing is just not going to work out for them but they just wouldn’t listen?
CIS: Dover Chapel, will you help me get this body of believers on mission for Christ?
Response:
Salvation
Plea for their help
Recognizing the failure of the Church and the chapel
Transition and Change
Attitude
I need you (each other)
God has given you such a deep well of spiritual experience which you can share
You are God’s missionaries.
But if what we do is all about us. We have defeated the very purpose for being here.
So if transition hurts, especially when the our desire are no longer seeming to be met, will you stick around with us to do the mission that Christ is calling us to?
I can’t do this alone, I need your help.
Will you sacrifice your comfort for God’s mission with me?
Jesus will give us beautiful feet and we will be used by him to eternity changed for his glory for the lost being found in Christ