Sermon 1-8-06 Mt 28:16-20
Last week
Begin the year with some direction regarding what we should be about in the coming year. Last week, low attendance, talked about personal changes that we can make in the coming year.
Forget what is behind, focus on what is ahead, press on toward the place that God is calling you to. Phil 3
Gee if he can reduce a sermon to 2 lines, maybe he should do that all the time!
Go and make disciples
These are the last earthly words of Jesus….They are probably pretty important
What he is saying is that it is our responsibility to replicate ourselves
To help others become followers of Jesus just like we have become.
30 versions of what that means
That means that there are many fine ways to win people to Jesus that may be different than the methods that we embrace
That is why there are so many churches…..people respond to different ways
We Methodists are Not the sacramental version
Several have asked why we don’t have communion every week.
Well, we do, in the chapel and at 800.
That really isn’t their point, why don’t we have it at every service?
Catholic church the sacrifice is central & it is celebrated every week in the mass
In protestant churches, the preached word is central. Consequently, while communion is wonderful and meaningful, you usually wont find it every week.
We Methodists are not the high pressure version you are not going to get a large dose of guilt….
If you grew up on that, this may be hard to get used toWe don’t have altar calls
Why…. Following the example of Jesus….did not give altar callsBelieve in the power of the holy spirit to change you At your own home, in the privacy of your own mind
We Methodists are Not the emotional/demonstrative version some churches center on a worship service that is loud and demonstrative
I am All for feeling good in worship Cant create the mood every week …….It shouldn’t be our goal
What is worship ?????It is not primarily about what you get out of it or if you are filled. It is primarily about what you give to God as you offer your heart to him.
I want a faith that will work every day. Not something that I hide from others
Many of you are here because you were looking for something different, something that feels real to you.
Defining yourself by what you are not, is no way to cast a vision of ministry.
So who are we? How do we go about making disciples for Jesus Christ?
Go and Lo I am with you
· This is the key….that we get what we need and then we go.
· We cannot get stuck sitting in the church feeding ourselves
· Caring for people In church is important
· Growing people in Christ is very important
· But we cannot ever think that these are ends in themselves
· We care for people and help them heal
· We grow people in their faith so that they can go.
· The primary task of Christians is to go, to reach out in the name of Jesus
Step one: Every Christian should know the basic essentials of faith
God exists, he created the world, man sinned, man could not bridge the gap by himself. Jesus was the only remedy. If we confess our sins and ask him to be our savior, our sins are forgiven and we begin a new walk with God.
Step two: go
This is key…”go”…it is the following that Jesus spoke of
It is the taking up of ones cross
It is the central call of the Christian faith,
to give yourself away for the purpose of Christ.
Feeling far from God? Preach faith til you have it…..step out in mission
Do not wait until you have a phd in theology. Do not wait until you are polished
Don’t wait until you become super Christian….
Go now, as you are, as a normal person saved by grace.
Your neighbors will not be won by super Christian, they will be won by the joyful and authentic way that you offer Christ.
Go Joyfully
If you are joyful as a Christian, people will be drawn to you.
Avoid being drawn into the unhappies of life
Christians have every reason to be joyful….
Let your light shine!
Sometimes people get discouraged, depressed, don’t feel it emotionally
get in the game……..reach out and care about someone else
go and make disciples
Go as yourself
be authentic, be yourself. There is no need for a mask as you follow Jesus. Let your friends see your strengths and your weaknesses. They will trust you if instead of trying to fool them, you are an authentic human who has chosen to follow Jesus.
Joel Osteen
IN 2005 we fed many hungry. We helped the poor. We won over 160 new members to our church. Our attendance went up 10%. Missions and giving are all up. God is pleased with your efforts in 2005.
But the work is not done. As we begin 2006, there are many waiting for something that is real. Many waiting for the joy that you have.
Being an effective church is not easy
Being a Christian is not magic
we are an arm of the body of christ
not the only church....we are partners with many others
I hope you like this one
We are striving to provide
· biblically grounded worship that is relevant
· ports of entry for new and those who are nominally christians
· goal is to reach the common man
· help normal people find God in Jesus
Miners
miners were alive, now they are dead.........families…left cold and angry
everyone is disappointed
there are people out there whose hearts are cold and lost
Jesus can bring them home and make them alive
Jesus will not disappoint them
Conclusion
If you are looking for a place where regular people can find christ and grow in him as they are led by the holy spirit
I want this to be that place.
Will you join me in 2006……….invite your friends.
I invite you to give yourself away to the purpose of Almighty God
Last week
Begin the year with some direction regarding what we should be about in the coming year. Last week, low attendance, talked about personal changes that we can make in the coming year.
Forget what is behind, focus on what is ahead, press on toward the place that God is calling you to. Phil 3
Gee if he can reduce a sermon to 2 lines, maybe he should do that all the time!
Go and make disciples
These are the last earthly words of Jesus….They are probably pretty important
What he is saying is that it is our responsibility to replicate ourselves
To help others become followers of Jesus just like we have become.
30 versions of what that means
That means that there are many fine ways to win people to Jesus that may be different than the methods that we embrace
That is why there are so many churches…..people respond to different ways
We Methodists are Not the sacramental version
Several have asked why we don’t have communion every week.
Well, we do, in the chapel and at 800.
That really isn’t their point, why don’t we have it at every service?
Catholic church the sacrifice is central & it is celebrated every week in the mass
In protestant churches, the preached word is central. Consequently, while communion is wonderful and meaningful, you usually wont find it every week.
We Methodists are not the high pressure version you are not going to get a large dose of guilt….
If you grew up on that, this may be hard to get used toWe don’t have altar calls
Why…. Following the example of Jesus….did not give altar callsBelieve in the power of the holy spirit to change you At your own home, in the privacy of your own mind
We Methodists are Not the emotional/demonstrative version some churches center on a worship service that is loud and demonstrative
I am All for feeling good in worship Cant create the mood every week …….It shouldn’t be our goal
What is worship ?????It is not primarily about what you get out of it or if you are filled. It is primarily about what you give to God as you offer your heart to him.
I want a faith that will work every day. Not something that I hide from others
Many of you are here because you were looking for something different, something that feels real to you.
Defining yourself by what you are not, is no way to cast a vision of ministry.
So who are we? How do we go about making disciples for Jesus Christ?
Go and Lo I am with you
· This is the key….that we get what we need and then we go.
· We cannot get stuck sitting in the church feeding ourselves
· Caring for people In church is important
· Growing people in Christ is very important
· But we cannot ever think that these are ends in themselves
· We care for people and help them heal
· We grow people in their faith so that they can go.
· The primary task of Christians is to go, to reach out in the name of Jesus
Step one: Every Christian should know the basic essentials of faith
God exists, he created the world, man sinned, man could not bridge the gap by himself. Jesus was the only remedy. If we confess our sins and ask him to be our savior, our sins are forgiven and we begin a new walk with God.
Step two: go
This is key…”go”…it is the following that Jesus spoke of
It is the taking up of ones cross
It is the central call of the Christian faith,
to give yourself away for the purpose of Christ.
Feeling far from God? Preach faith til you have it…..step out in mission
Do not wait until you have a phd in theology. Do not wait until you are polished
Don’t wait until you become super Christian….
Go now, as you are, as a normal person saved by grace.
Your neighbors will not be won by super Christian, they will be won by the joyful and authentic way that you offer Christ.
Go Joyfully
If you are joyful as a Christian, people will be drawn to you.
Avoid being drawn into the unhappies of life
Christians have every reason to be joyful….
Let your light shine!
Sometimes people get discouraged, depressed, don’t feel it emotionally
get in the game……..reach out and care about someone else
go and make disciples
Go as yourself
be authentic, be yourself. There is no need for a mask as you follow Jesus. Let your friends see your strengths and your weaknesses. They will trust you if instead of trying to fool them, you are an authentic human who has chosen to follow Jesus.
Joel Osteen
IN 2005 we fed many hungry. We helped the poor. We won over 160 new members to our church. Our attendance went up 10%. Missions and giving are all up. God is pleased with your efforts in 2005.
But the work is not done. As we begin 2006, there are many waiting for something that is real. Many waiting for the joy that you have.
Being an effective church is not easy
Being a Christian is not magic
we are an arm of the body of christ
not the only church....we are partners with many others
I hope you like this one
We are striving to provide
· biblically grounded worship that is relevant
· ports of entry for new and those who are nominally christians
· goal is to reach the common man
· help normal people find God in Jesus
Miners
miners were alive, now they are dead.........families…left cold and angry
everyone is disappointed
there are people out there whose hearts are cold and lost
Jesus can bring them home and make them alive
Jesus will not disappoint them
Conclusion
If you are looking for a place where regular people can find christ and grow in him as they are led by the holy spirit
I want this to be that place.
Will you join me in 2006……….invite your friends.
I invite you to give yourself away to the purpose of Almighty God
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