Last Week Brad spoke about the Jesus Church doesn’t like to talk about anymore.
He spoke about how Jesus reached out to people who were hurting and rejected. He spoke about how Jesus wasn’t hated by the sinners, but by the religious people. I want to share with you how an atheist was impacted by a Christian man who reached out to him.
Sometimes it takes an atheist to teach the church a lesson. I love his line, “How much do you have to hate somebody and NOT tell them how they can have eternal life?”
We need to be getting this message of eternal life out! We all need to find ways to share the Love of Christ to our world.
We as a body of believers have a great opportunity before us. Coming up in a few weeks is Easter. As you know it is one of the most invitational times of the year. Many people in our culture only go to church 2 times a year. Easter and… Christmas. We want to remind you that we are preparing a very special EASTER service. We will have 3 services to accomodate all the people. INVITE your friends to easter. It’s an easy way to get the word out. It is one of many ways we will be seeking to reach out this year.
For teenagers, this Friday is our monthly video game/Party night. Starting at 6:30 we will have this whole room decked out and ready for teens to come and hang out here.
Today , I want to look at the method of Jesus. The way that he did his work and how the Church often misses the simple methodology that Jesus used.
Innovative churches are catching on to the idea that I will be sharing with you today and are seeing amazing things happen. And really what I am sharing this week is the flipside of the coin to what Brad shared last week.
1. What is God’s purpose for creation? Why is the universe and all the stuff in it created? Why do we have angels and sinners and birds and mountains,…? Psa.96:8, 86:9, Rev. 14:6; 5:13; Isa. 6:2-3; Rev. 4:8
Everything ultimately exists to say back to God – YOU ARE IT! You are the only one! You are perfect. You are the man. Not I, but you. You made me – all I am goes back to show you off!
2. Our story brings glory to God. As we get salvation – all all of what that means – out life is a living, “God is awesome!” (1 Cor. 10:31, 6:20; Rom. 15:5,6; Eph 2:10 with Matt 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:9,12; Gal. 1:24; 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Thess. 1:11-12)
3. The way our story brings glory to God is to make us like Jesus. (Rom 8:29; Jn. 15:8,16; 17:4,18; 20:21; 1 Pet. 2:9,12; Luke 19:10)
How? I believe it is seen in making us like Jesus in our Character & In our Mission (Read the gospels to see Jesus’ character and mission. Mission – Luke 19:10. Character – 1 Pet 1:16
How did Jesus build His Church?
He told lots and lots of people the good news. He was out there telling the Penn & Tellers of the world!
He picked 12 to be His disciples. Mark 3:14
He said they were to be with him and then go out and tell people the good news.
A disciple is just a follower.
Then he appointed 72 – Luke 10:1
And sent them out to tell people the good news.
Acts 1:15
There were about 120 after the crucifixion.
Talk about numbers and how they matter to God. We want to see more come to faith. Each number represents a person who will give glory to God!
We want to see Woodland Grow! So that we can rejoice in God saving more people! We can watch the mighty hand of God move in people’s lives!
Let us be accused about being all about the numbers! Who said you can’t have numbers without ‘watering down” the gospel?
Look at the early Church!
Acts 2:41
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 2:47
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 4:4
But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
Acts 5:14
Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
Acts 6:1
[ The Choosing of the Seven ] In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
Acts 6:7
So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 9:31
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
Acts 11:21
The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
Acts 11:24
He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
Acts 11:26
and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Acts 14:1
[ In Iconium ] At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.
Acts 14:21
[ The Return to Antioch in Syria ] They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 2:47
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 4:4
But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
Acts 5:14
Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
Acts 6:1
[ The Choosing of the Seven ] In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
Acts 6:7
So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 9:31
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
Acts 11:21
The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
Acts 11:24
He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
Acts 11:26
and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Acts 14:1
[ In Iconium ] At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.
Acts 14:21
[ The Return to Antioch in Syria ] They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,
Acts 16:5
So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Acts 17:4
Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
Acts 17:12
Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
Acts 17:34
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Acts 19:19
A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
Acts 19:26
And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.
So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Acts 17:4
Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
Acts 17:12
Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
Acts 17:34
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Acts 19:19
A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
Acts 19:26
And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.
Jesus’ method was to preach to the crowds, and gather a few and train them to be followers. REAL followers. These followers then shared it with others and TRAINED others to be followers who trained others, who trained others…
Let’s look at what Paul did.
2 Tim.2:2
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
Paul
Timothy
Reliable men
Others. (implied – who will teach others)
Jesus commanded us. Here in Matthew 28:19-20
If we took this command seriously to make followers of Jesus – (not the church but YOU to make a follower) And YOU to teach somebody everything Jesus told you!
NOT if we feel led, not because it’s a calling, but it’s because it gives glory to God to save more people – AND HIS method is by using ordinary people to tell others.
Most churches use marketing, mailouts, and lots of free gimicks to try to get people to come to come to the church. They ADD members.
What if we added 100 members a year. How many members would we have in ten years?
100×10 = 1000
What if we each took this command seriously to pass on what we have learned from Christ?
What if we each made a friend this year and poured our lives into them. What if that person accepted Christ and we helped them in their walk with God? WHat if they came here, or went to another church – who cares. Look and see what would happen.
Our current 200 adult attenders in one year would be 400. Let’s say that each person again would help one more person the next year to be a follower of Jesus. A real one.
We would in two years have 800 people here.
Then 1600.
3200
6400
12800
25600
51200
102400
204800
In 27 years we would have overrun the population of the world.
Jesus is commanding us each as individuals to help people be followers. In order for someone to follow Him all the way – they need to know Him. So we must first reach them and then pour into them and then send them out on this same mission.
The Church of Jesus Christ is not a group of people meeting once a week in a building – it is a movement of God that reaches out and builds people up and sends them out.
Jesus’ disciples changed the first century in this manner. In China, India, South America, the church is growing in this exact same way. Churches here in the US who have put this as their purpose to reach people and then train up people to be like Christ in their Character and Mission have seen the same thing happen.
THE WORLD OF LOST PEOPLE is waiting for us to reach them. They aren’t going to just come walk through those doors. We have to go get them! In our home groups we will be purposing to train you up and send you out.
We need to take being like Christ serious.
We need to take His methodology serious.
This command to reach others is a big deal. The more we ignore it, the more we will lose sight of what really matters.
We think having a class is discipleship.
We think coming on Sundays is us being disciples.
And often in the Church, instead of speaking with power and authority, we fiddle faddle with the commands of God. We ask you if you want to obey.
Listen church – if you are a CHrist follower – obedience is not optional. Look at what would happen if you taught your children the way many churches teach people to be followers of Jesus.
What if we taught our children how to do life with the same cold precision that we taught the Bible?
Every command is a do!
If Jesus is Lord in your life – the option to reject what God says is zeroed out.
I must – forgive, love, share Christ. It is good for me and us to do what God say!
I bought car from my brother in law.
Buick Riviera – super charged “sleeper”
Wed. night
Taking somebody home.
Show off.
Peeled out.
Pastor Greg saw me.
There goes my witness.
I love that car.
I love to stomp it!
I love the power under the hood.
Woodland is a sleeper.
It is like that car. Doesn’t look like it’s got much going on. But once you get inside – you see the power!
We need to reach a lost world! It is His command to us. If you are to be like CHrist – you need HIS character AND His mission for your life!
When we all get on mission – watch out! Cartersville and the world will not know what hit them!
Stomp it Woodland!
