Bringing Light into a Dark World
WE NEED TO GET REAL BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF DAYLIGHT!
1) Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not reduced to merely producing Christian character in ourselves or loving one another, as important as those things are. / Being a disciple of Jesus means making other disciples, because that is what CHRIST has commanded us to do. /God’s sovereign purpose in this world is to create a redeemed people to worship and enjoy Him eternally. / He has chosen to accomplish that purpose through human beings. (Stewards) He has made us stewards of the gospel, placing that precious knowledge in earthen vessels, in the fragile containers of our lives.
2) I want to say this, if you are a true follower of Jesus Christ you need to understand that sharing the good news of eternal life through faith in Christ is every Christian’s responsibility. / You may know that and still not tell anyone about Jesus. / Do you think you do not know enough to be and evangelist? / Do you think you need more training? / I doubt that’s your problem. /In the unlikely event that you knew nothing about the Bible before you began coming to church, even if you started last year or forty years ago, by this point you know enough to tell someone how to become a Christian. (Bait Ills.)
3) Christians need a case of B.O. (Being obedient) /The problem for most Christian is not knowledge but obedience. /We are more obedient to the pleasures of this world than we are to the commands of Jesus. / It is not that we do not know what we need to do or how to do it. /What we lack is intention to do it. / We have not made up our minds that the commands of Jesus Will come before the commands of this world. / We are spoiled people!
4) When we genuinely deny ourselves and follow Him, when we offer our lives as living sacrifices, our minds and hearts will be transformed. / As disciples of Jesus, our first priority will be to follow His will and make other disciples for Him.
1) WHY IS THE CHURCH HERE?
2) (Question) Is it here as a place for us to come as just relax and listen to a sermon? Is it here as a sort of country club where we come and eat and just sit and exchange gossip? Is it a place where we come a couple times a week to hear a little about Jesus and what He wants us to do and then go back home and sit down in that old lazy boy recliner?
3) The church is here for many reasons but there is one very important reason which is demonstrated in this command from Jesus. / Most churches and church members neglect doing this. / Here are the words of Jesus that give a great description of what the church is here for~!
4) Matthew 28: 19-20, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen!
5) If you ever have ever questioned what our real purpose is in the world. / Here is the end of your confusion. / Our purpose is to make disciples of all the nations. /The risen Christ gave this command to His apostles just before He ascended to the Father; but He intended it for all of us. / That is why these verses are known as the Great Commission. It states the mission of the Church. / We are on a mission in the world!!
6) In the original Greek, there is only one verb here and it is an action verb, “Make Disciples.” / That’s the key. / The other words in this great commission are just other action words that surround the main action verb.
7) What I mean is that the main verb in the sentence is “Make Disciples,” which you do by going, baptizing, and teaching, which are all action words.
8) To make disciples in another nation, you have to go where people do not know about Christ. / (Street corner down the road.) Once you get there and they come to faith in Christ, you have to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. / That is to say, you need to bring them to an understanding of God as Father, Son and the Holy Ghost which is demonstrated in baptism. / Baptism is not important because it saves, but because it is the public confession of salvation, then you instruct them to be obedient to their Lord, teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. /You are not alone in this enterprise. Jesus says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” “Until the time is completely done for evangelism, I will be with you helping you to make disciples.”
9) How would you answer if I asked you the reason for the church? / Why are we still here on earth? / What should we be doing?
10) Some might say we should be living a holy life. / That’s a good thing, but it is not the main reason we are here. / If that is all the Lord wants, we might as well go on to heaven, because we can’t really live a perfectly holy life down here.
11) Some might say we are saved so we can be in fellowship. /That is good, too, and we do have fellowship with other believers. But the fellowship is very imperfect, as you must know from experience. / We have all kinds of problems getting along with one another as Christians. / We don’t actually do fellowship very well down here on earth. / The fellowship of a church should win People to Christ.
12) Some might say the real priority for us is worship. / We do work on worship in the church, but don’t always get that right, either. / Sometimes our minds wander and we find it hard to focus on God. / Sometimes our emotions are swept away by music, but they go to a place that has little to do with God. /We are inconsistent creatures, easily distracted.
13) All of that is to say that our holiness is imperfect, our fellowship is imperfect, and our worship is imperfect. / If those were the top priorities, then we would do better to go on to heaven.
14) When we get to heaven, we will be perfectly holy; our fellowship and worship will be perfect. / That leaves us with only one reason to stay here on earth. /There is one thing we can do on earth that we cannot do in heaven---that is to make disciples of all nations. The Great Commission is given to us individually and corporately as the Church.
15) When we go out and make disciples, knowing that Christ will be with us, we will be successful because we have His help and we will be doing what He has commanded us to do. /Now listen, when we do what He has commanded we will be bringing people into our imperfect holiness, our imperfect fellowship and worship so that Christ can bring them into the perfect holiness of Heaven. / This is what it is about.
16) Make sure you are involved in carrying out this commission. /No one is exempt from this encouraging duty. /Go to people who do not KNOW Christ. / Tell them about the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. / Encourage them to acknowledge faith in Jesus Christ and to demonstrate that by baptism. /Follow up by teaching them to obey the things Jesus told us to do. / And do it all knowing that Christ Himself is with you as you accomplish His purpose for you. He will be with you to the very end.
2) I want to say this, if you are a true follower of Jesus Christ you need to understand that sharing the good news of eternal life through faith in Christ is every Christian’s responsibility. / You may know that and still not tell anyone about Jesus. / Do you think you do not know enough to be and evangelist? / Do you think you need more training? / I doubt that’s your problem. /In the unlikely event that you knew nothing about the Bible before you began coming to church, even if you started last year or forty years ago, by this point you know enough to tell someone how to become a Christian. (Bait Ills.)
3) Christians need a case of B.O. (Being obedient) /The problem for most Christian is not knowledge but obedience. /We are more obedient to the pleasures of this world than we are to the commands of Jesus. / It is not that we do not know what we need to do or how to do it. /What we lack is intention to do it. / We have not made up our minds that the commands of Jesus Will come before the commands of this world. / We are spoiled people!
4) When we genuinely deny ourselves and follow Him, when we offer our lives as living sacrifices, our minds and hearts will be transformed. / As disciples of Jesus, our first priority will be to follow His will and make other disciples for Him.
1) WHY IS THE CHURCH HERE?
2) (Question) Is it here as a place for us to come as just relax and listen to a sermon? Is it here as a sort of country club where we come and eat and just sit and exchange gossip? Is it a place where we come a couple times a week to hear a little about Jesus and what He wants us to do and then go back home and sit down in that old lazy boy recliner?
3) The church is here for many reasons but there is one very important reason which is demonstrated in this command from Jesus. / Most churches and church members neglect doing this. / Here are the words of Jesus that give a great description of what the church is here for~!
4) Matthew 28: 19-20, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen!
5) If you ever have ever questioned what our real purpose is in the world. / Here is the end of your confusion. / Our purpose is to make disciples of all the nations. /The risen Christ gave this command to His apostles just before He ascended to the Father; but He intended it for all of us. / That is why these verses are known as the Great Commission. It states the mission of the Church. / We are on a mission in the world!!
6) In the original Greek, there is only one verb here and it is an action verb, “Make Disciples.” / That’s the key. / The other words in this great commission are just other action words that surround the main action verb.
7) What I mean is that the main verb in the sentence is “Make Disciples,” which you do by going, baptizing, and teaching, which are all action words.
8) To make disciples in another nation, you have to go where people do not know about Christ. / (Street corner down the road.) Once you get there and they come to faith in Christ, you have to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. / That is to say, you need to bring them to an understanding of God as Father, Son and the Holy Ghost which is demonstrated in baptism. / Baptism is not important because it saves, but because it is the public confession of salvation, then you instruct them to be obedient to their Lord, teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. /You are not alone in this enterprise. Jesus says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” “Until the time is completely done for evangelism, I will be with you helping you to make disciples.”
9) How would you answer if I asked you the reason for the church? / Why are we still here on earth? / What should we be doing?
10) Some might say we should be living a holy life. / That’s a good thing, but it is not the main reason we are here. / If that is all the Lord wants, we might as well go on to heaven, because we can’t really live a perfectly holy life down here.
11) Some might say we are saved so we can be in fellowship. /That is good, too, and we do have fellowship with other believers. But the fellowship is very imperfect, as you must know from experience. / We have all kinds of problems getting along with one another as Christians. / We don’t actually do fellowship very well down here on earth. / The fellowship of a church should win People to Christ.
12) Some might say the real priority for us is worship. / We do work on worship in the church, but don’t always get that right, either. / Sometimes our minds wander and we find it hard to focus on God. / Sometimes our emotions are swept away by music, but they go to a place that has little to do with God. /We are inconsistent creatures, easily distracted.
13) All of that is to say that our holiness is imperfect, our fellowship is imperfect, and our worship is imperfect. / If those were the top priorities, then we would do better to go on to heaven.
14) When we get to heaven, we will be perfectly holy; our fellowship and worship will be perfect. / That leaves us with only one reason to stay here on earth. /There is one thing we can do on earth that we cannot do in heaven---that is to make disciples of all nations. The Great Commission is given to us individually and corporately as the Church.
15) When we go out and make disciples, knowing that Christ will be with us, we will be successful because we have His help and we will be doing what He has commanded us to do. /Now listen, when we do what He has commanded we will be bringing people into our imperfect holiness, our imperfect fellowship and worship so that Christ can bring them into the perfect holiness of Heaven. / This is what it is about.
16) Make sure you are involved in carrying out this commission. /No one is exempt from this encouraging duty. /Go to people who do not KNOW Christ. / Tell them about the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. / Encourage them to acknowledge faith in Jesus Christ and to demonstrate that by baptism. /Follow up by teaching them to obey the things Jesus told us to do. / And do it all knowing that Christ Himself is with you as you accomplish His purpose for you. He will be with you to the very end.
The church is here also to be---
1) SALT AND LIGHT!
2) Matthew 5:13-16, 13) You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
3) If a seasoning has no flavor, it has no value. /If Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, I question their value to God. If we are too much like the world, we are valueless. Christians should not blend in with everybody else. Instead, we should affect others positively, just as seasoning brings out the best flavor in food.
4) THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE!
5) 14) “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15) Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl."
6) Can you hide a city that is sitting on top of a hill? Can you hide a big church building sitting on the corner of -------- and --------? Its lights at night can be seen for miles. If we live for Christ, we glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like. We hide our light by,
1) SALT AND LIGHT!
2) Matthew 5:13-16, 13) You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
3) If a seasoning has no flavor, it has no value. /If Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, I question their value to God. If we are too much like the world, we are valueless. Christians should not blend in with everybody else. Instead, we should affect others positively, just as seasoning brings out the best flavor in food.
4) THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE!
5) 14) “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15) Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl."
6) Can you hide a city that is sitting on top of a hill? Can you hide a big church building sitting on the corner of -------- and --------? Its lights at night can be seen for miles. If we live for Christ, we glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like. We hide our light by,
#1) being quiet when we should speak.
#2) Going along with the crowd.
#3) Denying the light,
#4) letting sin dim our light or witness,
#5) Not explaining our light to others, or
#6) ignoring the needs of others.
7)_Ill. Beacons (Markers) light in all channels coming up into the sounds help lead the way to safety! We need to be a beacon—don’t shut you light off from the rest of the world!! We, as the church, should help lead the outside world, into the hands of Jesus.
8) 16) Let you light so shine before men, that they may see you good works and glorify your Father in heaven
This may be one first verses you learned in Sunday school. No doubt you sang: This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
9) Jesus said that we, (His Disciples) are the light of the world. We must not hide that light under a bushel or in a church building. We must let it shine. How will people see that light? Through our good works.
10) I read about a German atheist philosopher who said that if he saw more redeemed people he might be more inclined to believe in their Redeemer!
11) Christians who do not have changed lives have a credibility gap./ He who truly believes, lives by his beliefs.
12) If I am trying to tell you how great my doctor is, but I am dying under his care, you might question his skill. If I try to tell you how great my mechanic is, but my car is belching belching black smoke out the exhaust, you will probable be reluctant to entrust your own vehicle to him. What good does it do to tell people how great our Savior is if they cannot see that we ourselves have been saved from sin? Let you light shine
13) What does Jesus mean by light? /Jesus also calls Himself, “The Light of the World.” John calls Him, “the light that shines in the darkness” (John 1:4-5.)
14) The light in us is His light, the indwelling Christ, the Holy Spirit within us. /The apostle Paul speaks of “The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,” 2nd Corinthians 4:4.
7)_Ill. Beacons (Markers) light in all channels coming up into the sounds help lead the way to safety! We need to be a beacon—don’t shut you light off from the rest of the world!! We, as the church, should help lead the outside world, into the hands of Jesus.
8) 16) Let you light so shine before men, that they may see you good works and glorify your Father in heaven
This may be one first verses you learned in Sunday school. No doubt you sang: This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
9) Jesus said that we, (His Disciples) are the light of the world. We must not hide that light under a bushel or in a church building. We must let it shine. How will people see that light? Through our good works.
10) I read about a German atheist philosopher who said that if he saw more redeemed people he might be more inclined to believe in their Redeemer!
11) Christians who do not have changed lives have a credibility gap./ He who truly believes, lives by his beliefs.
12) If I am trying to tell you how great my doctor is, but I am dying under his care, you might question his skill. If I try to tell you how great my mechanic is, but my car is belching belching black smoke out the exhaust, you will probable be reluctant to entrust your own vehicle to him. What good does it do to tell people how great our Savior is if they cannot see that we ourselves have been saved from sin? Let you light shine
13) What does Jesus mean by light? /Jesus also calls Himself, “The Light of the World.” John calls Him, “the light that shines in the darkness” (John 1:4-5.)
14) The light in us is His light, the indwelling Christ, the Holy Spirit within us. /The apostle Paul speaks of “The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,” 2nd Corinthians 4:4.
15) We have that shining light through our lives if our actions reflect the nature of Christ—His love, compassion, and forgiveness.
16) His light shines through our attitudes, words, and deeds. / When people see that our lives have been changed so that we have Jesus’ values and see the power of God at work in us, they will agree that we do have a great Savior. /When they see redeemed people, they are more inclined to believe that we have a Redeemer. /The Christ-like life is the platform on which individual testimony becomes influential and important.
17) The alternative is for the Christian to live in the dark. / Scripture teaches that “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth,” (1 John 1:5-6).
18) If no light shines from your life, either you have no relationship with Christ or you are bringing dishonor to Him. / It’s a sad thing for someone to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and continue to live and openly sinful life. / It brings disrespect to Christ as Lord and Savior. /It is a stumbling block for unbelievers. /It is certainly not effective in convincing anyone that Christ has the power to transform lives. / Our responsibility as disciples and evangelist is to have lives so transformed by the Word and the inward presence of Christ that everyone can see His light reflected in our acts of kindness.
1) PRAISE AS A FORM OF EVANGELISM!
2) Psalm 40:1-3, 1) I wait patiently for the Lord; and He turned to me, and heard my cry. 2) He lifted me up out of a slimy pit, out of mud and mire, He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand. 3) He put a new song in my mouth—A hymn of -Praise to our God; Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
3) In recent years, I have understood better what the psalmist knew—that praise has an evangelistic impact. / Worship is ultimately the goal of evangelism. /
4) Our goal as the church is to help more and more people enjoy God and glorify Him forever,,, to share God’s Word of gathering for Himself a people from every nation, tribe, and tongue, who will worship Him in heaven. / But worship is also a means of evangelism. /I do not believe that the lost person or seeker is capable of worshiping and coming into the presence of a holy God. /But that lost person can see and hear us praising God and be brought to faith in Him. / The psalmist says that when we have a new song of praise in our mouth, many will see it and be captivated by our great God and come to trust in Him.
5) A believer filled with praise makes a tremendous impact on a sinner. /We have a new song, the song of the redeemed, and it produces hope in a despairing heart. /The psalmist says, “I was in a horrible pit. I was struck in miry clay. I was hopeless and helpless, but the Lord heard my cry and lifted me up. / He set my feet on a rock and gave me a solid place to stand.” /
6) That’s the picture of salvation. / God in His grace stoops down to pick a sinner up out of the pit and sets him on a new, safe path. / The response to that amazing free act of mercy is a new song—a song of praise, a song of redemption.
7) The more we sing that song, and the louder we sing it, the more people will hear it. Those who are still in the pit, stuck in miry clay, will see how we were lifted out by God’s love and see hope for themselves.
16) His light shines through our attitudes, words, and deeds. / When people see that our lives have been changed so that we have Jesus’ values and see the power of God at work in us, they will agree that we do have a great Savior. /When they see redeemed people, they are more inclined to believe that we have a Redeemer. /The Christ-like life is the platform on which individual testimony becomes influential and important.
17) The alternative is for the Christian to live in the dark. / Scripture teaches that “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth,” (1 John 1:5-6).
18) If no light shines from your life, either you have no relationship with Christ or you are bringing dishonor to Him. / It’s a sad thing for someone to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and continue to live and openly sinful life. / It brings disrespect to Christ as Lord and Savior. /It is a stumbling block for unbelievers. /It is certainly not effective in convincing anyone that Christ has the power to transform lives. / Our responsibility as disciples and evangelist is to have lives so transformed by the Word and the inward presence of Christ that everyone can see His light reflected in our acts of kindness.
1) PRAISE AS A FORM OF EVANGELISM!
2) Psalm 40:1-3, 1) I wait patiently for the Lord; and He turned to me, and heard my cry. 2) He lifted me up out of a slimy pit, out of mud and mire, He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand. 3) He put a new song in my mouth—A hymn of -Praise to our God; Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
3) In recent years, I have understood better what the psalmist knew—that praise has an evangelistic impact. / Worship is ultimately the goal of evangelism. /
4) Our goal as the church is to help more and more people enjoy God and glorify Him forever,,, to share God’s Word of gathering for Himself a people from every nation, tribe, and tongue, who will worship Him in heaven. / But worship is also a means of evangelism. /I do not believe that the lost person or seeker is capable of worshiping and coming into the presence of a holy God. /But that lost person can see and hear us praising God and be brought to faith in Him. / The psalmist says that when we have a new song of praise in our mouth, many will see it and be captivated by our great God and come to trust in Him.
5) A believer filled with praise makes a tremendous impact on a sinner. /We have a new song, the song of the redeemed, and it produces hope in a despairing heart. /The psalmist says, “I was in a horrible pit. I was struck in miry clay. I was hopeless and helpless, but the Lord heard my cry and lifted me up. / He set my feet on a rock and gave me a solid place to stand.” /
6) That’s the picture of salvation. / God in His grace stoops down to pick a sinner up out of the pit and sets him on a new, safe path. / The response to that amazing free act of mercy is a new song—a song of praise, a song of redemption.
7) The more we sing that song, and the louder we sing it, the more people will hear it. Those who are still in the pit, stuck in miry clay, will see how we were lifted out by God’s love and see hope for themselves.
8) Listen, we need to be filled with praise every day, because God not only is worthy of our praise but also makes use our praise to draw people to Christ. /Our song may lead them to open their hearts to the Savior, so that they might see Him perform His great rescue in their lives just like He salvaged us.
Conclusion:
“Bringing light into a dark world.”
How do we do it?
We realize why the church is here!!
It not here just as a place to come and relax and listen to a sermon or fellowship together. /All of these things are fine, but there has to be more and if we are to be obedient to the commands of Jesus, we need to move into action.
Go out of these doors after being fed and filled with the Word of God and work together with Christ, in making more disciples for Him!
We need to go out and be real salt and light in a dark world. /Don’t keep the top on your salt shaker. Don’t let the batteries go dead in you light.
16) Let you light so shine before men, that they may see and hear your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
WHAT THIS TRUTH TEACHES US TODAY:
Have you ever thought of living in a world with no local churches? / The local church is not perfect—far from it—but it is the instrument of God to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. / There are many good Christian organizations with great causes, but they do not take the place of the local church. / Most of them would fade away were it not for the support of Christian in local churches.
Jesus loved the church and gave Himself for it. / He blesses the church that is true to the Word of God—in its teaching and preaching ministries.
Paul says, “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word." (Eph. 5: 25-26)
Thanks. Robert N. Graves, Sr.
Fisherman for Christ.
Conclusion:
“Bringing light into a dark world.”
How do we do it?
We realize why the church is here!!
It not here just as a place to come and relax and listen to a sermon or fellowship together. /All of these things are fine, but there has to be more and if we are to be obedient to the commands of Jesus, we need to move into action.
Go out of these doors after being fed and filled with the Word of God and work together with Christ, in making more disciples for Him!
We need to go out and be real salt and light in a dark world. /Don’t keep the top on your salt shaker. Don’t let the batteries go dead in you light.
16) Let you light so shine before men, that they may see and hear your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
WHAT THIS TRUTH TEACHES US TODAY:
Have you ever thought of living in a world with no local churches? / The local church is not perfect—far from it—but it is the instrument of God to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. / There are many good Christian organizations with great causes, but they do not take the place of the local church. / Most of them would fade away were it not for the support of Christian in local churches.
Jesus loved the church and gave Himself for it. / He blesses the church that is true to the Word of God—in its teaching and preaching ministries.
Paul says, “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word." (Eph. 5: 25-26)
Thanks. Robert N. Graves, Sr.
Fisherman for Christ.
posted by Fisherman For Christ at 3/02/2007 02:03:00 PM
1 comments
