Sermon by Neil Earle, 3/12/2005
Luke 19:10: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
There are many things that can happen when the church forgets its original mission and when other things become primary and begin to squeeze out the original goal of the church. There have been so many valuable conferences these last few years on mission, on vision, purpose of the church, goals, objectives and where are we going and what are we supposed to be doing.
Luke 16:8 : "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light."
This is a challenging statement Jesus made to His disciples or anyone who would hear Him. Our vision from Jesus Christ has called His people to make disciples by being a church for other people. The church is the only organization in the world that exists for the sake of and the benefit of the people outside its fold for other people out there. The children of this world are wiser even than the children of light. the only thing permanent is change. The church is to preach the gospel and feed the flock. The United States is the largest mission field for Christians in the whole world.
Matthew 28:19-20: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
This is the great commission of Jesus Christ. You have to adapt your vision and your mission as you go along. Each gospel has a statement of the mission.
Mark 16:14-16: "Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
Luke 24:44-48: "He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."
The new covenant is all about diversity. The old covenant is all about doing it a certain way.
John 21:15-16: "When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
This is what the church is all about feeding Jesus Christs sheep. Jesus Christs vision was to preach the gospel to every creature, make disciples, teach people to repent and to come into the church and do what I command you to do and feed and establish these people.
Romans 1:16: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."
The church offers everlasting life. Jesus Christs ministers in the church have to feed the flock. We all in the church have to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ. Church strategy is building, equipping and winning. Building is all the activities that go to work building up a local church. Equipping is where you actually are learning and training and finding out ways to reach out to people and eventually you can win them. Winning is the hardest thing of all to reach out to all of the world to make disciples of the people. We should invite people to winning activities that we celebrate in our church.
Luke 15:1-2: "Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Proverbs 24:10-12: "If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength! Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?"
Sermon summary prepared by local Glendora church member Charlie Schreiner.