Read: Luke 10:25-37
MH – Missions message 1 of 2
Going to share my message backwards (so to speak). My / Our 2017 Missions theme is Love Them, Help Them and Tell Them.
Question
: Why a missions’ month? Why pledge cards? What’s the big deal?
Transition
: The first reason is because we have been commissioned!
I. Tell Them
We need to know and constantly be reminded that the ‘good news’ of Jesus’ work for healing, deliverance, satisfaction and most importantly salvation is a message that we have been commissioned not to keep to ourselves but rather to share!
Matthew 28:16-20
– Great Commission
Mark 16:15-16
, “
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
(NKJ)
Mark 4:19-20
,
“Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
20
They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”
(NKJ)
1 Cor. 9:16
,
“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
” (NKJ)
Psalm 96:2
, “
Sing to the LORD; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
3
Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
4
Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.”
(NLT)
Application
: The Good Word of God is part of who we are and who we are should be shared.
We have not be asked to become comfortably fat by simply feasting on our favorites but rather we are asked to share our recipe with others!
Transition
: Let us turn back to the parable of the Good Samaritan.
I believe a very important element to an appropriate gospel witness is us as believers being committed to helping other!
Just to be clear, I am not espousing a ‘social gospel’ as with say what Liberation Theology in Latin America of the 50’s and 60’s attempted to do, but helping others/oppressed as a means of the demonstration of our faith with the intent on help/change.
II. Help Them
Let’s begin by noticing how the chapter starts.
Luke 10::1-4
Luke 10:21,22
Luke 10:23
Text of Good Samaritan starts really at
10:25-29
We see in Jesus’ use of this parable, that he encourages us, “Yes, now go and do the same,” as a reflection of correct behavior.
Transition
: So, I submit that missions (foreign, US, and friendship evangelism), should be shrouded in helping people and telling them about God’s goodness and grace but it really begins, I believe what a foundation that is love!
III. Love Them
Application
: There is no direct reference in the parable about the good Samaritan loving the fallen, and, I would say that the responsibility to help and serve others goes beyond how we ‘feel’ about others, but I find an inherent, care, concern and yes even love as motivation for sharing God’s good news and ways.
Jesus loved people. He loved thieves, prostitutes, tax collectors, diseased people, poor people, children and His followers. He loved people who were devoted to Him and those who were different from Him. He even loved difficult and dangerous people.
And His love is the same today as it was 2,000 years ago.
Because we are loved by Him, we are called to love like Him. The extent to which we love one another validates and communicates our faith.
John 13:34-35,
“
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
35
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
(NLT)
The New Testament contains 54 “one another” passages that teach us how to love.
Ways to Love Others:
The ultimate example of forgiveness was displayed when Jesus hung on the Cross and cried out for those who were crucifying Him:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”(Luke 23:34). We should forgive others even when they don’t deserve it or ask for it. That demonstrates a love that keeps no record of wrongs
Honor
means to esteem someone as highly valuable. It leads us to treat others as though they are personally autographed by God. When we value others above ourselves, we are emulating the attitude of Christ (Philippians 2:3-5).
Conclusion
: Missions emphasis is a commitment to loving, helping and telling others that someone has loved and helped us! Missions is reaching out to others grateful for what God has revealed to us. Missions is love extended in the purest and most practical way possible!
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