church2go

On average,2% of Christians talk about Jesus to non Christians in any given week.  On average 8% of Muslims talk about their faith each week to non believers. On average 9% of Hindus talk about their faith each week to those outside of their religion. On average 11% of Buddhists talk about the benefits of their faith each week to people they want to influence.  Interestingly enough, despite the claims of these religions and their growth they are not the fastest growing religions in

 In the

The Baptist growth shows something amazing. A large proportion of growth is from evangelism, nearly 25%.  So I investigated. What churches are growing? Very few. Most of our churches are declining. In rural areas, I find as I talk to other rural pastors, they are declining rapidly. But there are a few who are growing. The churches that are growing right across the state are those who are integrating a missional lifestyle, church style and focus within the life of the church. What do I mean by missional? A Missional church is one where the mission of the church is as Jesus commissioned it.  The well known verses: 

Matthew 28:19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

Jesus left us with an idea of what our focus is to be.

1. Making disciples (Matt 28:19)
2. Bringing them into relationship with Him and His church.(Matt 28:19)
3. Teaching them how to live.  (Matt 28:20)
4. Doing the above everywhere. (Acts 1:8)

These principles are what I have been preaching to you for five ½ years. Most say you agree with me. Yet, as a church we don’t present that view point in our structure, our expression of Christianity nor in our corporate worship.  

Am I criticizing this church? In some ways, but I have to be realistic, we are just like most of the churches in the state. But I believe we can make a difference in Armidale, I believe you can make a difference in your families lives and your friends lives. Why do I believe that? Because I know you. So I am going to in this series to give you some more tools. Which I hope you will be able use in life situations. Some people from the congregation will help us out as we find ways of introducing Jesus to people.  This morning I am going to take some passages to explain where I am coming from. Next week, we will see some practical ideas, after that we will fill our tool box with ideas for a lifestyle of sharing Jesus.  

A. The centre piece of this is The encounter. Meet Jesus and believe.Isn’t this what we say we want people to do? We want them to discover something in Jesus that will change their lives.  In Thessalonians we see that it happened. 1 Thess 1:8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in

 I am going to go back to an example I used a couple of years ago, with some of the same principles but using different terminology. The bike wheel. – this is my old racing wheel.  Given to me by my cousin, but it was given to him by a guy called Bruce Thomas – This wheel Bruce rode when he came 7^th in the world Ironman championships, Andrew My cousin rode it when he came fourth in the world 3 day ultra championships and it now lives on my garage wall. But here is may example. 

The hub is just what we talked about. The Encounter -,Jesus. He is at the centre of it all and our desire is that people have an encounter with Jesus that will change their lives. 

Then we have some spokes. (Just three)i.                     Exposure  a. Exposure to the message of Jesusb. Exposure to credible Christians1 Thess 2:8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. ii.                   Evidence   a. The evidence of the Jesus message as truthful.b. Evidence of Jesus presence in Christians lives1 thess 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 

iii.                  Explanation  - the explanation that the Christian worldview makes sense.1TH 5:4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.This takes time, and being part of people’s lives.  

We have seen the spokes, they are the witnessing I suppose you could say the evangelism part of it. The rim is the discipleship part. It joins the explanation, evidence and exposure all together. It makes it a wheel rather than a floppy piece of metal or plastic. The rim is the exploration. This is the discovery of how Jesus is part of life. This is discipleship. Again it is part of what Jesus told us to do. This is where the individual  connects with the church. The church is the logical place to disciple someone. A bunch of people who can assist in so many ways for someone to discover their place with God.  

   1TH 5:12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.  His passage is about the practicalities of church life. Teaching aspects, lifestyle aspect, how we treat each other. We need to allow people to explore God with us and in our midst. That will mean doing things for them in our gathered times rather than for us. This will be uncomfortable – we have talked about it before. They also become part of our exploration into God.  The final bit – It needs a tyre – where the rubber hits the road. The tyre is the experience bit.    1TH 1:4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.

The end result is an experience of and with Jesus – we hope. Where the Holy Spirit impact it will be an experience of a lifetime and for a lifetime actually for an eternity.

Now, why have we looked at this stuff?

1. To remind you of our task
2. To show you how I use something I understand – Bike wheels can be used as examples of explanation. (I also believe that by the use of repetition we remember and learn more)
3. To prompt us to action – this week, maybe this afternoon.

Why?

I believe it is our role for Jesus.

I believe we can make a difference.

I believe if we don’t we miss out on part of what God has for us.

I know it is down right invigorating.

So as you go into all the world this week. Help someone else discover Jesus.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 15th, 2008 at 9:08 pm and is filed under Sermons. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.