The article below is about disabilities in the church and the church’s failure to minister to those disabled. This is a challenging article to think about. 

4 Times When It’s Good to Leave a Church

The article below is about ways to outreach with the Easter worship service. Now, before reading that, I always want to remind myself and others why outreach is important. Outreach is important because of passages such as John 3:16 and 14:6. Check them out:

5 Ways to Make a Huge Impact on Easter Sunday

The article below is about reading the Old Testament:

Should I Skip the Old Testament? NO! Here Are 3 Reasons Why

Okay, I have one final article. This is by Dr. Ben Witherington who is a United Methodist Pastor, author and scholar. He teaches at Asbury Theological Seminary. Below is his second post in response to a book about homosexuality and Christianity. You can find his first post from Sunday on his blog. I hate dealing with these tough topics, but we need educated on them. Christians must love everyone. We must remember that heterosexual relationships can be impure and in sin just as well as homosexual. But read and post comments for discussion. 

A Response to Bishop Sano’s ‘Call to Biblical Obedience’– Part Three

Have an awesome week in the Lord!

Below is yesterday’s sermons. But before that I want to insert links to some really good articles.

This is a really good article about Facebook by Dr. Randy Alcorn:

http://www.epm.org/blog/2014/Mar/17/wise-words-facebook

Below is an interesting article about the church worship service:

Why Your Church Needs to Think Beyond the Worship Set

Below is the sermon:

Opening:

May consider using a clip from the Bible movie

Struggling to stay awake while driving… When I was in college I drove an hour each way to college. When I was in seminary, I drove two hours each way to seminary. I did this twice a week and sometimes every day for mini terms. I enjoyed the driving time. I even memorized Hebrew during this time. I listened to sermons and books on C.D. I prayed during this time as well. When I was in college I drove close to a half an hour each way to work. The problem with driving, especially at night, is when we cannot stay awake. The worst feeling I have is falling asleep while driving. I used to take coffee and snacks with me to help with this.  It is a terrible feeling when I cannot stay awake while driving. After that, if something wakes me up, it is a good feeling to be awakened again.

You may know the feeling of trying to stay awake when your body wants to sleep:

I have had trouble staying awake while fishing.

I have had trouble staying awake in class. During my senior year at Cedarville University, I worked over night at McDonalds and then went to school without sleep. I wanted to stay awake in class, but the first class was tough.

I don’t have trouble anymore, but maybe you have trouble staying awake during our worship service… Not at this church, ha, ha!

I have had trouble staying awake during prayer. Praying on my knees helps.

That seems to be the disciples problem in this passage.

These common, ordinary, everyday men were invited up to see Jesus in His glory and they could not stay awake, but they would be awakened. As I teach this, realize that the Gospel is for everyone! Jesus showed His glory to these common men and He will for you as well. Realize the following:

1. 1.                  The commonality of the Gospel.
2. 2.                  The power of prayer.
3. 3.                  The Mighty Savior.
4. 4.                  Listen to Jesus.

Let’s read the passage: Luke 9:28-36: NIV

²⁸ About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.²⁹ As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. ³⁰ Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. ³¹ They spoke about his departure,which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. ³² Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. ³³ As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

³⁴ While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” ³⁶ When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

1. First, let’s talk about the commonality of the Gospel. (verse 28)
   1. Notice that Jesus takes Peter, James and John up on this mountain with Him. There are a few things that I want you to take away from the series which I am preaching for Lent. I want you to remember that Jesus showed that the Gospel is for everyone. Jesus did not come for any particular group specifically. Jesus did not come for the Jews only. Jesus did not come for the Pharisees specifically. Jesus did not only come for men, or only come for women. There is no racism with Jesus. There is no preferential treatment with Jesus. Galatians 3:28: There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
   2. Now, I do wish to be very careful of what is called eisegesis. This means that I would be interpreting or teaching a text based on my own presuppositions. That would make a text say what I wish it to say and not what God wants it to say. I want to study and teach from exegesis and this means that I teach a passage by exegeting the text which means to bring out of the text what God wants it to say.  Why do I say that? I am glad you asked. As I looked at my themes and my sermons for Lent, I noticed that Jesus came for everyone. Now I do not want to have a sermon and then find a text. I do not want to have a theme and make the Bible support that. I really do believe that this passage says this.
   3. Peter, James and John were common every day men. Some say they were too common. In Acts there was that criticism. Acts 4:13 has the people observing the confidence of Peter and John in that they were not educated.
   4. Jesus brought them on the mountain and here they see Jesus in glory. Here they see Elijah, here they see Moses. Think about this: The Pharisees were the religious scholars of the day. Sometimes the Pharisees were the scribes as well. The Sadducees were the religious scholars of the day. One would think Jesus should have invited them up to see Moses and Elijah, but HE DID NOT. Peter, James and John went with Jesus. In fact, most all of the disciples were common men. Sure, Matthew was probably the most educated, but none of them were like the Apostle Paul. Now, Paul he was educated. He was a Roman citizen, not these guys. Not at all. Yet, Jesus invited them up on the mountain with Him. Wow!
   5. As I think about it, no wonder Jesus was murdered. I know that is a very strong statement, but, humanly speaking, worldly speaking, I could understand jealousy. The Pharisees and the Sadducees invest their life in the study and the memorizing of the Old Testament and Jesus does not invite them on the mountain! What a shock. They memorized the Mosaic Law, but they were not invited! Jesus came for everyone.
   6. Peter, James and John, saw these great Old Testament heroes. There is a scene in Star Trek III the Search for Spock when Uhura is talking to a young guy. The young guy is complaining that nothing happens exciting where he is stationed. Then, all of a sudden Admiral Kirk comes in. The young man is excited. He exclaims: “That’s Admiral Kirk!” In this case these disciples are getting lots of excitement. They are traveling with Jesus. But now these common, ordinary men are about to see some pretty important people. They see Moses and Elijah; they see Jesus in His glorified state. Notice the commonality of the Gospel.   

1 Cor. 1:26-31: May summarize

1. Notice, the power of prayer (verse 29).
   1. Jesus was praying when this happened. You think about that? Verse 29 says “As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” Wow! You know in the parallel accounts it actually says that He was metamorphosized. He was transformed to His heavenly presence. That is exactly what it means when it says, “Transfigured.” Luke avoided that term, likely because his audience was more Greco-Roman, they were more pagan and they would think of the gods and those myths. Jesus was not a “god,” He was and is God. 
   2. The way this is set up and it is like this was an answer to Jesus’ prayer. While praying this happens. In the Old Testament revelations occur during prayer. Daniel chapter 9 is an instance.
   3. We must pray and expect God to answer. Expect to see mighty things.
2. The Mighty Savior
   1. He is transfigured (verse 29)
   2. Verse 32: Peter and the companions were sleepy, but then they woke up.
      1.                                                   i.      For me, sometimes when I am tired, whether driving or reading, or working, there is something that shocks me to being awake. I bet this shocked them to wake up.
      2.                                                 ii.      Think about this: Have you ever been in a car accident because of falling asleep? It was early May 2005, right after my college semester ended. I was driving to work at about 4:00 A.M. As I already stated, I had about a 30 minute drive ahead of me. I was on a dark state route and I was sleepy. I remember really struggling to stay awake. But I managed, for a while. Then I entered the suburb of Englewood, this was right outside Dayton and this was where I actually worked. The state route I was driving on was now 4 lanes with a turn lane, much like State Street right out here. I was now passing businesses and restaurants. I now drive past Jack’s Aquarium and Pets where I used to work. I now drove past National Road which could take me up to the Junior High and High School I attended. I drove past the location I would get a speeding ticket in a few weeks. I was only a couple miles from work. But I was still sleepy. All of a sudden there was a thud, or a book. There was a car accident. I ran into the passenger side curb. I pulled into the Midas store. I looked and I had two flat tires. It was much worse. There was axle damage. There was wheel damage. But it was not nearly as bad as it could have been. I didn’t hit a telephone pool, just the curb. I was probably driving 30 miles per hour, not 55 miles per hour as earlier. I didn’t cross left of center and hit a car. If it happened 15 miles earlier, it would have been worse. This woke me up! I drove a block to Grismer tire and parked the car. I walked to work and called Meagan to see if she could take care of it when she woke up. But I was awakened. That shock! That scare woke me up. You know what, the disciples also were awakened to a type of fear. There was a reverent fear as they saw the man Jesus transformed in Glory. There was fear, in verse 34, as God spoke.
      3.                                               iii.      Our Great and Mighty Savior revealed His awesome glory to common every day, normal people as Peter, James and John. Our Great and Mighty Savior reveals Himself to you and me.  I hope that awakens you. It woke them up! I hope this excitement awakens you as a fearful experience would awaken you, as a car accident awakened me.
      4. Elijah and Moses are not equal to Him. We see in verse 33 Peter wanted to make tents for Elijah and Moses and Jesus. These were for worship similar to the Feast of Booths in the Old Testament. There is a parenthetical statement that Peter did not know what he was saying. The problem was that Peter wanted tents for all of them. Peter did not understand that Jesus was and Is the one God. Peter equated Moses and Elijah with Jesus.  
      5. This is not the best example because this was something of God. But recently I took a quick turn and heard noise a in the back seat. Mercedes starts saying “No, Daddy…” Or something similar in fear. I look back and her car seat tipped over. Somehow the seat belt buckling the car seat in came undone. I buckled her seat back in and fixed things. As I start to drive, Mercedes says, “I don’t want to fall again!” Well, neither did I want her to fall, it was scary as well. There is a great fear in the unknown. In this passage a cloud enveloped Elijah, Moses and Jesus and a voice spoke. This made fear in Peter, James and John. This was a reverent fear. (verse 34)
3. Last application: listen to Jesus (verse 35).
   1. Here God speaks. God says, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.”
   2. God is authenticating Jesus once again. This was said at Jesus’ baptism. (Luke 3:21ff)
   3. Jesus is to be listened to more than Moses and Elijah. Jesus fulfilled the law.
   4. So, are we listening to Him?
   5. You don’t have to be a pastor, an elder, a church leader, you don’t have to be educated, Jesus came for all. Jesus came for the common man. The Gospel is for everyone.

Close:

Last week we talked about Jesus healing the woman with the blood issue. (Luke 9:40-48) Remember, she was unclean, she was a woman, she was not allowed in the temple, but Jesus came for her. Today, we see that Jesus takes His common, ordinary men up on the mountain and they see Moses and Elijah. We see that the Gospel is for everyone. The Gospel is for us. If you know Jesus, share that message with others. Share the Gospel is for everyone.  If you do not know Jesus, commit to Him today.

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

Today I read some really good articles on churchleaders.com:

This first article has to do with persecution among Christians and talking about it to a 5 year old. This has to do with end times and 2 Thess. 2:8:

http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/173241-trent-hunter-hope-my-sons-life-is-in-danger.html?print

This next article has to do with turning around a church and helping the church to seek evangelism:

Hello world!

This final article is about dealing with doubt in your faith walk:

Hello world!

Enjoy and post thoughts!

The following article comes from Churchleaders.com regarding moms being missionaries as well. It is an interesting read for good thoughts and maybe encouragement:

Hello world!

Okay, so sometimes I email my leaders and a few others interesting articles I read. I now decided that I might as well just post those links on my blog. I will try to post several articles a week. Sometimes I may write about the article, other times I won’t. Remember that some of these are for the more mature believer or leader. Post your thoughts or email your thoughts. 

The following article has some interesting thoughts on church leadership. Repeated studies show church heath, or business health, has to do with getting the right people in leadership.  

Hello world!

Another article has to do with a society problem and that is pornography. I hope this helps you and your family and friends. 

Hello world!

Have an awesome day!

Below is the sermon from yesterday. Luke 8:40-48: We Serve a Mighty Savior, Jesus Heals a Woman

Video clip of Mother Theresa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A96cT-1pHM

I show that clip because I think that most of us know of Mother Theresa. We know how she ministered to the people left out. I probably simply have to mention her name in order to make us think of the ministries she would lead and was a part of in India. I saw a video once showing her decades ago asking United Nations to let her in to a war torn area in order that she could serve the people there. United Nations would not let her in unless there was a cease fire. She prayed and there was a cease fire. But she didn’t only lead others in the ministry of service, she was a part of the service to others. She was a model example. Praise God for examples such as her.

Today, we begin a special series for Lent. We are stepping away from the book of Acts for the next several weeks. My Lenten theme is going to be that the Gospel is for everyone, amen??? Congregation respond by saying amen if you agree. My theme for this season is that Jesus went to the marginalized, the left out, the people who were unclean. I hope that is encouraging, but I also hope that compels all of us to take the Gospel to everyone as well. I also hope that through this Lenten series we are all reminded that we serve a “mighty Savior.” 

So, some of us need encouraged today. We need to remember that the Gospel is for us as well. We may feel that we are the marginalized, the unclean or the left out. I hope this series and today’s message encourages us.

Whether we realize it or not we do marginalize people. We have presuppositional thoughts about other people and we must realize today that the Gospel is for everyone. Jesus does not marginalize.

Read with me Luke 8:43-48:

And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, ⁴⁴ came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. ⁴⁵ And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.” ⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.” ⁴⁷ When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. ⁴⁸ And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

1. In the Gospel we find that the Gospel is for everyone and we see Jesus’ mighty power. 
   1. If you look at Luke 8:1-2 we find out that Jesus was traveling from city to city proclaiming and preaching the Kingdom of God and women were with Him. Even though there were certain cultural ideas regarding women, Jesus allowed them with Him. They were even part of His circle, so to speak. One of the proofs of the Gospel’s truth is that the Gospels would not include women if they were not true. Women would hurt the credibility of the Gospels. Jesus was open and accessible to all. 
   2. Now, this is a narrative, Jesus is on His way to heal Jairus’ daughter and He is interrupted. Do we notice that interruptions can be of God?
   3.  Verse 42 tells us that Jesus was traveling and the crowds were pressing against Him. If it was today Jesus could travel in a limousine. He could  travel in a private plane. He could have guards to keep people away.  Jesus does not do that. Even in His day Jesus could have set Himself apart from the people, but He didn’t. Sure, there are times, such as Mark 1:35, when Jesus goes into seclusion to recharge, but here we see Jesus with the people. Jesus was no respecter of persons. Jesus did not show prejudice. Jesus came to serve. The Gospel is for everyone.
   4. So in verse 43, this woman has a hemorrhage for 12 years. Imagine what it was like for her. We do not know how she was bleeding, but it was likely a type of female ailment. This probably caused her to be physically weak. We do know based off of Leviticus 15 that she would have been considered unclean. She was an outcast. She was marginalized. She was physically weak and maybe in pain. She was emotionally scarred by being looked upon as an outcast. She was spiritually excluded from the Temple and synagogue. For 12 years she suffered with this. In my translation it says that she could not be healed. In other translations it says that she exhausted all her money trying to get better. Unfortunately, some of you know how she feels. Let me tell you that Jesus heals her physically, but most importantly emotionally and spiritually. He will do the same for all of us.
   5.  Verse 44 tells us that she came up behind Him and touched the hem or fringe of His garment. The wording here makes it sound like she simply brushed by or tapped His garment. But in the original language she grabbed and held onto it. After the 12 years she wanted to be made well. After 12 years of physical problems, emotionally being an outcast and spiritually being an outcast she wanted to be made well. She is “immediately” made well. No, delay. We serve a mighty Savior who came for everyone. 
      1.                                                   i.      You know what? By touching her Jesus could be unclean. Even if an unclean person simply brushed by a clean person that would make the clean person unclean (Lev. 15).
      2.                                                 ii.      Anyone in the crowd could be unclean. Jesus was willing to risk that in order to be made well. Jesus never rebuked that either.
   6. Verses 45-46 have Jesus asking who touched Him. But Peter speaks up stating that there is such a crowd, they couldn’t know.
   7. Jesus says that He felt power go out. We must understand this correctly. Jesus did not have a loss of power. Jesus is all powerful, He could just know that something happened.
   8. Verses 47-48 are key: The woman comes trembling and falls down before Him.
      1.                                                   i.      Imagine how she felt. She has been an outcast socially. She has been an outcast from Jewish practices. She has been in pain and physical turmoil. This has gone on for 12 years. 12 years! Now, she was instantly made well.
      2.                                                 ii.      I wonder what it was like, the instant relief she felt???
      3.                                               iii.      But the instant relief was likely matched by her instant fear going before Jesus, what would He say? What would He do? Would He make her sick again? Would He strike her down? What went through her mind? Was there a combination of tears of joy and tears of fear?
   9. Verse 48, Jesus calls her “daughter.”
      1.                                                   i.      Get that! This is the only time in the New Testament Jesus addresses a woman as “daughter.” Wow! She was an outcast all those years, but to Jesus He considers her as family.
      2.                                                 ii.      How did she feel now? We all know that words have meaning. I wonder if she instantly felt some type of joy.
   10. But, she did not only have a physical problem. She had a spiritual problem as well. She was a sinner. She had been an outcast.
   11. Jesus already healed her physically. Now, in front of everyone He told her that her faith has “saved” her. My translation says “made you well,” but literally it means “saved you.” Jesus took care of the spiritual problem. She was an outcast from the temple, but now she will have the Holy Spirit in her. At least after Pentecost she would. She was not allowed in the Temple, but right now she is in front of God Almighty. The Holy of Holies will dwell in her!

So, we watched a very short video of Mother Theresa, she served the people left out, who do we need to go to? What mindset do we need to change?  Jesus came for everyone.

So, as we look toward Easter, as we look toward the cross, it is important that we all realize that Jesus came for us and Jesus came for all. We must be reminded that the Gospel is for everyone. Jesus came for the marginalized, the sick, the hurting. Jesus came for the unclean. We must be available and even go to the marginalized, the sick and the hurting as well.

I like what one preacher says concerning the woman who touched Jesus’ robe:

He wasn’t done with her. She needed to be restored physically. She needed to be restored socially. She needed to be restored spiritually. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace, not psychological peace, go in peace with God, objective peace. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace. You have made peace with God. In Matthew 9:22, we find this, “He said, ‘Be of good comfort.'” Eusebius, the church historian says, there’s a statue of this lady in his day, in her town as a living testimony that she became a believer in Jesus Christ. Listen, Jesus knows you. He knows your hurts, your needs. He is accessible to you. He is available to you. He is interruptible by you.  And He is inexhaustible in meeting your need. And it’s personal with Him. He feels the flow of power into your life. This is our God manifest in Jesus Christ. Let’s pray.

Today, we are going to continue our trek through Acts, I encourage you to take this seriously, get into the Word of life, open up your Bibles and let’s look at the Apostle Paul’s conversion.

How did you come to know Jesus as your Lord and your Savior? To be a Christian you must believe in Jesus, you must trust in Jesus and you must confess your sins to Jesus and you must commit to Jesus.

I was born into a “church going” family. We attended Memorial Baptist in Dayton regularly until I was about five years old. When I was five we moved about a half an hour away from that church, and my dad wanted to find a church closer to home. We went to Concord United Methodist Church a few times a year. We never became members, or even attended weekly. My family was still guided with Biblical principles and morals, although until I was sixteen, I was never involved in church more than a few times a year.

The day of my salvation was when I was seven years old and it was Christmas day, 1988. My parents had given my brothers and me a children’s Bible for Christmas. When I was about to go to bed that night I was staring at the picture of Christ on the cross. At this time, although no one was there to lead me in a prayer, God was there and changed my heart.  I was looking at the picture of Christ on the cross and moved with tears in my eyes thinking, “He did this for me!” I knew that I was a sinner in need of a Savior.

A few years later, my father had been taking my brothers and me to a Southern Baptist barber (Mr. Tarter). My brothers and I always tried to get him talking about the Bible because his knowledge amazed us. He was a strong Christian who was involved in prison ministry and even preached at church sometimes. One day he started telling my dad how he led a man to salvation the day before. He actually told us the prayer and I heard that prayer and I said it that night and every night during my devotion time until I got involved in a church and realized I only had to say it once. That used to be when I thought I became a Christian. Now, I know that was the verbal expression of my salvation.

Today, I wish to look at Paul’s conversion and maybe this will cause you to reflect on when you became a Christian. I wish to teach you this passage, but also I hope you all will be challenge to engage Christ, be converted to Christ (if you have not been), be consecrated to Christ and be in communion with Christ.  (The last two are where the real struggle seems to be for so many.)

Let’s read Acts 9:1-9:

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, ² and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³ As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; ⁴ and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, ⁶ but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” ⁷ The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing thevoice but seeing no one. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

1. Contact: verse 3: in verse 3 we see Paul’s contact with Jesus. Notice he is still called Saul at this point.
   1. Paul was traveling along the road that led to Jerusalem. Paul was heading towards Damascus.
   2. Damascus was 135 miles northeast of Jerusalem. Now, think about that, Paul had all that traveling to do in order to imprison Christians.
   3. How hostile do you think he was? How much hatred do you think he had? For 6 days on foot he was traveling simply to imprison Christians. I would think his anger would wear off.
   4. Paul was attacking Christians and after Paul becomes a Christian he will need forgiven and he will be.
   5. As Paul was approaching Damascus, suddenly, a light from Heaven surrounded him.
   6. In 1 Corinthians 9:1 he says that he saw Jesus. (this same chapter verse 27 and 22:14)
   7. An interesting thought, the last person before Saul to see the resurrected Christ was Stephen. He said, “Look at that, I see the Son of God standing at the right hand of the Father,” (Acts 7:55) Everyone witnessed this.
   8. But if it isn’t grace to realize that the man standing there, in measure responsible for the stoning of Stephen, was, in the grace of God, the next one to see His glory. That’s how grace operates.
   9. Stephen prayed “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” (Acts 7:59-60) God answered, and God was gracious unto Saul. The heavens are opened one more time, and this killer, Saul, gazes into the glory and the person of Him whom he persecuted.
   10. The person who witnessed the first martyrdom when the last person saw Jesus, he is the next person to see the risen Lord!
2. Conviction: verse 4: Paul was convicted in verse 4.
   1. Now, I think that is conviction and his conversion are both in the white space in between these next few verses.
3. Conversion: verse 5
   1. Paul fell to the ground. Remember the previous chapter? The Ethiopian was converted on a chariot. Now, Paul is converted in dust.
   2. In verse 5, Paul calls Jesus Lord. This likely meant that Paul was simply calling him “sir,” but based off of the rest of this passage, I think he is being converted.
   3. There are a lot of crazy explanations for this event. Let me give you a few:
      1.                                                  i.      Renan, the Frenchman, says, “Well, it was an uneasy conscience with unstrung nerves, fatigue of the journey, eyes inflamed by the hot sun, and a sudden stroke of fever that produced the hallucination.”
      2.                                                ii.      Others say a thunderstorm just happened to hit at the very moment, and he was so overwrought by the guilt of his own conscience that he assumed it was God speaking to him and imagined the whole thing.
      3.                                             iii.      Others say, he had epilepsy.
      4.                                             iv.      I read that one thing about an epileptic that is to be noted is that an epileptic cannot remember anything that occurs during a fit, or a seizure. It’s amazing how Paul so well detailed what happened.
4. Consecration: (Acts 22:10)
   1. I told you how I was converted earlier. Let’s talk about my call to ministry.

When I was in ninth grade I started attending Northmont Community Church in Dayton, Ohio. God worked through this church and I started going to the youth group and the worship services at the end of ninth grade. In tenth grade I was baptized by immersion in this church.

In the fall of 1998 I started taking a thirty-six week Discipleship course taught by the Youth Pastor. I was responsible for completing accountability forms, meeting weekly with a prayer and accountability partner, completing hour long (in depth Bible studies), scripture memory and we had a lesson every week. I also joined the Ministry/Mission team of the youth group. This gave me an opportunity to take part in the leadership of the group. This team also did service projects. During Discipleship we had a lesson on God’s will in our lives. I had to ask friends to fill out a form about what I am good at, and what I am like. It was during this time that my Youth Pastor thought that I might be called into the ministry. I thought and prayed about it. We looked into spiritual gifts. The gifts of ministry appeared high for me. I remembered how much I loved dealing with the Bible, people, serving, ministering, teaching, planning, and all the things I had been exposed to that Pastors do. Over the next few years I realized and accepted God wanted me in professional ministry.

1. Look with me at Acts 22:10: And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’
2. I am sure that you noticed that Paul asked what he needed to do. This is when the Lord told Him that things are appointed for him and he will find out in Damascus.
3. I hope that you are challenged every day to be able to say, “Lord, what shall I do?” The Lord has things in store for you. He has a plan. Pray for opportunities.  
4. Communion:
   1. I heard the best illustration of Paul’s communion. This is not my idea, but I like it:

What was the last thing he ever saw? Jesus. Have you ever looked in the sun, and then everywhere else you look all you see is the sun? Or you had somebody take your picture and all…everywhere you look, flash. They say if you look at the sun long enough, you’ll be blind. An astronomer tried it, and he was. You know what I think? I don’t think Saul’s blindness was the blindness of darkness. I think it was the blindness of light. I think for three days all he ever saw was the Son, S-O-N, that he couldn’t get rid of the vision of Jesus. That’s all he ever saw.

So he spent three days getting acquainted. And I think that’s when all the old things died. And they died hard. And he didn’t yet understand forgiveness, either, and he would still have guilt.

Today, I hope you were taught some new thoughts regarding this passage, but also I hope you all have been challenged to engage Christ, be consecrated to Christ and be in communion with Christ. 

Now, I encourage you to go forth and be engaged with Jesus in a relationship consecrated to Him and in communion with Him.

Of course, I wonder if you have thought about your conversion to Christ. Do you know Jesus?

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray. 

Yesterday’s sermon is below:

Intro:

Clip from the Bible movie of the Apostle Paul’s conversion

VALENTINUS  
“Valentinus was the name of a young man who lived in Rome during the reign of Claudius II when Christians were being persecuted. Although he was not a Christian, he helped them, but he was caught and put into prison. In prison he became a believer in Jesus. Because of this, Valentinus was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs, stoned and finally beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14, 269. After his death, this gate was known as Porta Valentini. While he was in prison he sent messages to his friends saying, “Remember your Valentine!” and “I love you.”

Even Valentine’s Day, like Halloween, has Christian beginnings, but the world has taken them over and removed any trace, like it is trying to do with Easter and Christmas, as well.

I share that with you because today I wish to talk about the apostle Paul. We will introduce Paul today and then after Easter we will come back to Acts. Paul was introduced at the stoning of Stephen, and not in the best light.

Acts 8:1:

 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.

Verse 3:

Now, in Acts chapter 9 Paul becomes a Christian. He now commits his life to the Lord. We will look at that in a few weeks. Today, I wish to look at Paul’s philosophy of ministry which can be found in Colossians 1:24-29.

As we talk about Paul’s philosophy of ministry, let me say that we are all called to ministry, it is important that we all think about what our philosophy of ministry is. (A philosophy is a way of thinking.)

Let’s read that passage:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. ²⁵ Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, ²⁶ that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, ²⁷ to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. ²⁹ For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

As we talk about this passage I want you to notice Paul’s passion for Jesus centered, Gospel driven ministry, and his humility.

Now, what is the take home today? I want to teach you about the apostle Paul. But, what do you take home? God has placed all of you and all of us in a position of ministry. You are all in places in your life where you can serve the Lord. These are not full time paid positions. The follower of Christ is to serve the Lord everywhere and all the time. We are on the clock 24/7. Today, I am not teaching you about Paul’s life, I am teaching you about Paul’s philosophy of ministry. A philosophy is a way of thinking. This is Paul’s way of thinking about ministry.

So, your take home application: I ask that we all compare and contrast our philosophy, or thinking about ministry with the Apostle Paul’s. Maybe you will be encouraged because things line up. Maybe you will need encouraged because you are putting too much on yourself and not trusting God. That is honestly something I always need reminded of. Maybe you will need to refocus. Remember, when I say ministry today, I am talking about your connections in life which God has placed you in for His purposes.

My thanks to John MacArthur for this nice breakdown: http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/80-366/pauls-philosophy-of-ministry

1. First notice Verse 25: The source of the ministry is God.
   1. Paul says that he was made a minister. Paul did not choose to be a minister. God gives ministry gifts out. You can read about these gifts in 1 Cor. 12 and Romans 12. We are in ministry for God’s Kingdom. I better be in ministry for God’s Kingdom.
   2. I personally must apply this to my life. There was a McDonalds manager that I worked with and became friends with. We even went to Starbase Columbus together. That was a store that sells all things science fiction. One can even buy communicators and Star Trek uniforms. While I did not buy anything, we became close friends. After I went into full time ministry he would call me and say, “Steve, I want you to talk to your boss, He keeps sending us this snow.” He is likely not a Christian. But the point is that I work for God. Now, the local church can try to control the pastor and even dismiss a pastor, and hopefully the local church is seeking God in doing so. We must remember that in the Old Testament the nation of Israel killed most all of the prophets!
   3. There have been too many times where I have had concerns and even worries over my job and I must remember that I work for God. You must remember that the pastor works for God. We all must remember that whether we are in professional ministry or not, if you are a Christian, you have a ministry and you work for God.
   4. Notice Paul writes: stewardship: This is still in verse 25. God gives us a stewardship of a ministry which He calls us to. Do you know what that word means? It means “House ruler.” That is what it means. It means “overseer.” The pastor is the house ruler of the church he serves. Now, the pastor does this under God. Paul is stating that God has given Him a ministry as a house ruler. Now, Paul planted and built up several churches. You are also house rulers, stewards, of ministries that God has given you, if you are a Christian.   

Before we move on, I want to emphasize again, in addition to learning about Paul, I hope that your take home is to analyze what and how your philosophy of ministry compares to Paul’s. 

1. Notice in Verse 24: The spirit of the ministry is joy.
   1. This is a tough one. This is tough because Paul is writing this from a prison. This is one of the letters called, “The Prison Epistles.” Paul writes about joy in persecution.
   2. There are currently Christians in jail all over the world because of persecution. There is currently at least one American Christian in prison for the faith in Iran. He has been tortured.

Paul found joy from the Lord, even in suffering, do you? I wonder if I can? If the source of ministry is the Lord, He is the one responsible for the ministry, I serve Him and He is responsible for the fruit. I am called by God to serve Him as a pastor, but you are all called to serve the Lord in various ways. How does your philosophy of ministry compare to what you see Paul’s as?

1. In verse 25, the scope of ministry is that I might fully carry out the Word of God.
   1. We will see in a minute that this goes together with preaching. But notice that in Paul’s philosophy of ministry we see that he uses the word, “fully.” This is complete.
   2. John MacArthur points out how Paul went back to the same place repeatedly to fully carry out the ministry. He writes: The economy of effort in the life of our Lord is staggering compared to the megalomania of people today. When I was in Charleston, South Carolina, I was talking to Bishop Wilson. I said, “What’s your vision for ministry?” He said, “My vision for ministry, what I want God to do, seven square miles the Lord has placed me here, seven square miles on the east side of Charleston, an African/American community, that’s the seven square miles that I want to penetrate with the gospel of Christ.” That is completion, just keep focusing.

What is your thinking about what God is calling you to do, how does it compare to Paul’s thinking here? I believe this is a Biblical view, where does your view need to change. I must ask myself the same thing.

1. Verse 25b-26: The subject is the mystery that’s been hidden: incarnation; N.T. Truth.
   1. All throughout the Old Testament we do not see God’s complete work, we do not see what God is going to do. Now we do. This is what is called apocalyptic language. In Ephesians 3 Paul will write about this much more. Revelation writes similarly. The mystery is the New Testament. The subject of Paul’s ministry is the Gospel!
2. Verse 28: The style of the ministry is preaching. (verse 28)
   1. Paul will proclaim the Gospel. This is like a herald crying it out.
   2. We must proclaim the Gospel as Paul did.
3. Verse 28: Sum of the ministry, what are we after? What’s the goal? “So that we may present every man complete in Christ.”
   1. Paul’s goal was completion that every one of those he served would be complete in Christ.
4. Verse 29: The strength of the ministry. Who can do this? Who can fulfill all this? Verse 29 tells us the strength of it. “For this purpose also I labor striving.”
   1. Paul would work diligently.
   2. We see this idea reflected in the rest of the New Testament.
   3. By the way, this is Olympic language. The language here is comparable to an athlete striving for a crown. It is the language of a runner laboring toward the end.

Some of you know that I run. I enjoy running, I really do, but not when it is this cold outside. I have been missing the mileage that I used to be able to log. There were days last summer, especially late in the evening when I could run so fast. There were many days when I could take Mercedes and we could run together. But July was a struggle. There were times in July when it was so very hot and humid I labored for the ending. Then I wanted winter. Likewise, a few weeks ago it was really cold, but I went out running, which would have been fine, except for Homeworth Road. I started running down that road and the wind just whipped across the fields and it came across my face like a cold dull razor. But I kept running. I can be obsessive. I finished the run, but barely. It was labor, but it was a joy to walk in the back door.

In so much of a greater manner, we labor the Christian life for a great prize in the end.

This was Paul’s philosophy of ministry. We should aim to minister in similar ways.

This is Paul’s philosophy of ministry; we are all called to serve the Lord in the church, in the family and everywhere, where does your philosophy of ministry, where does your thinking of ministry need to change?

Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 9:24-27:

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶ Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; ²⁷ but I ^[l]discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Pray

I found this article on evangelism written by John MacArthur:

http://www.churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-articles/139233-john-macarthur-on-outreach.html#at_pco=smlwn-1.0&at_tot=1&at_ab=per-4&at_pos=0

The other day I got an email, “Steve, are you in season?” I knew what that meant. It meant that I needed to deliver a message the next day, 2 Timothy 4:1-5 says to preach the word, be ready in season and out of season. (my paraphrase) I agreed and was eager to deliver the men’s breakfast message. At first I thought I was going to pull out a message I had preached before. It was Friday night and I had until Saturday at 9:00 A.M. to be ready. Sometimes I feel that God speaks better through me when I do not have as much time, it makes me more dependent on Him. Usually when I have extra opportunities to deliver a message, I use a message I had used before and maybe alter it some, or a lot. I thrive on audience feedback. What I mean is that builds up confidence and I become a more energetic, passionate and animated preacher. So, if I hear an “Amen,” or see people nodding, making notes, opening their Bibles it helps me. I don’t mean that in a bragging way. I mean that my confidence is up and if my confidence is up God works through me more because I am more relaxed. A stoic atmosphere shuts me down. At the men’s breakfast I enjoy preaching because the group is very engaged.
Having written all of that. I started thinking about my Matthew 28:19-20 message and then God started giving me new ideas. Or, these ideas came to my head and would not stop and since they were Biblical, I believe they are from God.
I try, try and try to break free of notes and simply preach from my heart. So, my notes do not do this past message justice, but they are below. Make comments as you wish. I apologize in advance for any typos and I hope it flows okay. They were my notes and I don’t like to read them, but help me move through.
“When the preferences of the church members are greater than their passion for the Gospel, the church is dying.”
Thom Rainer

The church’s marching orders come from:

Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

So, if you are here and you are a believer in Jesus Christ that means that you are here to reach other people with the Gospel. Do you realize this? Our churches have for far too long been filled with people who are gluttonous with everything but passion for the Gospel. We have been gluttonous about our preferences. We have been gluttonous about our favorite Theology, and theology is great, but it must convict and compel us to the Gospel, otherwise we are stuck in 2 Timothy 3:7: Always learning but never coming to a knowledge of the Truth. For too long we have been coming to great knowledge but the knowledge doesn’t compel and convict us to set the captive free. So, if you are a believer in Christ, you are now in the Lord’s army. My job is to be a drill sergeant. Imagine a war scene.
You are all in the military and you are on a rescue operation. People have been taken prisoners. People are taken hostage. They are taken hostage by the devil and he holds them hostage in sin. They don’t even know they are hostages. They are caught in Stockholm syndrome. It is your job, it is our job to get them out. We have to rescue them. Once they are saved they become disciples in order to rescue others.
Matthew’s Gospel begins and ends with the idea that Jesus will be with us always. Matthew 1:23:
“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”
Mark 16:15:
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
John 20:31:
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Luke: 24:45:
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them,“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Acts 1:8:
but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

The whole New Testament is about the Gospel
The word Gospel is used 97 times

For the most part, every New Testament letter, or book is about evangelism: let’s talk about a few and then come back to Matt. 28:19-20
Matthew:
Matthew seemed to address problems that were primarily where Jewish Christians were a prominent part of the audience and where these Jewish Christians kept a closer relationship with the synagogue and non Christian Jews. There is a tension focused on in Matthew between an exclusive mission to Israel and the mission to non Jewish nations. (Mt. 10:5-6; 23;15:24; 1:5;2:1-12;8:5-13; 12:21; 13:38; 15:21-28; 21:33-43; 22:1-10; 24:14; 27:54; 28:19-20) According to D.A. Hagner we cannot take one side of the other on these. Matthew still has a message on target to gentile Christians. These are to gentile Christians who may fail to value the Jewishness of Jewish Christians pressuring them to minimize all Jewish practices that were a threat to the gentile believer’s sense of equality. (DeSilva 237-238)
Mark:

One of the purposes assuming a pre 70 AD date is to help Christians dealing with the persecution under Nero. (or after) Another purpose is that the shape of discipleship must follow the pattern of the rejected Messiah. Mark writes about the purpose of discipleship as well as maybe to comfort Christians or also to encourage Christians who are reserved about sharing their faith in persecution. Mark deals with things like a proper understanding of the statement, “You are the Christ”. (Mk 8:29) Mark also deals with the believers responsibility to Jewish Scriptures, the Law, Torah, etc. This is a guideline of how the Christian community is to connect with the Torah. He is writing to nourish the Christian community. (DeSilva 198)
Luke:

Luke and John are the only Gospels that give their purpose: “an orderly account that he hopes will enable Theophilus to know the truth about the things which you have been instructed.” Not merely a historical work but to confirm the commitment made and instruction received by Theophilus and other Christian readers like him as they joined the movement. Luke clarifies the position of the church with regard to the Roman Empire. Luke focuses on the Gentiles as well as the Jewish people. He does talk about Theodicy which is how God did in fact fulfill the promises of the OT to the house of David. There is a Christocentric reading of the Jewish Scriptures extending this to the early church. (DeSilva 307-310)
John:

Many suggest that this Gospel was written as an evangelical Gospel. We can even make John 20:31 as a purpose statement. “These are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.”
Acts:

I already read Acts 1:8. Acts is all about the spread of the church from Jerusalem to Rome. Acts is all about what Mark Driscoll calls Riot evangelism. Paul comes into an area, a riot breaks out, people are saved and he moves on. Maybe that is what we need in Alliance.
Romans: 1:14ff: I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Romans 15:14ff: And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. 15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. 18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but as it is written,
“THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE,
AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND.”

1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians are written to a church that had been planted and now needed some discipleship.
So we have 1 Corinthians 15:1-14:
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to [c]James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.
The Prison Epistles:

Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are all full of evangelical Theology, these are fresh, new churches.
1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians have a theme of people who have lost loved ones and were worried that they were going to miss the resurrection. So we have:
1 Thessalonians 4:16:
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
The Pastoral Epistles, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus: Building up the church in proper Theology for the church’s purpose. Proper Theology leads us all to evangelism, convicts us all to evangelism.
Hebrews:

New Jewish believers struggling to live the Christian life in persecution. So they start thinking that the old way, the Jewish way would be easier. The writer is proving that Jesus is greater than Moses, that Jesus is greater than the Angels.
Hebrews 10:11-12:
Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for [a]sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,
James: The Proverbs of the New Testament, making sure the Christians works match their belief.
1 Peter, 2 Peter: How about 1 Peter 3:15:
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
1 John, 2 John, 3 John: Just look at chapter 1 of 1 John:
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
2 and 3 John are trying to keep heresy out of the church.
Jude:

Jude had turned aside from writing a letter concerning the “salvation they share” to instead write a letter address a problem with itinerant teachers bearing a message that Jude considers incompatible with the Apostolic Gospel.
Then Revelation:

The transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, the law that we could not keep to Christ who took care of our sin.
Quote:
“When the preferences of the church members are greater than their passion for the Gospel, the church is dying.”
Thom Rainer
What are you most passionate about? Put aside your preferences. The Bible is about the Gospel:
1 Corinthians 9:16: For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.
Verses 19-27:
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.