Posts
by Samuel E. Ward
Part 1: Attitudes Toward the Mission
August 4, 2013
View PowerPoint Slide Presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/attitudes-toward-the-mission
Introduction
The Mission:
Utilizing the training received by observing the attitudes, approach, and methods of Jesus Christ, each disciple will engage in bringing the gospel to their own areas of influence. This shall be done with loving attitudes, respect for those to whom the gospel is presented, and a variety methods designed to attract people to Christ. We shall seek to be persuasive without being deceptive or manipulative.
The Necessary Commitment of All Disciples
1. They Must Be Resolute in Completing the Mission.
2. They Must Be Loving in the Performance of the Mission.
3. They Must Not Be Discriminatory in Offering the Opportunity for Peace.
4. They Must Confront those Who Oppose But Be Ready to Show Mercy to Those Seeking Peace.
I. Jesus Was Resolute in His Mission, Luke 4:16-21; John 8:42.
A. Jesus Came to Do His Father's Will, To Seek and Save the Lost, John 6:38-40; Luke 4:42-43.
(John 6:38-40 NIV) For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. {39} And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. {40} For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
(Luke 4:42-43 NIV) At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. {43} But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
B. Christians Must Also Be Resolute in Sharing the Gospel, Luke 24:46-51; Acts 10:37-42
(Acts 10:37-42 NIV) You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-- {38} how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. {39} "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, {40} but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. {41} He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen--by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. {42} He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
C. The Preview of Victory for Faithful Christians, Rev 12:10-11
(Rev 12:10-11 NIV) Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. {11} They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
II. Jesus Was Genuine in His Love, John 13:1; Mark 10:17-22.
A. Jesus Loved Even Those Sinners Who Walked Away, Mark 10:17-22
(Mark 10:17-22 NIV) As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" {18} "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. {19} You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" {20} "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." {21} Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." {22} At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
B. Jesus Especially Loved Those Who Decided to Remain, John 13:1.
(John 13:1 NIV) It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
C. Christians Are Also Obligated to Show Genuine Love, Mat 5:43-48
(Mat 5:43-48 NIV) "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' {44} But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, {45} that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. {46} If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? {47} And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? {48} Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
D. Christians Are Also Called to Be Willing to Sacrifice Their Lives to Save Others, 1 John 3:15-16
(1 John 3:15-16 NIV) Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. {16} This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
III. Jesus Was Non-Discriminatory in His Message, Luke 7:36-50
A. Jesus Welcomed Sinners Others Often Condemn, Luke 7:36-39, 44-48
1. The Pharisees had become so self-righteous they had concluded that it was their place to condemn sinners rather than seek their redemption, Luke 7:36-39.
(Luke 7:36-39 NIV) Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. {37} When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, {38} and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. {39} When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner."
2. Jesus was so compassionate toward sinners that He was pleased when they came seeking Him and forgave them their sins, Luke 7:44-48.
(Luke 7:44-48 NIV) Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. {45} You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. {46} You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. {47} Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." {48} Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
B. Jesus Sought Sinners and Outcasts Others Often Avoid, John 4:5-42.
Such as the woman at the well:
1. Jesus initiated the contact with this sinner with non-judgmental conversation, John 4:5-10.
(John 4:5-10 NIV) So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. {6} Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. {7} When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" {8} (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) {9} The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) {10} Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
2. Jesus turned the conversation to a spiritual purpose, John 4:15-19.
(John 4:15-19 NIV) The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." {16} He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." {17} "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. {18} The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true." {19} "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet.
3. Jesus offered Himself as God's Anointed One (Messiah), John 4:15-19.
(John 4:25-26 NIV) The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." {26} Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."
4. The woman responded with faith followed by sharing her testimony with her village, John 4:28-30.
(John 4:28-30 NIV) Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, {29} "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" {30} They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
5. The woman's faith was multiplied in others as a result of her testimony, John 4:39-42.
(John 4:39-42 NIV) Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." {40} So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. {41} And because of his words many more became believers. {42} They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
C. The Obligation of Christians to Share the Gospel, Mat 28:19-20.
(Mat 28:19-20 NIV) 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."
D. The Attitude of the Christian in Sharing the Gospel, 1 Pet 3:15-16.
(1 Pet 3:15-16 NIV) But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, {16} keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
IV. Jesus Was Confrontational with Self-Righteous Hypocrites but Merciful Toward the Victims of Sin, John 8:1-11.
A. Jesus Looked for Motive Behind the Condemnation, John 8:1-9.
(John 8:1-11 NIV) But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. {2} At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. {3} The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group {4} and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. {5} In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" {6} They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. {7} When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." {8} Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. {9} At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
B. Jesus Was Ready to Offer Mercy in Place of Condemnation, John 8:10-11.
1. The message to the woman caught in adultery was merciful, John 8:10-11.
(John 8:10-11 NIV) Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" {11} "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
2. The basis of Jesus' ministry to sinners was mercy, Mat 9:10-13.
(Mat 9:10-13 NIV) While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. {11} When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" {12} On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. {13} But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Conclusion
The Great Opportunity Before Us—to tell those separated from God that there is something better, 2 Cor 5:17.
(2 Cor 5:17 NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
The Great Provision Made for All of Us—Christ paid for the sins that separated us from God, 2 Cor 5:18-19a.
(2 Cor 5:18-19a NIV) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: {19a} that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.
The Great Privilege Extended to Us Who Believe—to appeal to people to reconcile with God, 2 Cor 5:19b-21.
(2 Cor 5:19b-21 NIV) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. {20} We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. {21} God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
