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by Samuel E. Ward
Part IIb: Approaches to the Mission
August 18, 2011
View PowerPoint Presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/approaches-to-the-mission-pt-i-ib
Ryan's Lawn and Care Mission Statement: To serve God by helping our clients create beautiful, sustainable environments while we create opportunities for our associates and business partners.
Hobby Lobby's Statement of Purpose: In order to effectively serve our owners, employees, and customers the Board of Directors is committed to:
Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles. Offering our customers an exceptional selection and value. Serving our employees and their families by establishing a work environment and company policies that build character, strengthen individuals, and nurture families. Providing a return on the owners' investment, sharing the Lord's blessings with our employees, and investing in our community.We believe that it is by God's grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured. He has been faithful in the past, and we trust Him for our future.
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.
Winsome Approaches Which Attract Others to Christ:
1. Cultivate friendships.
2. Connect with people where they are.
3. Care for what people have to say.
Let us continue to observe three more ways Jesus approached people for the purpose of making them His disciples.
IV. Jesus Candidly Addressed the Root of People's Problems.
A. It Was Not the Paralytic's Ill Health; It Was His Sin, Mat 9:2-7.
(Mat 9:1-7 NIV) Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. {2} Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." {3} At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!" {4} Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? {5} Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? {6} But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . ." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." {7} And the man got up and went home.
Notice that the main purpose of the healing was to prove that since He had the power to heal, Jesus also had authority to forgive sins—which was the greatest of the paralytic's needs.
B. It Was Not the Rich Man's Devotion to the Law; It Was His Devotion to His Riches, Mark 10:17-22.
(Mark 10:17-23 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. {23} Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
It is not keeping a list of commands that saves, though Jesus accommodated for the sake of argument the man's belief that keeping the commands were a means to eternal life. However, Jesus shifted his remarks to prove that the rich man was in fact violating the whole spirit of the law by withholding compassion for the poor. The rich man, like the rest of us, could not find redemption in the Law because he had not kept the spirit of the Law. The greatest commandments as stated by Jesus elsewhere is . . .
(Mat 22:37-40 NIV) "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' {38} This is the first and greatest commandment. {39} And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' {40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
V. Jesus Considered People's Questions Seriously.
A. The Pharisees and Sadducees: "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? {15} Should we pay or shouldn't we?" , Mark 12:15-17.
(Mark 12:15-17 NIV) Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." {16} They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. {17} Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him.
Jesus' answer: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." However, when there is a conflict between the will of the government and the will of God, God's will takes precedence. (See Psa 22:28; Dan 4:34-35)
B. The Lawyer: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?", Luke 10:25-37.
(Luke 10:25-37 NIV) On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" {26} "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" {27} He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" {28} "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." {29} But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" {30} In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. {31} A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. {32} So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. {33} But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. {34} He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. {35} The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' {36} "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" {37} The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
Like the rich man in Mark 10, this lawyer asked the most important question a person can pose to Christ. Similarly, the lawyer was disappointed in Jesus' answer when Jesus said that not only must he love God with his whole heart, soul, and mind; but he must love his neighbor as much as himself. The lawyer, trained to find loopholes and exceptions in the law, sought one in Jesus' command, as well. Jesus, being God, was the Author of the Law and was quite ready to defend its spirit. With greater skill than Ben Matlock, Jesus led the lawyer to concede to Jesus' definition of who one's neighbor is. Jesus was direct in his command to the lawyer, "Go and do likewise."
C. Note Every Christian's Responsibility in 1 Pet 3:15.
(1 Pet 3:12-15 NIV) For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." {13} Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? {14} But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened." {15} 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.
The context of this passage (1 Peter 3:8-4:3) is Peter's exhortation to God's people who had been scattered throughout world because of persecution. Because of that persecution, some might be called upon to explain their faith in Christ and possibly upon the threat of confiscation of property or death be asked to recant. At that point, it is every Christian's obligation to be able to explain the gospel, defend their faith, but never deny it. But this must be done with respect toward their inquisitors and by gentle means of persuasion.
VI. Jesus Confronted People with the Choice to Believe Without Coercion.
A. His Disciples Were to Follow His Example, Luke 9:5.
(Luke 9:1-5 NIV) When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, {2} and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. {3} He told them: "Take nothing for the journey--no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. {4} Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. {5} If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them."
B. He Did Not Punish Those Who Refused, He Simply Moved On, Luke 9:51-56.
(Luke 9:51-56 NIV) As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. {52} And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; {53} but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. {54} When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" {55} But Jesus turned and rebuked them, {56} and they went to another village.
C. He Let People Make Their Own Choice, Only Warning Them of the Cost of Following Him, Luke 9:23-25.
(Luke 9:23-25 NIV) Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. {24} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. {25} What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
There is a place for pleading and convincing, Acts 2:40 ; 9:22 .
(Acts 2:36-40 NIV) "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." {37} When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" {38} Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. {39} The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." {40} With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."
Peter's Example: Acts 2:36-40
The message to be preached: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." The gift to be received: "You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." The availability of the promise: "For you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." The seriousness of the message: "With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."Conclusion
When Jesus approaches you, understand . . .
1. He comes as a friend.
2. He meets you where you are.
3. He cares for what you have to say and your concerns.
4. He wants to get to the heart of the issues in your life.
5. He understands you may have questions.
6. He will not force you to follow Him, but He will try to persuade you because of the consequences if you decide not to—It is always YOUR choice.
