Review

• Vision
• Mission
• Process
• Share—Connect —Minister —Disciple
• 7 Essential core values –that come from the process guide our culture

Last week + We accept Him and Abide in Him

• As we Abide with Him our perspective and character changes by the power of the Holy Spirit
• We are given a new life – and a future hope
• We are now a part of The Body of Christ

When we abide, we see as the Lord does and we join Him in His mission:

Luke 15:3–10 (ESV) ³ So he told them this parable: ⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ ⁷ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. ⁸ “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? ⁹ And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ ¹⁰ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Philippians 3:18–20 (ESV) ¹⁸ For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

WE  do this together — The church –The Body –and me as an individual missionary

• The church is Gods mechanism – His living tangible representation on earth
• We are all part of His body and we have a mission

Ephesians 1:22–23 (NIV) ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

WE all have a different parts to play in the body –together

Ephesians 4:10–16 (NIV) ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) ¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

We all have different parts to play in this mission –fishers of men

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 (NIV) ¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

1 Corinthians 3:5–9 (NIV) ⁵ What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. ⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

We all have an individual part to play

Colossians 4:2–6 (NIV) ² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

1. We all pray –– for the lost
2. We all live wisely
3. We all individually Serve –meeting needs where you can as a part of the church and individually
4. We are all watchful and thankful –we make the most of every opportunity by

• Sharing what God has done for us
• Sharing our story
• Sharing what God has given to us with others –resources and abilities

5. Connects people to the next step – or person –Bugs –SCMD – the church
6. We all play a corporate part of the body – as each part does its work we become mature and so does the body of Christ

1 Peter 3:13–15 (NIV) 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 their threats; do not be frightened.” ¹⁵ But in your hearts revere 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,

Conclusion—The lifesaving station story

For Small Group Discussion

Opening Question: Have you ever lost something that was valuable to you? What was it? Did you find it?

Main Point: Every believer can and should share their faith with those who do not know Jesus, and we celebrate what God has done when people make decisions for Christ.

Main Scripture:  Matthew 9:9-13

Head Questions

• Who have you shared your faith with in the past? How was it received?
• Besides sharing the truth of the gospel, what other elements are helpful for reaching someone who is lost?

Heart Questions

• What tactics of sharing the gospel have you seen or experienced that have been ineffective?
• When you were lost, how did God reach you? Who has been significant in your story of coming to know and growing in your relationship with Jesus?

Hands Questions

• Who is someone God has put on your heart or in your path to reach?
• We are all called to be ready with an answer for the hope that is in us. How can you personally develop this skill/practice telling your testimony? How do you utilize the resources available to you?

Additional Scripture: Romans 1:16, 1 Peter 3:15-16, Luke 19:10

Tips and Resources: Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh & Sean McDowell, Gospel by J.D. Greear, Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

For more sermon resources, podcasts, and other tools go to:  https://realliferesources.org/current-series/