First Assembly Community Ministries kicked off this church-wide series on Sunday, September 13. In this message, we’ll explore what every person following Christ has for a purpose in their lives. Check out the outline and the video of the service below!
LIFE ON MISSION—Overview
Matthew 4:19 “‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’
BIG IDEA: The mission of the Christ–followeris reaching lost people.
Luke 15:1-2 “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’”
JESUS’ PRIORITY
Jesus’ ministry prioritized those who were far from God.
Matthew 9:12 “On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.’”
Matthew 9:35-38 “35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”
JESUS’ STORY
Jesus’ story about a lost son is actually aimed at those who think they are well–behaved.
Luke 15:25-27 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’”
Luke 15:28-30 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’”
JESUS’ POINT
Self righteousness and selfishness blind us to what is important to God.
Luke 18:10-14 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 ‘I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’”
Matthew 7:5 “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
JESUS’ MISSION
To find what is lost, we must search for and attract the lost.
Ezekiel 34:6 “My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.”
ACTION: Join a group and get clear on how to bring lost people home.