Sermon Central
-
Unshakable Devotion Series
Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Jan 13, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: The early disciples were serious about God and dangerous to the world. What is the difference between a safe church and a dangerous church? (from a series by Craig Groeschel, lifechurch.tv)
Welcome to- 2nd week- Dangerous Church series
what is a dangerous church,
how does it contrast with a safe church,
do we want to be a safe/dangerous church?
God never called His Church to be safe.
In fact we are called to be a people who are
serious about our walk with God, and
dangerous to the world around us-
we are a threat to their unbelief system.
Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. NASU
(Pastor Tony) I want to suggest that if this is true, than this would also be a true statement
So unbelief comes from hearing, and hearing by the words and philosophies of this world.
Many Christians listen far more to
what this world has to say to them, than
what God’s Word or
other Christian writings have to say
Many Christians do not have- clear Biblical worldview
We’re Back:
As a pastor, I have dangerous powers!
My powers- not of this world, they are other worldly.
Jesus said- “My Kingdom is not of this world.”
I choose to live in His Kingdom.
Paul said- “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful.”
As I walk w/Christ-I have dangerous powers-so do you
I am an ordinary person but I have something extraordinary to offer when I am walking w/Christ.
Acts 4:13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. NLT
What makes these ordinary men extraordinary
they were men who had been with Jesus Christ.
The Dangerous Church is made up of
ordinary people
who have been with Jesus.
Review
A Safe Church …
1. Strives to keep the members happy
2. Avoids controversial issues
3. Remains cautious
However, as we saw last week- dangerous church has-
1. An uncivilized approach
They are a people that think outside the box- message does not change, but creative w/methodology.
2. A divine boldness
Follow what God says, not what people/culture say.
3. A risk-taking faith
Cannot play it safe and please God-faith involves risks
Dangerous Church
A dangerous church has …
4. An unshakable devotion
Ordinary people who have been with Jesus and have an unordinary love for God.
Story: Every week a man would leave church and say to the pastor, “The answer is YES, now what is the question?” The pastor was confused. One Sunday- asked the man to lunch. The man
told the pastor this, “I was once a very mean person who did not believe in God. One day I cried out to God and God changed me.” He said, “God is my ultimate authority, but you are the authority God has placed over me. My answer to God through you is always YES. Now what is the question, what do you want me to do?”
This man had a dangerous devotion to God his answer to God was always YES.
Realistically, many of us would probably say
the answer is MAYBE, now what is the question
In other words
God, you must not interfere with my plans/goals
Let me encourage everyone here
sell your life out to God, and
stop observing and start participating.
Wow- an challenging picture of devotion to Christ.
Question: Do we have devotion or convenience?
5. A sense of selfless community
Selfless speaks of not being selfish, not focused on self or self-benefit, self-gain, self-promotion.
Ordinary people who experienced God/sold out to Him
There answer was YES, now what is the question?
I wonder: is the world rejecting God or is rejecting a self-centered, safe church?
The world is looking- place- where people live- Christ.
Not interested in what believe as much as how we live.
If they see Christ lived in community- beg to join.
That is- dangerous place to be- but where God calls us.
Many Christians see the church as a place they go to have their needs met (this is unbiblical).
We have forgotten …
we (people) are the church and
we are here for the world.
God, anything I have that you want- answer is YES.
6. A consuming focus
By focus I mean …
who we are,
what we are about,
the essence of our life.
Lock us up, beat us, we have seen God, and you cannot stop us- they had a consuming focus.
Christianity is not just something we believe, it is inherent in the way we live and what we die for.
At work- I should see myself as a minister of Christ.
My family offers me an incredible opportunity to pour into my wife/children the love of Christ.
