Connecting To Community Part Three Series

Connecting to community part three

Selected Verses

Introduction-

For the past several weeks we have looked at connecting to community.

Part one was the relationship with the Lord (priority one)

Part two was our connection with each other. We need each other. The church was created by God so that we would not have to journey alone and we would be a support for each other.

The church is:

A place of redemption

A place of discipleship

A place of Commitment

A place of Service

We must as the body of Christ look at the church the way God intended and not as the world looks at it.

The world sees it as a place to get married, buried, and a place to visit when it is convenient

I told you last week if this (relationship with God) is not right, we will not love others. If we don’t love others, we will not reach out to those that need Christ. Each part touches the other.

God touches us and we touch others.

Luke 19:10-

“For the Son of man came to seek and save the lost.”

It was intentional-

He didn’t only live a sinless life, He told people how they could get to heaven and have a relationship with God the Father.

Matthew 5:16-

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” That is intentional and personal!

I realize this morning as we celebrate Girl Scout Sunday that we have different denominations gathered today, but the message is the same for each of us- show the love of Christ to those we come in contact with.

Live it like we mean it.

Intentional!

(holding three fingers up and together. 3 parts of the promise. )

Motto- “Be prepared”

Slogan- “Do a good deed daily”

Promise of friendship

Girl Scout Promise-

“On my honor, I will try to serve God and my country, to help others at all times.”

Girl Scout Law- (paraphrased)

Be compassionate people and make the world a better place because we are in it.

I think with those principals, you can evangelize the world for Christ.

You turn that into sharing the love of Christ and people would see God’s love in action.

You start talking evangelism, witnessing, bringing people to God and you have people that tighten up like a drum and get fearful.

Then the excuses begin to fly.

I don’t have time for that.

People will get mad.

I’ll lose my friends.

Everyone has heard it already.

People have a right to choose what they believe.

The gospel is the good news of Christ. It’s not about excuses. It is sharing the good news with others.

I will give you several reasons this morning to share the Gospel

I. God said so

Matthew 28:19-

“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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”

The day of Pentecost

Acts 2:8-

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

He tells us to Go!

He promises to empower us!

He promises to be with us!

Matthew, Mark, Luke- Gospels, all have the same message. Go and share the message of Christ. Give others a chance to come to Christ.

(2) Christ Commands us to Love our neighbors (our enemies also)

Mark 12:30

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this-love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love God, Love others.

Over 10 years ago I preached a sermon entitled “Who’s your neighbor?” How far are we to reach out?

Next door?

Mile away?

Town?

State?

Country?

It is wherever we connect with people. We may not go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ours may be Highspire, Middletown, Harrisburg.

(3) God rejoices when people come to Christ

The Bible tells us heaven rejoices when people come to Christ

Luke 15:7

“I tell you in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.”

I want to please God, I want to make Him happy.

Can I get a witness? That is what an old evangelist would say while preaching his heart out. Can I get a witness?