Reaching The Lost With Compassion Series

INTRODUCTION:

Mission Statement:

The Redeeming River Church is a family of believers committed to preaching the cross with conviction, reaching the lost with compassion, and equipping the saints with the Word!

Three results of not understanding the Mission.

1. Plateaued Growth - growth seems to reach a certain level and then drop back down

2. Internal Conflict - constant infighting caused by an ignorance of what should be happening

3. Low Moral - leaders become discouraged when structure or bureaucracy stymies their vision for growth

Definitions

1. Reaching - to make an effort to get to

2. The Lost – those who have not come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ

3. With Compassion - driven by a desire to help those who are suffering or who are headed toward suffering

I. REACHING OUT CAN MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE

A. MY ARMS ARE TOO SHORT

1. Have you ever tried to reach something across the table and you just couldn’t reach it.

2. You have to say, “Could you please pass the jelly”

3. There are times when things that we know we need to reach are out of the range of our hands

4. There are times when God tells us to reach people that are out of the range of our abilities

5. That’s exactly why He chooses you to do it

6. 1 Corinthians 1:24-27

24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

7. If you feel like you aren’t capable of reaching the mark...WATCH OUT!

8. You may be the next missionary to South America

B. MEET MY FRIEND SOMEONE ELSE

1. Illustration: OBITUARY OF THE HARDEST WORKER IN THE CHURCH

We are all saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our church’s most valuable members, Someone Else. Someone’s passing created a vacancy that will be difficult to be. Else has been with us for many years, and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person’s share of the work. Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results: Someone Else can work with that group." Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s list- Someone Else. "Let Someone Else do it" was a common refrain heard throughout the church. It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the largest givers in the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference. Someone Else was a wonderful person, sometimes appearing superhuman; but a person can only do so much. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? Remember-we can’t depend on Someone Else anymore!

2. Sometimes it is easy to let someone else do it

3. You have to do it unto the Lord...Someone else wont cut it!

C. SOMETIMES THE COOKIES ARE FOR OUR LITTLE BROTHER

1. I can’t help think of my kids

2. We have 3 children

3. One short, one shorter, and one the shortest

4. I get tickled when I watch my smallest son, the mini me as many of you describe him

5. We keep the cookies on top of the fridge

6. He use to jump up and down and whine and cry for someone to get the cookies down for him

7. My other two children just love dropping what they are doing to get him the cookies

8. It doesn’t seem rewarding for them to get someone else the cookies

9. When we help others it is not for our gain...but for the kingdom of God’s sake

10. How many of you know that you will get plenty of cookies when you get to heaven?

11. I like chocolate chip with a big glass of milk

12. 1 Corinthians 2:9

9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

II. GOD’S GIFTS ARE WORTH REACHING FOR