A Christian As A Catalyst In A Post-Modern World

EPHESIANS 2:10; 1TIMOTHY 4

Introduction

Introduce the sermon on Israel journey to the land of Canaan God intension and desires for them toward their neighboring villages.

Following Christ goes far beyond private spirituality. It also involves a believer’s public life particularly through work and participation in the community. You have all it takes to stand in the fast changing society and the world today as a catalyst.

The older men refer to Christianity today as modern Christianity.

Let me quickly define some key terms that are relevant to our discussion this morning.

CATALYST: a catalyst is anything that causes a change or event to happen.

POST-MODERN: is used to describe something or someone that is influenced by a modern society.

Because of the fast growing globalization, so many things had undergone changes in the name of modernization. Some are for good while some are for the deterioration if the society. For example, our modern day technology has made communication easier through the use of GSM. At the sometime create an easier way for telling lies.

As a result of more awareness and the condition of the society we no longer trust each other. Everybody you see is a suspect. We fight each other for nothing although for some it is something precious. We suffer for nothing and sweat yet without peace.

Since we never trust one another even in the church setting, our gatherings, fellowships, prayer meetings has become hypocritical.

Was that the intention of Christ for His church? How can a Christian be a catalyst, a change agent in post-modern world?

From the text Ephesians 2:10, there are three things that Apostle Paul encourage the church at Ephesus to take note as they approach the millennium age. The passage quickly reminded them that they were created for a specific purpose and that purpose was for them to be change agent through their good works.

1. Don’t turn your Christianity into a market driving religion.

The church today is turning and competing with the world system.

In Mt 5:13-16--- Jesus used two metaphors to describe a dynamic Christian, what we are able to do and our responsibility in the world. God made you in such a way that he could not use any of his creation to liken you, but himself that is light. These teach us that we have no equal match as we live here on this planate earth. Do you now see how important you are?

Salt: that is to say the world is bitter, sour you are the only person to make it sweet, give it a fragrance test. You are to make it a better place to live in (habitable). You are to preserve it for a future and you are to make it accommodative.

If a seasoning has no flavor, it has no value. If Christian makes no effort to affect the world around them, they are of little value to God. Just as the seasoning brings a taste in a food, we should be change agent to bring difference in the world.

Light: the world is in darkness, the people of the world are blind. Therefore their only source of light can only be found in you. You are the life wire of the world. God has made you possessing positive and negative that are capable of producing light or which the current flows.

The simple fact is that you can not hide a city that is sitting on top of a hill. It light at night and can be seen everywhere. If we live like Christ we should glow like light showing the world what Christ is like.

Jesus want us to shine, to be visible and attractive not to ourselves, but to bring people to Him. But we fail to make any impact in the world when we are standing like burned-out street lights ineffective and wanting to be removed.

According to Ephesians 2:10, you are a product in the world market, you have the batch number, registration number and the name of the company (CHRISTIAN). A good product sells itself people come rushing.

Christianity is old as the world, and ECWA is more than 100years old.

Your Christian life is above the world because 2Cor 5:17 says….

But you want to copy and be like the world instead the world to copy and to be like you.

You must be a catalyst in the life of someone.

You must be a catalyst in the church.

Questions:

How many people will say thank God for this one thing for helping me to be like this.

How many have you brought to the Lord?

How many Christians have you succeeded in putting them into trouble?

If something happen to your fellow Christian don’t be the first person to broadcast it.

2. Become a user friendly Christian. 1Chron.12:32 an example of men of Issachar.