Dakota Community Church
August 16, 2009
The Field & the Force 5
Finding my Place in the Field
So far we have looked at:
1. When the Church is the field
When the church is the field it is seen as the place people come to do the work of God.
2. When the Church is the (labor) force
When the church becomes the force – the world becomes the field.
3. When and where is the gospel to be proclaimed?
The gospel is to be proclaimed everywhere and in every way!
4. In what ways is the force mobilized?
Just how do we get out there and work in the field?
5. What is the role of pastors and elders?
Should we even have pastors and elders?
This morning:
6. How do I find my place in the field?
Let’s go to the word of God:
2 Corinthians 5:1-21
1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in (Our body) is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, (Righteous discontent) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. (Eternal view of life) 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (Believers), that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
The cross tells us we are saved from something. From wrath, from hell, from the power of sin, from our former pointless way of life - but the resurrection tells us we are saved TO something! To new life in Christ, to fellowship, to community, to ministry; Paul is talking about our motivation here.
11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. (We know of the coming judgment so we can’t just keep this to ourselves)
If you are on a plane that is going down your primary concern is not that the drink cart makes it to every person.
Jesus primarily came to preach:
1. Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
2. Matthew 4:23
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
3. Matthew 9:35
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
4. Matthew 10:7
As you go, preach this message: ’The kingdom of heaven is near.’
5. Matthew 11:1
After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
6. Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
7. Mark 1:38
Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."
8. Mark 1:39
So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
9. Mark 2:2
So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.
10. Mark 3:14
He appointed twelve—designating them apostles —that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach
11. Mark 6:12
They went out and preached that people should repent.
12. Mark 13:10
And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
13. Mark 16:15
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
14. Mark 16:20
Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
15. Luke 3:3
He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
16. Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
17. Luke 4:43
But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
18. Luke 4:44
And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
19. Luke 7:22
So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
20. Luke 9:2
and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
21. Luke 9:6
So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
22. Luke 16:16
"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
23. Luke 20:1
One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.
24. Luke 24:47
and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Back to our text:
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (Saved to something)
16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
So God has committed to me the message of reconciliation but I thought it might draw bigger crowds to preach on life tips from Bat Man? God forgive me I thought for a while we needed to re-imagine Christianity but in fact what I needed was to rediscover it!
20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We have the ministry of reconciliation. All of us! Remember when we addressed when and where the gospel is to be preached? EVERYWHERE at EVERY MOMENT
Now let’s quickly look at another passage:
Colossians 3:1-25
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
So here come some examples of deeds that we are to do that involve expressions of gratitude for what God has done for us through Christ:
18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
We glorify God as we minister to each other, as we fulfill our responsibilities to our families, and as we bless our neighbors and co-workers in secular employment.
To be continued Aug. 23, 2009
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
