Dakota Community Church
August 23, 2009
The Field & the Force 6
Finding My Place in the Field (Part 2)
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?
6. How do I find my place in the field?
7. The force at rest.
Let’s go to the word of God:
Ephesians 2:8-10
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God has prepared good works for us to do in advance.
He does not slot us automatically into place!
How do find the right place for us?
When it comes to field work:
I. Understand Christian liberty.
(He doesn’t say how to put it to work)
Luke 19:11-14
11While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ’Put this money to work,’ he said, ’until I come back.’
14"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ’We don’t want this man to be our king.’
Herod the Great, had killed 3,000 Jews once on one Sabbath. They hated him. So when it came out that Caesar was going to make Herod king, there was a delegation sent by the Jews to Caesar to complain about Herod’s kingship and they were asking that another ruler be put over them besides Herod. So although this seems like a very crazy story to us, He is nailing it right where they are. This has actually happened in their time, and He’s using this story as a modern day parable to teach them.
The king is going to be going away for a while and he is leaving work for his subjects; work which is to be done using the kings gifts!
He does not tell them how or where to work, he only says – make a profit and work until I get back!
Unless you here a clear directive from the Spirit you are free to decide where you will work. Seek a clear directive but understand the reality of Christian liberty.
Prison ministry, operation sunshine, KOZ, providing a home, visiting seniors, teaching a bible study, working in the nursery – you have liberty to decide.
If you are married you do not have liberty to decide on whether or not to minister to your spouse.
If you have children you do not have liberty to decide on whether or not to train them.
Which brings the next point:
II. Face the reality of accountability.
(Don’t be a wicked servant – Judas, Pharisee/publican)
Luke 19:15-27
15"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
16"The first one came and said, ’Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
17" ’Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ’Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
18"The second came and said, ’Sir, your mina has earned five more.’
19"His master answered, ’You take charge of five cities.’
20"Then another servant came and said, ’Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’
The wicked servant thought the increase should be his own!
The wicked servant didn’t like the Kings system, didn’t want to submit to the kings lordship; what he had to work with came from the king but he didn’t think the king had a right to demand an account.
22"His master replied, ’I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
24"Then he said to those standing by, ’Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
25" ’Sir,’ they said, ’he already has ten!’
Is it possible to be a servant of the king and to wind up with nothing?
Think about Judas.
Luke 18:9-14
9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: ’God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ’God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
The proud man did not go home justified before God!
My fear of man issues, how I was confronted with them and why I am preaching as I am now
Luke 19:26-27
26"He replied, ’I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me."
I don’t care if you don’t like it, I don’t care if you don’t like me anymore, it kills me but if you want to go to church somewhere and hear about what a great person you are how concerned God is with your happiness – go.
I am determined by the grace of God to tell the truth even when, especially when; we don’t like it and we don’t want to hear it. THERE IS A DAY OF ACCOUNTING COMING!
III. Never lose sight of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
1 John 1:8-10; 2 John 1:1-2
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Next Sunday – August 30 – Town Hall field reports
In three Weeks – September 6: Pastor Chris preaches
September 13 - The Force at rest.
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
