Becoming A Contagious Christian
Why Become A Contagious Christian?
I) People Matter To God
Jesus demonstrates this truth through three stories.
Luke 15:1-7 (NIV)
1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him.
2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3 Then Jesus told them this parable:
4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
7 I tell you that 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.
Luke 15:8-10 (NIV)
8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’
10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger one said to his father, ’Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, ’How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’
20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, ’Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 "But the father said to his servants, ’Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
27 ’Your brother has come,’ he replied, ’and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered his father, ’Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 "’My son,’ the father said, ’you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’"
In these stories we find three essential truths:
Something of Great Value was missing - Something that really mattered to the owner
A sheep - A significant part of the shepherds livelihood
A coin - A significant portion of the woman’s estate
A son - Well it goes without saying the importance here.
Through these 3 little seemingly insignificant stories Jesus was showing us that these people - the wander, the lost, the spiritually confused and rebellious - actually have great value to God.
Do we assign the same worth to the lost or do we llok at them, assess their situation and decide that they are getting exactly what they deserve.
These 3 stories remind that we have never locked eyes with anyone who does not matter to God.
That Which was missing was important enough to warrent an all out search.
The shepherd - left the 99 and went looking for the one until he found it.
The woman - Stopped what she was doing and turned her home upside down until she found that one missing coin.
The father - While respecting the need of his son to learn some hard life lessons for himself, never quit looking and hoping for the rturn of his wayward son.
Luke 19:9-10 (NIV) 9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
John 20:21 (NIV) 21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
We are on a mission - Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Acts 1:8 (NIV) 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."
God had chosen us to be His agents to speard wthe word about His love and forgiveness found through Jesus. He wants us to become contagious Christians. to rub off on those arround us. Not only does He want us to do this, re requires it of us.
Finding results in a great celebration.
The Shepherd - Luke 15:5-6 (NIV) 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
The Woman - Luke 15:9 (NIV) 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’
The Father - Luke 15:22-24 (NIV) 22 "But the father said to his servants, ’Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:32 (NIV) 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’"
Let’s go back and read the verses that I left out the first time through - Luke 15:7 (NIV) 7 I tell you that 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.
Luke 15:10 (NIV)
10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
There are Parties in Heaven! - When you gave your life to Jesus, there was a party in heaven and the banner over the head table had your name on it.
There is nothing like the adventure used by God to contagiously spread His message of love, hope, and forgiveness.
II) The Are Rewards For Being Contagious
Luke 14:25-35 (NIV)
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:
26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple.
27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?
29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,
30 saying, ’This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’
31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.
33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
34 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Adventure - We are God’s recon team. we never know what lies just around the corner. While the risk are great, the rewards are even greater. Remember there will be a party.
Purpose - The exciting thing is you will begin to see God at work even in the difficult circumstances of your life. You will even begin to expect it! 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Fullfillment - There is nothing under heaven that you can do that has an eternal impact. John 4:31-38 (NIV) 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something." 32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." 33 Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" 34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Do you not say, ’Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ’One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
Spiritual Growth -
Revitalized energy
Renewed passion for prayer
More intimate worship
Improved personal purity
Passion for church attendance
Spiritual confidence
Enduring investments - Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 2 Peter 3:10-13 (NIV) 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
The honor of being God’s agent - Acts 1:8 (NIV) 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."
The Cost Of Being A Contagious Christian
Before we enter into this adventure we must consider the cost. I do not want to deceive you. While there are great rewards, there are also great cost.
Time and Energy
Reading and Study
Money
Risk of embarrassment, rejection, or persecution. Matthew 5:11-12 (NIV)
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV) Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
It complicates your life
Conclusion: Over the next several weeks we are going to breakdown God’s formula for accomplishing this great task.
HP + CP + CC = MI
High Potency + Close Proximity + Clear Communication = Maximum Impact
I am indebted to Bill Hybles and his book Becoming a Contagious Christian for the material in this sermon
