A Church of IMPACT
Matthew 28:19-20
Introduction
What has made an IMPACT on you lately?
• Your family? Your neighbors? Your town? Your world?
How many would say the Church has IMPACTed their lives?
Some might answer with the affirmative. But the greater question is not has the church IMPACTed you, but…Have you as the Church made an IMPACT in someone lately??
There are Churches everywhere. You see spires rising above the picturesque landscape as you make your way from community to community. With so many communities of faith one would expect the culture to be different then it is. What's happening to the IMPACT of the church? How can we, the body of believers, really IM...PACT our community and our culture? This Sunday we look at Jesus' plan for the CHURCH OF IMPACT.
IMPACT: the effect or IMPRESSION of one thing on another
“Church of IMPACT” is a community of Christ-Followers collectively effecting or “making an impression” on others with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Scripture
Matthew 28:19-20
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus wasn’t giving those standing around Him a nice colloquial phrase to utter every now and then to a gathered group of people called the church. No Jesus was intending to IMPACT His followers in order that they themselves as the Church might make an IMPACT on the world.
Found within these words of Jesus are the GOAL, STRATEGY and COMMITMENT LEVEL needed to be successful as a church.
A Church of IMPACT…Defines its Goal
A well defined goal is needed in order to be successful.
“If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time”
• Goal of Basketball team: make a basket
• Goal of Football team: make a touchdown
A team can dribble, pass and run with excellence--but if they do not put the ball into the basket or move it beyond the goal line they will not win.
Goal of Church Team: MAKE A DISCIPLES
The Process of Making Disciples:
• Saved through Jesus
• Baptized into Jesus
• Taught about Jesus
• Serving for Jesus
A Church of IMPACT…Determines its Strategy
• Jesus applied the K.I.S.S. formula – Keep it Short and Simple
• Jesus Strategy for the Church – GO
Why We Go…Authority
Notice Jesus says: “Go, THEREFORE…” -- What’s the Therefore there for? Points us back to vv. 17-18
Matthew 28:17-18
When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth…(Go, therefore…)”
• We are Reminded Who Jesus is – The Authority (The General’s Stars)
• We are Reminded What Christ Holds – All Authority (The Policeman – Marty)
• We are Reminded What our Purpose is…Obey the Authority-“GO”
o Proclaiming… Journalist—FOX NEWS Slogan: “We report--You decide”
o Mark 3:14 (HCSB)
He also appointed 12—He also named them apostles—to be with Him, to send them out to preach,
How we Go…Intentionality
Going involves-
• Reaching out - go where the people are.
• Plugging in - bring people into fellowship of the church.
• Building up - teaching and training people
• Sending out - repeat the process
Where we Go…to People
The way we go is up for discussion. Some will go door to door, while others will develop relationships and friendships all with the goal of making disciples. We go in a variety of ways, but all those ways lead us to people. People reach people.
A Church of IMPACT…Develops its Commitment
“None of us is as strong as all of us”
T.E.A.M-Together Everyone Accomplishes More
Teams---Have to Practice the Direction of the Coach
Jesus had in mind and heart of a total commitment ... "I have commanded you."
He leaves no room for negotiation. We are all called to go and make disciples.
Teams---Have to Participate Together as a Team
Ephesians 4:16
16 From Him the whole body, FITTED and KNIT TOGETHER by every SUPPORTING ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper WORKING of each individual part.
• Fitted
• Knit together
• Supporting
• Working
Teams---Have to Perform their Individual Functions
Consider the Image of the Body for a moment. All the systems of your body functioning right now. Respiratory…Circulatory…Digestive…Lymbic…Endocrine System…Your Central Nervous System…all of these things are working together…but if one system stops working properly it effects everything.
Consider this verse again:
Ephesians 4:16
16 From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by THE PROPER WORKING OF EACH INDIVIDUAL PART.
• We need to be concerned with fulfilling our individual Responsibility
o What team will get anywhere if the tem members spend their time blaming others and complaining when others are not fulfilling their obligations. It happens in every team, but the successful teams have team members who focus on their roles and do the best they can at what they have been given to do. Perhaps even in doing this they inspire those around them to excel as well.
A Church of IMPACT…Discovers Growth
The end product of our goals, strategy, and team commitment is Growth.
The experience of the Early Church
Acts 2:44-47
Now all the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 So they sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. 46 And every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.
INVITATION
Today’s Football Playoff game
• Two teams will show up on the field
• Each has a goal…a strategy…a commitment
• One team will play better and will win and will be heading to the Super Bowl
Will PVBC be able to IMPACT the Community…the Culture? Absolutely!
But to do so we need to:
• Define our goal— Make Disciples…Reproduction
• Determine our strategy-- Go…People to People
• Develop commitment— Play our Position…Serve in our SHAPE
What is your Response This Morning?
• Enter the Draft…Become a Follower of Christ (Salvation)
• Sign with the Team…Become part of PVBC (Membership)
• Get in the Game…Stop Sitting on the Bench (Discipleship)
