1 Thessalonians 2:8
Sermon for 1/30/2005
Our mission is to share our lives with the gospel
Introduction:
The book "Real Hope in Chicago." It’s about a high school coach named Wayne Gordon. He was doing a Bible study after school with some inner city kids in the Lawndale area, which was the 2nd poorest black community in the country. Overrun with drug dealers and gangs and prostitutes. And God gave him such a heart for the black community that he told the kids that he was going to move to Lawndale.
And they said, "Coach, we love you. But we think you’re nuts! It’s not safe for white folks to live in Lawndale. You’re not going to last a month!"
But Wayne moved there, anyway. And it wasn’t easy. He got attacked by one of the street gangs. He had his house broken into again and again.
But he stuck it out. And those black kids asked him to start a church and to be their preacher. So they laid hands on him. And they ordained him.
I don’t how he did it. But his love for the community of Lawndale was so strong, that he brought lots of people to Christ. He even witnessed to the guy that kept breaking into his house, and he led him to Christ. And they built a church. And today, they have a 600 member congregation in Lawndale. And the church has built over 50 new houses and apartment buildings, a new gymnasium, a house for recovering drug addicts, and they even built a medical center and got top notch doctors to go there. In other words, the gospel didn’t just transform the people. It transformed the entire community.
Why did Wayne Gordon go through all that trouble? Because he loved the people of Lawndale so much that he was delighted to share with them not only the gospel of God, but his very life. He lived out the truth of 1 Thessalonians 2:8. And that’s what real Christianity looks like!
WBTU:
A. Discussion of 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8: Paul was willing to give not only the Gospel but his own life as well. His love for the Thessalonians was so great he would die for them if necessary. He shared his life with them.
B. This is our purpose statement.
1. Give history. (On Sunday night, put in a few words the essence of our mission)
2. Scripture. Went over many Scriptures, this one most popular
a. Sharing our lives:
1) With the Lord- Love the Lord Your God with all of your…
2) With other people- Love your neighbor as yourself
b. And the gospel:
** The Great Commission
c. Give some thoughts on the discussion from the leadership retreat.
D. This is what got me interested in the ministry here. What is your greatest strength? Family atmosphere.
E. I know how it can be for some. It is like a commercial I heard from a convenience store, one customer gave a testimonial: I can get in, get out, and get about my business. Many say, “I want to do my Christian duty so I will go to church. I like my church because I can get in, get out, and get about my business. If the preacher speaks too long, or something takes up too much time, I don’t like it because I want to get in, get out and get about my business.” This individual doesn’t want to get to know anyone. If they do know people in the church they make sure that it is only on a superficial level. If anyone tries to get to know them, they are kept at arms length because this person is not interested in making the church a home; they are just interested in doing their Christian duty.
F. It can be the same way with the preacher. There is a career aspect to the ministry. The preacher does not form lasting relationships with anyone because he is not interested in that, he is just interested in reaching the next bigger and better ministry. On the other hand, if things start going sour or if things don’t work out to his satisfaction, then he can leave and go somewhere else. There are plenty of empty pulpits.
H. A need for deeper, more meaningful relationships with other people.
a. Mobility, divorce, breakup of families are high.
b. Radical individualism- We can be a good Christian and not attend church.
c. George Gallop- What we have discovered from surveys, as many as 3 in 10 say they’ve been lonely “for a long period of time.”
d. Churches need to deal directly with the separateness and acute loneliness in our society by encouraging corporate worship, as well as participation in small groups.
Thesis: I cannot share my life with people because:
People are hurtful and hateful
A. I am a preacher. I know they are. One day you’re their hero, and the next day you’re their enemy. It’s not what have you done for me; it’s what have you done for me lately.
B. (2 Th 3:2 NIV) And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.
C. My uncle Wendell says, “Deliver us from unreasonable people.”
D. I have shared information on my finances with others and they have used it against me. I have shared struggles in my marriage and in my family and the next thing I know it is all over the gossip sessions.
E. Unfortunately, there are long time Christians out there who are not interested in helping you, they are not interested in being your friend, they are just interested in what kind of dirt they can drag up or make up on you. IF we share with them, watch out! They can’t sin out in the open so they sin with their mouths behind people’s backs. It is a shame!
H. I remember at my ordination, the elders at my home church asked me this question, “Why do you want to be ordained?” I told them the story about Kevin Masters. Kevin was the star of the Bible Bowl program at the church I was serving. It didn’t start out that way. I worked with him and several others and through time and effort the program took off. We had a lot of fun. All of us were not that far removed in age, I was in college and they were in high school. We had a lot of fun, I shared my life with them, and they shared their life with me. I remember that I was about to graduate and Kevin’s father, Randy Masters, came up to me and said that he appreciated what I had done with his son. Without me he didn’t know where his son would be. Before I came along Kevin was starting to fall in with the wrong crowd. When I came along with the Bible Bowl program it gave Kevin something to do and it gave him close Christian friends. Why do I want to be ordained? So that I can help people like Kevin Masters.
I. Even in the life of Jesus there was one who kicked him in the teeth, Judas. However, think about the other 11.
People are so different from me
A. I grew up on a farm, raised as a teenager in the big city, moved from the North to the South; I have learned that people are basically the same.
D. Paul Colman Gloria- We all walk the same earth, We all breathe the same air
We all feel the same rain that falls, We all have the same call
We’re all God’s children after all, Made for love by the maker of all
We all have the same heart, Beneath our skin the same blood
Flowing from our maker’s hand, We all wear the same wrong
E. (2 Cor 5:14 NIV) For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.(2 Cor 5:15 NIV) And 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.(2 Cor 5:16 NIV) So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.
F. All of these worldly divisions- North vs. South, rich vs. poor, white vs. black or Hispanic, educated vs. uneducated, married vs. single, young vs. old, those with a job vs. those on disability or retired, those with children vs. those without children, white collar vs. blue collar, those who are overweight vs. those who are underweight, those with brown eyes vs. those with blue. All of these things need to be removed as Christians. They are worldly distinctions and they are ungodly.
G. Different personalities. Yes, there are some people who have difficulties getting along. But those people who have been a thorn in my side have usually taught me the most about myself and the most about life.
I would be ashamed
A. Many people feel like they are junk. They will not like me or my house or my life or my work or my habits so I would be ashamed before them if they really knew me.
B. Some people are judgmental. This is another group that is hard to get along with. IT is either my way or no way.
C. Let I tell you that God made you special and he loves you very much. God doesn’t make junk. Everyone is unique. God places great value on you because he sent Jesus Christ to die for you.
D. 1/3 of Americans have a low sense of self-worth.
E. We are part of a body. Every part of the body is important in some way.
F. I would be ashamed because of my lifestyle, bad habits and sins.
G. If this is the way that we feel about a particular area of our life, then we need to make changes. (Gal 5:24 NIV) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
H. You can overcome these sins through the Holy Spirit. Must become a Christian.
I. The Bible tells us that even if we have sins, we need to confess them. (James 5:16 NIV) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. This is part of the process for us to become more like Christ and to get rid of all of the crud in our lives.
J. (1 Th 2:5 NIV) You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. So many people put on masks. Take off the mask and be real. They will find out I am a jerk. Aren’t we all?
It’s my life and I don’t want to share it.
A. To share is to give up control, to give up what I want. With all of my children, I have to sacrifice. It is unpleasant especially when I think about my carefree bachelor days, but anything worthwhile involves some sacrifices.
B. (Mark 8:35 NIV) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
C. Think about how much Christ has sacrificed for you. (John 10:11 NIV) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
D. What does Christ want us to do? (1 John 3:16 NIV) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
E. This is all inward focused on the church. What about those lost, outside of Christ?
F. Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York- It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a wonderful service with many people coming forward. The counselors were talking with these people. As I was sitting there I looked up the middle aisle, and there in about the third row was a man who looked about fifty, disheveled, filthy. He looked up at me rather sheepishly, as if saying, “Could I talk to you?” We have homeless people coming in all the time, asking for money or whatever. So as I sat there, I said to myself, though I am ashamed of it, “What a way to end a Sunday. I’ve had such a good time, preaching and ministering, and here’s a fellow probably wanting some money for more wine.” He walked up. When he got within about five feet of me, I smelled a horrible smell like I’d never smelled in my life. It was so awful that when he got close, I would inhale by looking away, and then I’d talk to him, and then look away to inhale, because I couldn’t inhale facing him. I asked him, “What’s your name?” “David.” “How long have you been on the street?” “Six years.” “How old are you?” “Thirty-two.” He looked fifty- hair matted; front teeth missing; wino; eyes slightly glazed. “Where did you sleep last night, David?” “Abandoned truck.” I keep in my back pocket a money clip that also holds some credit cards. I fumbled to pick one out thinking; I’ll give him some money. I won’t even get a volunteer. They are all busy talking with others. Usually we don’t give money to people. We take them to get something to eat. I took the money out. David pushed his finger in front of me. He said, “I don’t want your money. I want this Jesus, the One you were talking about, because I’m not going to make it. I’m going to die on the street.” I completely forgot about David, and I started to weep for myself. I was going to give a couple of dollars to someone God had sent to me. See how easy it is? I could make the excuse I was tired. There is no excuse. I was not seeing him the way God sees him. I was not feeling what God feels. But oh, did that change! David just stood there. He didn’t know what was happening. I pleaded with God, “God, forgive me! Forgive me! Please forgive me. I am so sorry to represent You this way. I’m so sorry. Here I am with my message and my points, and You send somebody and I am not ready for it. Oh, God!” Something came over me. Suddenly I started to weep deeper, and David began to weep. He fell against my chest as I was sitting there. He fell against my white shirt and tie, and I put my arms around him, and there we wept on each other. The smell of His person became a beautiful aroma. Here is what I thought the Lord made real to me: If you don’t love this smell, I can’t use you, because this is why I called you where you are. This is what you are about. You are about this smell. Christ changed David’s life. He started memorizing portions of Scripture that were incredible. We got him a place to live. We hired him in the church to do maintenance, and we got his teeth fixed. He was a handsome man when he came out of the hospital. They detoxed him in 6 days. He spent that Thanksgiving at my house. He also spent Christmas at my house. When we were exchanging presents, he pulled out a little thing and he said, “This is for you.” It was a little white hanky. It was the only thing he could afford. A year later David got up and talked about his conversion to Christ. The minute he took the mic and began to speak, I said, “The man is a preacher.” This past Easter we ordained David. He is an associate minister of a church over in New Jersey. And I was so close to saying, “Here, take this; I’m a busy preacher.” We can get so full of ourselves.
