A Matter of Perspective
April 10, 2005
Today we are going to look at one of the key functions or purposes of the church and how Countryside is working to fulfill that purpose.
To get started, I need five volunteers. Join hands and make a circle. (They will face forward)
Notice how, naturally they faced inward? Today, I want to help you see that if we really want to be a church that Christ uses, we have to shift our focus.
The big idea for today: The church is not about YOU!
It is easy for us to have a picture that somehow the church is here to meet my needs.
The church exists to meet the needs of those who need to hear the love of Christ.
What the church needs is a new perspective of priority.
They typical view of American Christians:
Me
A biblical view:
World
In the first view, we see ourselves and our needs as the priority. Next is the church where we devote our attention. Finally those outside the church get what’s left over. The church and the world exist to meet my needs.
In the second view, I fit inside of my church to serve it. My church exists inside the world at large to serve it in the name of Christ. I, take the back seat to the greater cause.
Jesus noted this after his resurrection when he told his disciples:
“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.”
Acts 1:8(NIV)
Jesus says we receive power from God to share his message with others.
The power is not for ourselves or our kingdoms advantage, but to spread the message of God’s kingdom.
I. There Goes the Neighborhood
In the context of Jesus’ teaching, this would be your home. It would be your city, or state where you live.
God wants you to share his love with your friends and neighbors.
Jesus used a story of a poor woman who lost a coin.
These were not just any old coins. They were coins that would have decorated her wedding veil.
Look at her reaction to finding the coins:
“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? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and say, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’”
Luke 15:8-9 (NIV)
The context Jesus talks about is people choosing to follow God and the party that it ignites.
Last week was a great picture of that. Spring Fest was a great example of a passionate celebration of sharing Christ with our neighbors and friends.
**Spring Fest Slide Show
Are you being a witness for Christ with your friends and neighbors? Are you celebrating what you have found in Jesus?
II. Behind Enemy Lines
Jesus says that we are to be witnesses not only in our hometown, but also in the town of our enemy.
“you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria….” Acts 1:8 (NIV)
Jesus is talking to his disciples who are Jewish. Jews hated Samaritans. They viewed Samaritans as worthless dogs, half-breeds.
In our world, we often view people that way. We may never say it or act on it, but often those different from us are the enemy.
In a social or geo-political sense we view Muslims this way.
So often we view the political ideology and social structure and lump the human beings into that category.
People of other nations, ethnic groups and religions need to hear the love of Christ.
On December 26, 2004, a devastation Tsunami hit Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. Most of the people affected were Muslim. But the overwhelming majority of relief has come from Christian resources.
Countryside collected an offering of almost $900. We have partnered with Purpose Driven Ministries to get the resources in to hands of Christians in the area.
Because of your gifts, 3 villages of mostly Muslim people will be supplied with fresh water wells. Each will support 72 families.
The area we are supporting has only 200 known believers. Campus Crusade for Christ is overseeing the project and will no doubt share Jesus with these people.
The national director overseeing this project is a personal friend of one of my best friends, Michael Ramos.
Here is what Enoch Sirikul wrote to us concerning this effort:
Dear Mr. Harvey
Greetings from Thailand! I wanted to personally thank you for your gift to help us supply much needed fresh water to those in need at the Baan Tuung Wa village in southern Thailand. I am not sure if you know this, but there are only 16 churches in the provinces that were affected by the tsunami. And only 200 known believers in the whole area that you are helping us in. This emergency effort to clear out the wells and provide supplies has not only met urgent needs but has begun to help the victims of the tsunami re-build their lives as well as helping the advancement of the gospel. As an update, we have already helped in building temporary shelters and provided food and sleeping bags as well as cooking supplies and have cleared out wells for fresh drinking water. Thank you again for your support.
God bless,
Enoch Sirikul
National Director
Thailand Campus Crusade for Christ
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you? Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling you the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:34-40(The Message)
When we serve our “enemies” we serve Christ.
How do you view those different from you? Do you withhold water because they are your enemy? Do you serve, seeing beyond race, nation, language and religion?
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
James 1:27(NIV)
III. War of the Worlds
Not only did Jesus call us to go to our neighbors and our enemies, he called us to go to the farthest part of the world in his name.
“to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
This summer, two of the young ladies from our church are going to share Christ’s love to places, quite honestly you and I are not interested in going.
Krystal Krivanek is going to Bulgaria to teach English as a way to share Christ. She will be traveling for three weeks with a group from Campus Crusade for Christ.
Christina Schwab will be going to Kenya with Brackenhurst Ministries. She will be doing summer camp for African children and living in a village with an African family. She will be gone for 10 weeks.
**Interview Questions for Krystal and Christina
1) Why would you want to give up part of your summer vacation to go on a difficult trip like this?
2) What do you hope will be the outcome or long-term effect of this trip?
3) How can Countryside support you on this trip?
**Pray for Krystal and Christina
Jesus left us with this command:
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
Support information for Krystal and Christina
Krystal: Make checks payable to Campus Crusade for Christ and give to Krystal
Christina: Make checks out to Brackenhurst Ministries and put Christina Schwab’s name on the memo line and mail to
Brackenhurst Ministries
900 Westpark Dr. Suite 300
Peachtree City, GA 30269
Are you willing to support these two as they go in the name of Christ to the ends of the earth?
Wrapping it up:
1) It’s not about you!
2) Start sharing Christ’s love with your neighbors.
3) Examine your heart toward the “enemy”.
4) Put into practice the Great Commission.
