Reaching Our Community With The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

One of the goals of our church is to reach out into this community God has placed us in and to minister to their needs. Every Christian is primarily called by the Lord to serve.

A missionary was sent into the deepest parts of a jungle and fell into the hands of a band of cannibals. Realizing they were going to eat him the missionary told them, “you are not going to like me,” and calmly took out his pocketknife, sliced a piece from the calf of his leg and handed it to the chief. “Try it and see for yourself.” The chief took one bit, chewed a minute, grunted, and spit it out. The missionary lived on the island another 25 years, and the natives never knew he had a corked leg.

A followers of Jesus, we follow Him into the fields of harvest reaching others with the good news. What is the good news we share? God created you. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. You are no accident, God has a plan. God loves you. In spite of all the wrong things you’ve done. God loves you so much He sent the Lord Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, to this earth. Jesus lived a perfectly sinless life. He died on the cross of Calvary to save you from the penalty, power, and one day the presence of sin. God calls you to turn from your sin, trust the Savior. Jesus came that you may have life to the full now and throughout eternity in His presence.

In our text today I would like us to look at four ways to successfully reach our community with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1. Enlist Your PARTNER (V 1)

True Christianity is not a lone ranger event. God will give you someone to partner with you in His mission.

How successful would the GA Bulldogs be if they went out on the field with just a QB? How successful could the Braves be if they only had a pitcher? How successful would a business be if it existed with one person and that person only had eyes for himself? How strong could our church be if we only thought about ourselves and never thought about any other people around us?

Why did Jesus send His disciples out by twos? Perhaps several reasons:

1) Extra eyes to see – one person can’t see everything. Several months ago, Walt Dejager and I drove around this community as a mission experience. He saw things I would have never seen.

2) Protection – safety in numbers

3) Encouragement

4) Accountability

5) Reputation – One person could be accused falsely and have no one to back him up, but the other person could refute it.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, 9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Your Partner will STRENGTHEN You

Your Partner will STRETCH You

Your Partner will STAND with You

Let’s face it, sometimes everyone gets lonely in life.

• Shut Ins

• The struggling middle or high school student

• People in ministry

• Those who are living far away from home, family

• Successful leaders

• Those who have been terminated from their job

• Nursing home residents

• Single moms and dads

• Those who are suffering with prolonged illness

What could God do in the life of this church if each SS class, each ministry represented said, “We will reach inside and outside the church to minimize loneliness.” WE will partner together with the Lord to reach more people with the comforting message of Jesus Christ. What would happen if we went through the church roll and just said, “I wanted to check on you today. You are on my heart. I love you. Your church family misses you, is here for you. Praying for you. How can I befriend you?

Aren’t you thankful when you know Jesus, He promises, “Never will I leave you or forsake you.”

2. Excel through PRAYER (V 2)

God is calling our church to reach this community for Him. One way to do that is to partner with one another and another way we do this is through prayer.

Did you pray to the Lord of the harvest this week for this community?

When you drive up and down Lester Road, did you think of the thousands of people who are in spiritual darkness and need the Light of the world, Jesus Christ?