"Road Work" The Church And Its Mission Series

SIGNS 2

“Road Work”

by Pastor Donny Granberry

Today we continue in our summer message series, “SIGNS.”

Today’s theme will be “Road Work,” as we take a look at one of the Fundamental truths in the word of God.

THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION

The Church is the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Each and every believer, or Christian, is an integral part of the church and has been given directives (orders) from our General and Chief Commander, God.

• We were not been redeemed to fill up a space on a pew.

• We were not been redeemed just to escape the fires of damnation.

• We were not been redeemed just to bear the name of Christ.

• We were not been redeemed merely to be carriers of the Holy Spirit.

• WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED FOR A PURPOSE!

That purpose is the mission of the church.

As some might think, it is not a "mission impossible"; it is a "mission possible" through the endument of the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:22-23 NIV

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 2:22 NIV

And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

We have been entrusted by God with much, and to whom much is given, much is required.

God pours His spirit into us that we might become not just carriers of this gospel, but sharers of the word.

ILLUSTRATION

I observed a waitress the other night. We had a large party of people and as they brought our food, that we were hungry for and would provide nourishment to us, she was straining under the weight of the tray filled with food.

Yet when she set the meal before us, as she left, she was twirling the tray with ease that had been such a weight before.

God’s purpose concerning man is threefold:

• To seek and to save that which is lost

• To be worshipped by man

• To build a body of believers in the image of Christ

These are the three things I want to shed light on today.

In our fundamental truths we call it, “The Church and its Mission.”

1. To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world.

The concept of evangelism is not to get the word out, but to let the word out.

How can we call ourselves Evangelicals if we are not evangelistic?

Matthew 24:14 KJV

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mark 16:15-16 NIV

"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

People of the world would have to do spiritual forensics on most Christians to find out what they believe.

Acts 1:8 says that you shall be witnesses unto me.

The world is wondering, “When’s it going to happen?”

VIDEO CLIP “When’s it going to happen?” (Sermonspice.com)

We come into the church and sing, “What the world needs is Jesus,” and I believe that we mean it, but we must share Jesus with them.

If we share Jesus with others, they will respond.

RITA SHOTWELL

Began a new ministry of the body, visiting out shut-ins at home and in the nursing homes about 3-4 weeks ago.

While ministering to our shut-ins, God opened the door for her to share Jesus with others there who had not received Him as their Lord and Savior.

Her second week of visitation, she led a lady to the Lord. The next week they called in hospice to help this lady. Any day now, she will be in heaven because someone shared Jesus with her and led her to the Lord.

The mission of the church is to be an agency of God for evangelizing the world, and …

2. A corporate body in which man worships God.

Just as we do not have to go to church, we get to go to church, we do not have to worship God, we get to worship God.

You can tell where a person is with God by watching the way they worship.

ILLUSTRATION

When I hold my little five month old granddaughter, Morgan, in my arms I can’t seem to take my eyes off of her.

It does not matter if I am feeding her, playing with her, talking to her, or even changing a diaper, I can’t seem to take my eyes off of her.

Why? She is the object of me affection.