Sermon Central
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The 7 Reasons We Should Focus On Numerical Growth Series
Contributed by Brett Crosson on Feb 12, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: Every church should have SOULS BEING SAVED and CHURCH GROWTH as part of their vision. Jesus died for the world, and now he sends us out to tell the nations about Him and what He has done.
There are two very important Greek words associated with the gospel
1. Tetelesti
2. Evangelion
A. TETELESTI
This is what Jesus said just before he died on the cross!
It means it is finished...it is utterly and totally complete.
He could have been referring to a number of things. I'll give you THREE:
1. He could have been declaring that THE PROPHECIES HAVE BEEN FULFILLED. Every last one of them.
The last being Psalm 69:2, “They gave me also gall for my meat and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”
2. He could have been declaring that His suffering was over. He would die, and three days later arise with a glorified body!
3. Or he could have been saying: the price is paid in full.
- The word tetelestai was written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show that a bill had been paid in full.
- Jesus has paid the full price for your sin and mine
B. EVANGELION
It means Good News
It referred to a message that brought joy
Technically, it was also used as a Message of victory
When a battle had been won, a messenger was sent back to declare the evangelion, the good news.
This is what Christ has sent us to declare (Matthew 28:19)
- We must declare the Good News
- We are to tell the world what Christ has done
- We are to tell them the price (of death) for their sin has been paid in full
- We must tell them their adversary that had ensnared them is defeated
- The power of sin that has enslaved them is broken
- That they can have freedom
- That they can have a new life
- That they can have eternal life
Lastly, the reason we should be concerned about numerical growth and numbers is because of…
7. THE CROWN OF THE SOUL-WINNER
Proverbs 11:30 says: The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.
- There is a special recognition of the Soul-winner!
- A wise person wins souls
Daniel 12:3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
- Notice that Soul Winners will shine as the brightness of the stars in Heaven.
- Stars stand out in the night sky.
- Soul Winners will be the celebrities in Heaven.
- In this sinful world those who are evil are idolised by the masses
- But not so in Heaven.
Speaking of the end of days: Daniel 12:2-3 says, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
- The Bible says if we are wise we will shine as the firmament.
- Those who turn many to Christ and the righteousness he gives will shine as the stars.
- They will be the superstars in Heaven, beloved by their converts.
1 Corinthians 15:40-44, “There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
