Joining Jesus On His Mission! What Do I Do?

SERMON NOTES:  

Joining Jesus helps us with the BIG question of life, “What am I here for?”

Ephesians 2:10 God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

What do I do so I am ready to Join Jesus on His mission every day?

1)            Seeking the Kingdom                  “How have I seen God at work in my world this week?”

2)            Listening to Jesus                       “What has Jesus been teaching me in His Word lately?”

3)            Talking with People                    “What kind of conversations have I been having?”

4)            Doing Good                                “What good can we do around here?”

5)            Ministering through Prayer        “What opportunities to pray for others am I seeing?”

Luke 17 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

 Let’s keep asking:    Jesus, what are you up to?     How would You have me join You?

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  Luke 13:10-17
Tuesday:  Ephesians 2:8-10
Wednesday:  Luke 17:11-19
Thursday:  Psalm 118:1-14
Friday:  Luke 18:35-43
Saturday:  Psalm 118:19-29

Joining Jesus On His Mission! Living On Mission

SERMON NOTES:  

A New Mindset - 1 – I go with Jesus not for Jesus!
                            2 – I now live in a mission field which makes me a missionary!
                            3 -  I get to “be with and enjoy people!”

Renewed Passion – What do you do around here?

2 Corinthians 5 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

Some New Practices

1)            Seeking the Kingdom
2)            Listening to Jesus
3)            Talking with People
4)            Doing Good
5)            Ministering through Prayer

Matthew 6   33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

John 8   Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

We keep asking:    Jesus, what are you up to?     How would You have me join You?

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  2 Corinthians 5:11-17
Tuesday:  1 Corinthians 2:6-12
Wednesday:  2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Thursday:  2 Timothy 3:10-17
Friday:  1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Saturday:  Psalm 119:41-48

Joining Jesus On His Mission! Getting Ready

SERMON NOTES:  

Matthew 28 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus gets us ready to join Him in His mission everyday by giving us a new mindset about His mission and some new practices so we can actually do it.

Mindset #1 – We go with Jesus not for Jesus!

Mindset #2 – Our culture has changed, we now live in a mission field which makes me a missionary!

Mindset #3 - Jesus’ inefficiently effective strategy for mission: “Be with and enjoy people!”

Matthew 11 19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”
Luke 19 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

We keep asking:
                                Jesus, what are you up to?
                               How would You have me join You?

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  Matthew 6:28-34
Tuesday:  Mark 10:13-16
Wednesday:  Matthew 13:44-46
Thursday:  Matthew 13:36-43
Friday:  Matthew 13:31-35
Saturday:  Psalm 66

The Reformation: Moving Forward From 500

SERMON NOTES:  

What does Joining Jesus have to do with the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation?

Our New “Joining Jesus” Mindset

-          He invites us to go with Him – to join Him in His Mission!

-          Seek First His Kingdom!

Matthew 4 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 6  31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

What is His Kingdom and how do we seek it?

Matthew 13 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

This week’s questions:
                                Jesus, what are you up to?
                               How would you have me join you?

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  Matthew 6:28-34
Tuesday:  Mark 10:13-16
Wednesday:  Matthew 13:44-46
Thursday:  Matthew 13:36-43
Friday:  Matthew 13:31-35
Saturday:  Psalm 66

Part 2, Getting Started

SERMON NOTES:  

How is Jesus messing with you?
What is He up to?    What is He inviting you to notice, believe, wrestle with or do?

John 4 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” …… 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

 
What is Jesus up to?
 “Jesus is on a mission.  He is on a grand adventure to redeem and restore human lives to the kingdom of His Father…..”
(Joining Jesus pg.28)


This is what He is doing and He invites us to join Him!
He does not ask us to go for Him!  He invites us to go with Him!

2 Corinthians 5  “19God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  

This week’s questions:

Jesus, what are you up to in my life?
Jesus, what are you up to in their life?   I want to join You!

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  John 4:7-18
Tuesday:  John 14:22-33
Wednesday:  John 4:27-38
Thursday:  John 11:17-27
Friday:  2 Corinthians 5:14-21
Saturday:  Isaiah 49:1-6

Part 1, Why Are We Doing This?

SERMON NOTES:  

Another sermon series…?  Why?

Jesus commanded His disciples to “make disciples!” 
How do we do this? 

Matthew 4 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 

 “Jesus makes disciples according to His design not their design!       It’s the meaningful life Christ intends!” 

What does the meaningful life of a disciple look like?        
Up      
Out     
Together   
Against
 

Matthew 5 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  Matthew 4:18-25
Tuesday:  Matthew 4:12-17
Wednesday:  Matthew 5:13-16
Thursday:  Matthew 7:24-29
Friday:  Matthew 8:18-22
Saturday:  Psalm 46

Part 3 "...Because People Still Matter"

SERMON NOTES:  

What happened 500 years ago and why does it still matter?

·         In the Reformation God restored His view that every person Matters!

·         Each has significant Value and significant Contributions to make in the church and society!
 

1 Peter 2 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ….9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 

In Jesus we are each Priests!      We get Access and Responsibilities in His Kingdom!   

We really do Matter!  We get to show up and make a difference!

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  1 Peter 2:4-10
Tuesday:  Hebrews 4:14-16
Wednesday:  Romans 12:1-2
Thursday:  1 Corinthians 12:14-26
Friday:  Romans 12:3-13
Saturday:  John 15:12-17

Part 2 "...Because Scripture Still Matters"

SERMON NOTES:  

What happened 500 years ago and why does it still matter? 

 The Bible’s - availability was secured and
 
                      - authorityrestored!

 Holy Scripture is God’s inspired Word! 

2 Timothy 3 “14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

·         It claims to be!   It seems to be!  It proves to be!

·         God not only has spoken but is speaking!

·         Scripture was given so we might have a real relationship with God!

How do I live under the authority of Scripture?  

  “My conscience is captive to the Word of God!” – M. Luther

 An unexpected result!

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  1 Timothy 3:14-17
Tuesday:  Psalm 119:9-16
Wednesday:  Hebrews 4:12-13
Thursday:  Isaiah 40:6-11
Friday:  2 Peter 1:16-21
Saturday:  Psalm 119:145-152