Whatever It Takes

Posted by Scott Palmer on 21 August 2013 | Comments

WHATEVER IT TAKES

Over the past two weeks, we have talked about the mission of the church.  Basically, as we go into the world we are to take the Gospel with the intention of making disciples of everyone, everywhere.  So what is the Gospel? It is the amazing truth that God loved us so much He pursued us by sending His son, who is God in flesh.  He lived a sinless life and died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected from the dead.  This Gospel message has the power to save anyone, anywhere who will turn from their sin and place their faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross.   As we go into our world, this is the message we are to share with others.    

Notice Paul’s heart about taking the Gospel to all people.  “… I have become a servant of everyone so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.  When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ.  I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.” I Corinthians 9: 19-23 (NLT)

It seems to me that Paul is saying, by God’s grace I want to do whatever it takes to reach as many people with the Gospel as I can.  There are two truths that jump out in that passage.  The first is that Paul was PASSIONATE  about reaching people for Christ.  Obviously, getting the Gospel to others was not a minor or casual thing to him.  You can feel his passion here, “But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love.” Acts 20:24 (NLT)  When we look at this in light of our corporate mission, the question is are we passionate about reaching those who do not know Christ with the Gospel?  You see our purpose goes beyond a desire to just have more people at church, it is a specific target.  It is a passion to see those who are disconnected from Christ and His church to come to know Christ and be connected with His body through a local church.  My prayer is that God would bring a greater passion in me and in the life of our church to be like Paul and say by God’s grace we will do whatever it takes (we will not compromise our integrity, the Gospel or the Word of God) to reach people in our community and around the world with the Gospel.

A second truth in this passage is that Paul was INTENTIONAL about sharing the Gospel with all people.  He said, “I will try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ.”  This intentionality about reaching people should mark us as followers of Christ and as a church family.  We want to have a community of faith that is intentional about reaching out and making disciples of all people.  One of the reasons we are looking at starting an early contemporary worship experience on Sunday mornings is to be more intentional about reaching out to young adults.  It allows us to have a greater potential to intentionally connect with every generation in worship and small groups.  Our early service will be geared towards young adults at 8:30 a.m. and our regular blended worship will be at 10:40 a.m. with bible study/small groups for all ages at 9:30 a.m. We also offer a much more traditional worship experience at 5:00 p.m.  Obviously anyone of any age is welcome in any of our services but our prayer is to make a more intentional impact with every generation in worship. 

I don’t know about you, but I cannot think of anything more exciting than the opportunity to be a part of the greatest mission on earth, fulfilling the Great Commission.  Let’s continue to be a  faith family that is willing to do whatever it takes to share this incredible Gospel message with all people.

 Pastor Scott

 

New Sunday Schedule (Begins November 3)

Coffee Shop 8:00 a.m.

Contemporary Worship 8: 30 a.m.

Bible Study for All Ages 9:30 a.m.

Blended Worship 10: 40 a.m.

 

Traditional Worship 5:00 p.m.