Happy New Year!
This is the time of year that we often think of as a new beginning,
and many people set New Year's resolutions,
a time that we can begin thinking about ways we want to see ourselves different in the New Year,
or, you know, different goals and things that we want to correct,
like weight, or time management, money, jobs, stuff like that.
Well, I got to thinking, well, let me ask, how many of you set New Year's resolutions?
Not many, just a handful, but we still thank you for those of you,
because it would have broke my whole sermon this morning if we didn't have a few people set a New Year's resolution.
But anyway, we have a few of those resolutions, but I got to thinking, what are New Year's resolutions?
And so I searched a little bit on the internet, and this is what I found.
First of all, what exactly is a New Year's resolution?
It's a to-do list for the first week of January, right?
Most New Year's resolutions end up getting broken in the first week of January,
or possibly by the end of January.
Most New Year's resolutions don't see February.
There's also two types of people that focus on resolutions.
The first one is New Year's resolutions, spend more time on the treadmill, right?
We want to set goals of ourself.
Or you might be like Maxine here, and you try to break everybody else's New Year's resolution.
Maxine says, I put out a box of donuts to see how many New Year's resolutions I can break on the first day.
I did that one for Fred, because I figured that's the type of guy he is.
That he would just try to break people's New Year's resolutions.
But unfortunately, like I said, most New Year's resolutions are short-lived.
We go into a new year, and we think about all the ways we would like to see ourselves be different in the new year,
whether it's our weight or physical exercise, time management, money management, relationships, all kinds of things.
But most of them don't last beyond January, do they?
Most of us, especially as we're adults, we're in those habits and routines.
That's why we're the way we are, and it's hard to break out of those.
Well, this year, I want to challenge us all.
Instead of trying to look for resolutions to make into the new year,
and most of you didn't make one, so hopefully when you leave here today, you will.
Instead of making resolutions on how we can change ourselves by physical appearance or other,
I want to challenge you this year to make a goal, or a commitment might be a better term than a resolution.
A commitment to the Lord.
As we enter into a new year, make a commitment that we're going to focus on our relationship with God this year,
and we're going to grow deeper in a more intimate love relationship with Him in the coming year.
Now, when we make a goal, what do we have to do?
We've got to make a plan of how we're going to do that.
It may mean getting up early.
It might mean, you know, making sure you've got an accountability partner or somebody holding you accountable.
It might be your spouse to get up, read your Bible, spend more time with the Lord this year.
But also, and not just growing in our personal relationship with the Lord,
but I want to challenge us to set a goal that we're going to make God known around us more.
And we're going to be involved in advancing the kingdom of God all around us.
It's easy to live in the South.
It's easy to live in Pickens County.
And think everyone around us knows the gospel message.
Everyone around us is aware of Christ.
However, I think that's not true.
We have churches on every street corner.
That is true.
And a lot of people are connected.
But I think there's a false gospel that's also proclaimed in a lot of churches today.
And I think many around us, maybe even in your families,
extended families or friends, co-workers, neighbors, and various people you know,
how many of them think, well, if I go to church, I'm okay.
Or if I have a head knowledge belief, I believe in Jesus, then I'll go to heaven.
Or if I've been baptized and my name is upon the roll, then I'll go to heaven.
And that's not true, is it?
I believe there are individuals right around us, right here in Pickens, Pickens County,
maybe in our own families, that have never heard or never understood
a clear and accurate presentation of the gospel
where they understand the truth of why Jesus came.
Why did He come?
That I'm a sinner and I can do nothing for myself.
I cannot do anything to be set free from the penalty and the bondage of sin.
And that's why Christ came to us.
And it is only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
It's only through a personal relationship with Him
where we receive that free gift through faith that we might be saved.
And I think there are so many that are confused about that
because I run into people that are Christian or they claim to be Christian,
but then they question me,
is Jesus really the only way to heaven?
Well, when a person asks me a question like that,
I know from the very beginning they do not understand the true gospel message
or they wouldn't ask that question.
Because yes, Jesus is the only one who died for the sin of the world.
He's the only one who came and lived a sinless life
and was able to take the sin of the world upon Himself
to pay the penalty for that sin.
And so as we enter into a new year this year,
let me encourage you to make some goals or commitments
or surrender more to the Lord
to grow in your relationship with God,
but also to be involved in making Him known
and to be involved in helping to advance the kingdom of God
in places like proclaiming the gospel message,
in places where maybe people have not heard
and make those goals and commitments in our life this year.
Have you ever asked yourself,
why did God create the world to begin with?
Have you ever wondered that?
The Bible teaches us that God knew
before He created the foundations of the earth,
He knew we were sinners.
He knew we would be sinners
and that we would need Him to send His Son to die for our sin.
And so have you ever wondered,
why did God create anyway
when He knew that we would mess up His perfect creation?
Have you ever wondered,
then what has God been doing throughout history?
You know, the Bible says that God created this perfect creation
and we believe that He's sovereign, holy God,
working, fulfilling, and bringing about His perfect will.
So what is that will?
And what is He doing throughout history
as He's working and He's bringing about that perfect will?
Well, I want us to look at that today
and hopefully when we leave here,
we're going to have a deeper understanding
of what God's vision or God's purpose was for His creation
and what His purpose is for us today
and how we can be a part of His will
and His plan unfolding upon the earth today.
So if you have your Bibles,
I'd like to ask you to open them with me, if you will,
to Revelation.
Revelation chapter 7,
and also will be on the board.
Revelation chapter 7, verses 9 and 10.
Now I always encourage you, if you have your Bible,
to open your Bible and read along there
because I don't want us to become unfamiliar with the Scriptures.
And so many churches, individuals never take their Bibles
and they totally rely upon the Scripture on the screen
and it's a danger putting it up on the screen
because then we get lazy.
And I want us to stay, you know,
very able to turn to Scripture passages
and know where they are.
We should be doing that
as we study our Bibles throughout the weeks anyway.
But hopefully we won't get lazy
and just depend upon it on the screen.
But let's look together at Revelation 7, verses 9 and 10.
After this I looked and behold,
a great multitude that no one could number
from every nation,
from all tribes and peoples and languages,
standing before the throne
and before the Lamb,
clothed in white robes,
with palm branches in their hands,
and crying out with a loud voice,
Salvation belongs to our God
who sits on the throne
and to the Lamb.
Let's go to the Lord in prayer.
Father, we just thank You today
that we have Your Word
and Your truth.
And through it,
we can have an understanding
more of who You are
and Your will and Your purpose
as You unfold Your perfect plan
upon the earth
and how You desire to include us in that
and how we can be faithful
and obedient to that.
So I pray today
that You speak to every heart,
everyone here,
and help us to understand
where You would have us to serve
and be involved
and be a part of Your will.
And we thank You for that.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
In this passage,
we see a multitude that is so large
that it says no one can count.
A multitude made up of people
from every nation,
every tribe,
every language,
and every people group
throughout the world.
And they're gathered around the throne.
What are they doing?
I feel like we've stayed up too late
and you're more lively
than the 8 o'clock service,
but I want to make sure
the blood's still flowing.
What are they doing around the throne?
They're worshiping.
They're surrounding the throne
and they're worshiping God,
the Father and the Lamb,
Jesus Christ.
And here we see the fulfillment
of everything God has been doing
throughout history.
We see a fulfillment
of what God's purpose was
in creation
in the very beginning
and all that He's been doing
throughout history
from the very moment
that He created.
God has been working
upon the earth,
drawing people unto Himself
and bringing people
into the family of God,
bringing them unto Himself
to become worshipers of God
so that one day
for those who accept
this free gift
through faith in Jesus
Christ,
those who receive salvation
through faith in Jesus Christ
will one day stand around
the throne of God
and bring worship
and praise and glory
unto Him.
That is why God created
for the first place.
He didn't create
this glorious earth
and people
so that He could step in heaven
and just do things for us
as we say,
Lord, give me this,
give me this,
do this, do this.
That's not why He created.
He created for Himself.
He created that we would
bring glory and honor
unto Him.
And that's what He's been doing
as throughout all of history
He's drawing people
unto Himself,
drawing people unto Christ
that we can come
to faith in Jesus Christ
and have our sins forgiven.
We can be set free
from the penalty of sin
and the bondage
of sin in our life
and we can one day
stand in eternity
around the throne of God
and worship Him.
Now I hesitate
to even say that
because of the imagery
or the picture
I think that modern day
movies and music
and stuff paints
of heaven being
a boring place
and we think about
standing around
the throne of God
worshiping for eternity.
Movies and music
and maybe even poetry
have made that sound
like it's boring.
I want to tell you something,
there's going to be
nothing boring
about heaven.
When we step
into the presence
of God
and we come
to a full knowledge
of what Jesus Christ
has done for us
that we could not
do for ourselves,
that He took our sins
upon Himself
and He paid
the ultimate price
dying for our sin
and that made a way
for us to be delivered
from the penalty
and the bondage
of sin and hell.
totally separated
from God
and yet because
of Christ
we're able to stand
in the presence
of God
and worship Him
and I want to tell you
something,
we're not going to
have any other response
in our hearts
at that moment
and that time
except to worship
and to praise
and to thank Him
and the more we come
into that understanding
right now
in the here
and the now
the more we will
worship and praise
Him now
but we will
understand more
fully
one day
when we stand
in the presence
of God in Heaven
and come to a full
knowledge and understanding
of what He's done
for us
but the only response
that we should really
be giving
is worship
and praise to Him
and Heaven
will not be a boring
place
and I think we will
do more
than just stand
around the throne
and worship
but it will not
be boring
in any sense
of the imagination
and it's certainly
better than the alternative
right?
It's going to be
better than
being separated
from God
for all eternity
so this is God's vision
when we think about
what was God's vision
or what was God's purpose
for creating
we see it here
fleshed out
in Revelation chapter 7
now as we think
about our lives
in light of God's vision
as we think about
who we are
and how we live
in light of God's vision
I want to ask you
how are you being a part
of helping God's vision
be fulfilled?
How are you being a part
of helping the gospel
or the kingdom of God
to advance upon the earth?
How is your life?
How is my life?
How are we using the time
that we have been given
and the lives
that we have been given?
How are we using that
to align with God's vision
for creation
to help draw people
unto Himself?
The Holy Spirit's the only one
that can draw people
to the Father
and to the Son
but God chooses
to use us
in that process
and so how are we
making ourselves
available
to be a part
of that process
to share the gospel
or to be a part
of discipleship?
How are we being a part
of seeing people
come to faith
in Jesus Christ
and becoming
worshipers
of God the Father
and the Lamb?
I hope that as we enter
into a new year
this year
and we think about that
that part of our goals
part of our commitments
or if you want to use
the word resolution
is that we set these goals
or resolutions
in our life
to be more available
to God
to be a part
of His plan
and to make ourselves
available to Him
that we can be a part
of this vision
of seeing people
come to faith
in Christ
that we can make sure
that everyone we know
and around us
has at least heard
the gospel message
they've heard
an accurate
and clear presentation
of the gospel
that they may have
the opportunity
to respond
or not
in Romans
it tells us
how can they believe
if they have not heard
and how can they hear
unless someone goes
and proclaims
to them
so those around us
who have never heard
a clear presentation
of the gospel
how are they ever
going to hear
if someone
with that
clear understanding
does not tell them
and don't assume
that people
that are in church
have an accurate
understanding
of the gospel
you know
I went to a funeral
at my last church
and I won't tell you
what denomination
it was
but I went into
a different
denominational church
and some of our
some of my church
members sat down
beside me
and they used
to attend that church
and they got a book
out of the pew
that was in front of them
and they opened it up
and they pointed
at a passage in it
and said
this is why we no longer
attend this church
and I started reading
and in that religion
that denomination
within their beliefs
they believe
that you are saved
through the baptismal waters
meaning that if you go
and you get baptized
you're saved
right
how many believe that
how many in the
Baptist church
actually believe it
even though that's
not what we teach
that if you were baptized
you were saved
so we want to make sure
those around us
have a clear
and accurate understanding
that that is not salvation
just walking forward
and being baptized
but having that personal
relationship with the Lord
and Jesus connects
to this vision
that we looked at
in Revelation 7
Jesus connects
to this perfectly
in a command
that he gives
his followers
right before he
ascends back into heaven
and this is a command
that we're very familiar with
but what is it
what do we call it
right before he ascended
into heaven
great commission
thank you
it's found in Matthew
28 verses 18
and 20
so let's turn to that
and look with me
if you will
at this passage
Matthew 28 verses 18
through 20
and Jesus came
and said to them
all authority in heaven
and on earth
has been given to me
go therefore
and make disciples
of all nations
baptizing them
in the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit
teaching them
to observe
all that I have
commanded you
and behold
I am with you
always
to the end
of the age
we see
Jesus giving this
command to his
followers
right before
he ascends
back into heaven
and it aligns
perfectly
with the vision
that we've looked at
the vision of God
in Revelation
chapter 7
we see Jesus
saying
go
and make disciples
of all nations
baptizing them
in the name of the Father
the Son
and the Holy Spirit
and teaching them
to obey
not just teaching
but teaching
to obey
everything I have
commanded you
now there's two elements
in the Great Commission
we often think
of the Great Commission
as purely evangelism
right
we all recognize this
as a passage
for missions
and what would you expect
from the missions
pastor
on a day like today
other than
a passage like this one
it's evangelism
but there's more to it
there's more to the Great Commission
than evangelism
right
what else is there
make disciples
that's exactly right
discipleship
there's evangelism
and discipleship
you know this is a command
that Jesus gives
to his believers
not just a hand select
or a few
but to all believers
it's not just
for the pastors
it's not just
for deacons
or for a hand select
few throughout
the congregation
this was a command
that Jesus really gave
that we should all
be observing
within our lives
each and every one
of us should be
about making disciples
now often
we interpret
this scripture
go and make disciples
thinking
well I've got to
pick up
my belongings
and move to
another country
somewhere
or move to
another part of
the country
but I've got to
get up and go
but another translation
or a better translation
may be
as you are going
as you are living
your life
make disciples
as you are living
and everything
and everything you do
throughout your days
whether it's
as you go to work
as you raise your children
as you come to church
as you do recreation
whatever you're doing
use your life
in a way
that is making disciples
whether it's through evangelism
or whether it's certainly
through discipleship
that as we are going
we're a part
of God's work
and his plan
we're making ourselves
available to him
that he can use us
to make his name known
so I want you to think
for a moment
at your life
you might think
back over this past year
in 2016
you know this has been
a good year
for a lot of people
it's also been
a challenging year
I was thinking about
how many saints
and church members
we
I won't say lost
but how many went
to be with the Lord
this year
we had a significant number
in this church
to go be with the Lord
and I know that
they're there
in his presence today
and we can celebrate
for that
but as we look back
over 2016
how were you involved
in God's vision
what were you doing
with your life
that was in connection
to God's vision
of seeing individuals
come to become
worshipers of him
or to connect
with the great commission
of go and make disciples
how did you use your life
did you witness
to even one person
throughout the year
did you go
verbally
and share
the gospel
with those around you
in your own family
and sometimes
that can be
the hardest place
to begin
isn't it
in our own families
I've got some
family members
that I do not
believe are saved
and it's a challenge
it's a challenge
to witness
and share with them
because
well I don't know why
why is it
why is it so difficult
to share with
our own families
but as you lived
your life
in 2016
how were you involved
in making disciples
if
you're a parent
and your children
are still at home
one of the places
to begin
in making disciples
is with your children
that is the first
probably the greatest
place that we can
be involved
because
what does it profit us
if we go out
and we travel the world
and yet our children
grow up and do not
know the Lord
or they're not equipped
to go into the world
and to face
the challenges
of the world
because we've not
grounded them
in the faith
so as parents
we should begin
with our own
homes
our families
our children
and dads
that solely
rest
mainly upon us
it is our responsibility
if we fail
we're responsible
and so as dads
that means more
than just bringing
your children
to church
that is an important
aspect
of being in church
setting an example
for your children
to let them see you
in church
serving in church
being involved
but that's not
all there is to it
we must take
the responsibility
of teaching them
at home
lead Bible studies
at home
look for those
teaching moments
at home
where you can
apply truths
and things
that have gone
on in your
children's lives
to begin
teaching them
but as we look
at our lives
where are we
connecting
with God's vision
or how are we
being obedient
to the great commission
to go and make
disciples
you know
there are numerous
opportunities
to do this
besides just
raising our children
to be
disciples
there are numerous
opportunities
for you to be
involved
if you just
look at the
ministries
within our church
just within
our church
there are numerous
ministries
and opportunities
to be involved
evangelistically
as well as
discipleship
you know
I could stand
up here today
and list a whole
number of things
that we do
that you could
be involved in
and you might
think well I'm
not a Sunday
school teacher
or you know
I can't go on
mission trips
well a lot
of times
these ministries
need people
behind the scenes
too
we need people
behind the scenes
most of you
would not be
hearing me
this morning
if we didn't
have someone
running sound
most of us
would not
come here
and worship
if somebody
didn't take care
of the building
we've got
ministry opportunities
that are behind
the scenes
that you can
get involved in
God has given
us all spiritual
gifts
he's given
us talents
he's given
us abilities
that he
desires for
us to use
within the
church
and so we
can all get
involved
and make
disciples
we can all
be involved
in some way
directly or
indirectly
in evangelism
we also can
look at other
ministry opportunities
outside the
church
we've tried to
make some
opportunities
known to you
over the years
that you can
be involved in
things like
cafe connection
that's literally
across the
street from
us
dream center
united christian
ministries
samaritan's
purse
things like
this that you
can be involved
in to help
support their
ministries
you may not
be directly
out on the
front line
in evangelism
or discipleship
but you're
strengthening
their ministries
at times
where you can
be aiding
them to be
involved in
that a lot
of our
mission trips
are that
very thing
we've gone
to help
others and
their ministries
be stronger
whether I
think of
Dakota sunshine
we've spent a
lot of money
there and a
lot of man
hours there
and woman
hours there
I think of
Jennifer Payne
being up on
the roof
helping us
put a roof
on a building
and so women
you can be
involved too
but we've
gone up there
and we've
worked and
most of us
have never
come into
contact directly
with the
Native American
children that
come to that
camp but we've
strengthened Dakota
sunshine so
that their
ministry is
greater so
there's a lot
of opportunities
that you can
get involved
in and be a
part of in
helping our
church's ministry
as we reach
out into our
community or
make the gospel
known right here
in Pickens or
other parts
certainly of
the world
now you may
be thinking I
can't do that
I don't know
enough I don't
have enough
skills I'm not
in construction
or I don't
have enough
training I
don't have
enough life
experience
you may be
thinking all of
that and I
just want to
remind you of
a lady in
John chapter
4 that Jesus
met we often
refer to as the
woman at the
well
Jesus was
going from
Jerusalem to
Galilee and
he had to pass
through Samaria
and he was
fully man and
so he was
tired he was
weary from
traveling he
wasn't driving
his Honda down
the Jerusalem
Express or
anything like
that he was
walking and he
was thirsty and
he came to
Jacob's well and
he sat down
at the well and
the disciples went
into town to
try to buy food
and this lady
comes out that
Jesus engages in
conversation with
and this lady
was an
uneducated
Samaritan
woman who
was living in a
very adulterous
and sinful
lifestyle
but you think
about that story
most of you know
that story very
well and I'm
going to read a
couple verses
here in a
moment in verse
28 and 30
as Jesus engaged
in conversation
with this lady
and he begins
to explain to
her he is the
Messiah
what did she
do
well let's look
in verse 28
John 4
28
so the woman
left her water
jar and went
away into town
and said to the
people come
see a man who
told me all that
I ever did
can this be the
Christ
what did the
people do
there was a
sinful woman
who was going
to the well in
the middle of the
day because she
probably didn't
want to be
harassed by the
other women
who went to
the well early
in the morning
before the
noonday heat
did they listen
to her or did
they think she's
crazy just ignore
her look at
verse 30
they went out
of the town
and were coming
to him coming
to Christ
here's an
adulterous
Samaritan
probably uneducated
woman that
Christ used
really as a
missionary in
that village
in that town
to go
and to say
come meet a
man who's told
me everything
about me
come
and they went
out to inquire
about Christ
and so you may
be sitting here
thinking today
I can't do that
I don't have a
bible college degree
I didn't grow up
in church
I don't know
enough
I haven't been
a Christian long
enough
when we look at
the woman at the
well it tears
down every one
of those excuses
it begins to
tear down
every excuse
you can imagine
if you go
throughout the
scriptures
we run into
other characters
and other people
that God used
to fulfill his
purpose and his
will
people like
Moses
or David
or I even
think of Paul
a man who was
killing Christians
hunting them
down
throwing them
in prison
and killing
them
and yet
God saw
fit to
use him
to be one
of the
greatest
apostles
that we've
ever known
when we look
throughout
scripture
any excuse
that we come
up with
of why
we can't
be involved
in fulfilling
the great
commission
and going
and making
disciples
is torn
apart
by scripture
and it all
basically comes
down to
obedience
faithfulness
are we
willing to
make ourselves
available
to God
are we going
to put God
first in our
lives this
new year
and seek him
with all of
our heart
to seek
after him
and make
ourselves
available for
whatever God
chooses to
use us for
are we
willing to
do that
are we
willing to
get out of
our comfort
zone
and even
risk humiliating
ourselves
or just
being uncomfortable
to tell people
about Jesus
Christ
can you tell
people
your testimony
not necessarily
how you came
to faith in
Christ
but what is
God doing
in your life
today
who is Christ
to you
why is he so
important to
you
why do you
worship him
why do you
live for him
why do you
spend time
studying the
Bible
how is your
life different
today
because you
know Jesus
Christ
can we do
that
are we
willing
like I go
back to the
Christmas story
and when the
angel appeared
to Mary
and he told
her she was
going to have
a baby
and she was
like how can
this be
and he explained
it all
and how did
she end up
ending that
conversation
I am your
servant
may it be
as you have
said
are we
willing to
respond today
and say
Lord I am
your servant
take me
use me
and do with
me what
you will
and don't
just say it
and then sit
back down
and wait for
God to come
pick you up
and do
something with
you
but seek
him
follow him
obey him
do what he's
called us to
do through
scripture
Jesus said
not everyone
who comes to
me and says
Lord Lord
will enter
into the
kingdom of
God
but only
those who
obey
his
commandments
and what
he's taught
us
are we
living in
obedience
are we
obeying
all of
God's word
and message
are we
picking
I like
this part
I don't
know if
I like
that one
I like
this one
over here
how about
I do
that
but
let's
skip
that book
don't like
that too
much
are we
willing to
pick up
the word
of God
and read
it
study it
digest it
and say
I'm going
to believe
every word
in this
book
and I'm
going to
obey it
to the
best of
my power
through the
Holy Spirit
living within
me
and at the
end of
2017
we can
look back
and realize
where we've
grown
and where
God has
been working
using us
because
success
in sharing
the gospel
and
making
the
kingdom
advance
the
kingdom
of God
is not
about us
it's not
about our
gifts
it's not
about our
talents
it's not
about
resources
and us
doing
anything
it's about
being
faithful
it's about
being
obedient
and God
is the
one doing
the work
God
is working
through us
and in
us
to draw
people
unto
himself
we can't
do that
I can
never
change
a heart
I have
a hard
enough
time
with my
own
heart
but what
we can
do is
be obedient
and to
be faithful
and trust
that the
Lord is
the one
working
through our
efforts
trusting
that God
is drawing
people
unto
himself
God
is working
in their
hearts
God
is opening
their eyes
God
is setting
them free
from sin
and things
they've
been
in bondage
to for
years
but how
can they
believe
if they
have not
heard
and how
can they
hear
if someone
does not
go to
them
and proclaim
to them
I want to
tell you about
another opportunity
and I know
time is
ticking away
here but I
want to tell you
about another
opportunity to
get involved
this year
to be a
part of
something
exciting
that I'm
more excited
about this
than anything
I've been
involved in
for 21
years of
ministry
and that's
something
Jim Gilstrap
and I went
to Birmingham
Alabama
last May
and we got
trained in
an evangelism
strategy called
four fields
and this is
something that a
Chinese pastor
upon praying to
God looking
around him
saying there's
all these
millions of
Chinese living
around me
I'm one
man
how can I
reach them
all
and through
prayer
and through
seeking the
Lord God
led him to
a strategy
that is now
referred to by
many missionaries
called the
four fields
and I stumbled
upon this by
accident because I
had my eyes
focused on
something else
and I was
talking to a
guy saying I
need you to
come here train
us he's like
I'll come train
you in that but
what you really
need is this
because we
were looking
for a
strategy to
focus in
Peru with
and so Jim
and I went
and we trained
in what's called
the four fields
and in November
we went to
Peru and we've
trained over
a hundred people
there we're
going back in
the end of
February early
March and I
hope to hear
a lot of
things that have
happened because
the people were
excited about it
people were
excited and they
knew they could
do it through
the power of the
Holy Spirit and
it essentially is
focused around
home Bible study
groups starting
home Bible study
groups and some
of them were
like we already
have a home Bible
study we can
take these truths
that you've taught
us these strategies
and apply and
they're simple
they're designed
for this whole
strategies designed
to be or outreach
to illiterate
Chinese people
living out in
the bush or out
in the country
somewhere and
being able to
reach them raise
them up from
within because
they don't have
opportunities to
go to seminary and
places like that
but train them from
within to then go
start another Bible
study group and you
begin reaching people
through multiplication
if you'd like to go
with us to Peru and
be a part of this
then I've got the
discipleship classes
sign up sheets are in
the foyer and one of
those is entitled the
four fields and I'm
going to be teaching
this strategy on
Sunday nights beginning
January 15th and I
hope that you'll be
interested in maybe
going with us sometime
to Peru because this
is the focus of our
strategy in Peru from
this point forward and
this is what we're going
to be doing however I
believe that we can do
it right here too and I
know that because I'm
doing it already Jim
Gilstrap and I have
already started a Bible
study at Pickens Gardens
apartment complex what
I'd like to see is
starting other Bible
studies throughout the
area so you may have no
interest in going to
Peru but you want to see
people come to faith in
Christ and you think I
can host a home Bible
study if you train me
what to do and I want to
tell you once you go
through the training once
you see what we're
talking about it's
simple anyone can lead a
home Bible study when we
were in Peru we had a man
that was there at the
training we taught him
something and some of
you heard me teach this
on a Wednesday night it's
called the sword Bible
study method and all it
is is asking six questions
of any passage what do we
learn about God what do we
learn about people is there
a sin to avoid a promise to
hear an example to follow and
a command to obey anybody
can sit down with the
scripture and begin learning
something about God by
asking those six simple
questions and it's effective
and it works this one man
in Peru he said he came back
the next day and he said I
went to a Bible study that I'm
involved in it at night and
they looked at me and they
said you're leading it today
and he said he was not
prepared at all he's been
sitting for three days in a
conference we were teaching
he said oh wait he said I'll
just use the sword Bible study
method and so he went through
that passage with them with
the sword Bible study and he
said the people got so
excited they were digging into
the scripture learning about
the scripture and one lady
said finally finally I can
study the Bible on my own and
not have to have someone else
teach me I would say it's
exciting if you've got a heart
which I hope we all do and a
passion for reaching lost people
making disciples growing them
and advancing by simple home
Bible study groups sign up for
the class four fields and we'll
see you on Sunday night January
15th also I'm going to use this
as an opportunity just another
commercial for all of our
discipleship classes out there
we've got some really good ones
but we also have one called
single and parenting this is Brian
came up with these numbers a few
years ago there's seven or 18
million single parents living in
the United States 18 million
17 million of them are unchurched
17 out of 18 are unchurched
probably because they're worn out
wiped out for I'm being a single
parent but this is a class that's
ministering to them a support
group of other parents in the same
boat with them and leading them in a
study of scripture in the Bible
if you know single parents out there
that could benefit from a class like
this please let them know about it
and they can call here and talk to me
if they want to know more but single
and parenting it'll begin with all of
our other discipleship classes on
January the 15th let me conclude this
morning by saying this we may hear all
this you think it's great Jeff that
you're excited about this but you've
been to seminary it's great that you
went to that training you know I just
can't do that that's not me I'm not
skilled I don't have enough knowledge
I want to tell you something of why we
cannot fail when we're willing to be
obedient and faithful and just make
ourselves available look back at the
great commission Matthew and look at
verse 18 with me if you will treat it
together and Jesus came and said to
them all authority in heaven and on
earth has been given to me Jesus is
saying all authority has been given to
me by the father in heaven and on
earth it's a lot of authority Jesus is
the ultimate authority he's authority
over life authority over death authority
over time authority over nature sickness
disease spirits anything you can imagine
anything you can think of Jesus has been
given all authority and then what does it
say next the first word of verse 19 says
go go therefore and make disciples he's
implying I've been given all authority and I'm
sending you out under that authority you are to
go under the authority of Jesus Christ and the
name of Christ and go out representing him in the
world in which we live now jump down to verse
20 read with me verse 20 says teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded you and
behold I am with you always to the end of the
age you hear that Jesus is saying go in my
authority oh and guess what guess what I'm
going to go with you you're not going alone
Jesus is saying I'm going to be there with you
how can you fail how can you fail if you make
yourself available and be obedient to what he said
to do and go in his authority and know that he's
with us where we fail as we get things screwed up and
we look at it from a worldly perspective and not a
God perspective so many times we think well I'll go
witness and they won't accept Christ there was a
pastor in Peru that I was told he said he went out
witness to somebody they didn't receive Christ and he
said well I'll never do that again it's not what the
scriptures say if we're measuring it like a gunfighter
put notches in our belt then yeah we'll probably fail but if
we're looking at from the perspective of God of being
obedient and being faithful we can't lose because it's up to
God working in people's lives drawing them unto himself he's
just allowing us to be a part of that process of going and
communicating and proclaiming that gospel what a wonderful
privilege we've been given to share that with the people that
we know and come into contact with sometimes even in foreign
lands that we've been given and know that we can't fail we also
hear people sometimes say they're scared to offend someone they
don't want to say anything to them because they're afraid they'll
offend them are you more afraid of offending someone or them going
to hell would we rather them go to hell and not be mad at us because
we offended them they're going to be really offended when they are
thrown in hell and realize you had the answers and you didn't tell
them we've got to be willing to risk the relationships for people in
our lives that we love our neighbors our co-workers or people that we come
into contact with we've got to risk that relationship in order to tell them
the truth that's what real love is and Jesus loved us enough to come and die
for us what is holding us back what's keeping us from going and telling others
the truth of the gospel not a watered down not a false gospel but a genuine
gospel message of the truth I ran across some statistics a few years ago
George Barna he asked teenagers in the United States how many of them were
Christians 85 percent claimed to be Christians but his questionnaire was designed to bring it
on down and to how many of you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ you know how
many of them had it I'll give you a hint you can count it on one hand four percent 85 percent
claim to be Christian in America 4 percent claim to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and
that's what it's all about it's about knowing Christ about knowing him and surrendering our lives to him
and receiving that free gift of salvation through faith and obeying what he's told us to do from that point on
salvation is not based on our obedience but we're obedient because we've come to faith in him
let's go to the Lord in prayer
father we thank you for this day what a glorious day and a glorious way to begin a new year
to enter into your house and to stand together with my brothers and sisters in Christ and to worship you
what a glorious way to spend our time in the word of God and learning more about you
and how you desire for us to live I pray Lord today that as we leave this place we leave
with a desire and a commitment to live our lives better this year for you to walk closer with you
this year to spend more time in the word of God this year and to be available to you for you to use us
in whatever way you see fit and we praise you we thank you for that in Jesus name amen