Restoring the World by Reproducing the Life of Christ

Restoring the World by Reproducing the Life of Christ

(Preaching Outline)

MISSION:
Becoming a community that restores the world by reproducing the life of Christ with imperfect people growing in grace and serving through the gift of the Spirit.

VISION:
To restore human flourishing through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“We are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:15–16, NASB)

I am going to preach a series of messages that will connect with our mission and vision in various ways.

1)      To own the mission of restoring the world by reproducing the life of Christ takes on a journey that is out of sync with the current church world.

2)      I want to begin by reading 2 Samuel 23:13–17 (NKJV) — 13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 17 And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

a)      Context of David’s Statement

i)        After 2 Samuel records David’s last words, then it recounts the deeds of his mighty men.

ii)      Led the armies of Israel in battle, and had married the daughter of Saul

iii)    Then Saul sought to kill him

iv)    Fled to Achish in Gath, pretended madness, scratched doors and drooled.

v)      The challenge of faith – the calling and anointing and the trouble.

vi)    Remembered the simplicity and joy of youth and spoke about water from the well of Bethlehem.

b)      The kingdom challenge – 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV) — 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

c)      The difficulties faced by his mighty men.

i)        Keilah, Saul handed over, not belonging to the current order, Culminating in Ziklag.

d)      OUR PERSONAL JOURNEYS

e)      OUR CORPORATE JOURNEY

f)       THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD

g)      I am going to frame this next section around the passage: 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV) — 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

3)      The challenge of dreaming of going against the grain because of the hope of a better world.

a)      The challenge of believing that Christianity can have a much greater impact on the world but to accomplish this, we need to have the courage to go against the grain.

b)      Some of what is common in the church.

i)        Political lines

ii)      Worship and emotion

iii)    Social mobility

iv)    Feeling special because of doctrines or forms.

v)      Hierarchy and self-importance

vi)    Cult of personality

vii)   Dependence

c)      The challenges we face in seeking to restore the world by reproducing the life of Christ.

i)        Not what grows churches today.

ii)      The challenge of a crowd attracts a crowd.

iii)    We have to believe in the mission and vision if we are going to succeed.

4)      We also need practical ways we can contribute to our mission and vision.

a)      Acts 2:46–47 (NKJV) — 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

b)      Romans 14:17–18 (NKJV) — 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

c)      1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NKJV) — 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

5)      The perseverance required to fulfill such a dream.

a)      Habakkuk 3:17–19 (NKJV) — 17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

b)      A prophet is one who sees the future in the present, the end already implicit in the beginning. While others are at ease, he foresees the catastrophe. While others are mourning the catastrophe, he can already see the eventual consolation. There is a famous example of this in the Talmud. Rabbi Akiva is walking with his colleagues on Mount Scopus when they see the ruins of the Temple. They weep. He smiles. When they ask him why he is smiling, he replies: “Now that I have seen the realization of the prophecies of destruction, shall I not believe in the prophecies of restoration?”[1]

c)      Galatians 6:9–10 (NKJV) — 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

d)      What we have already

e)      What we will explore in the future

f)       Restoring the world by reproducing the life of Christ.