Get In The Game - Making Disciples For Jesus (Part 2)

Pastor Rocklyn Clarke - Sunday June 15, 2008

© 2008 Life Church Ministries, Inc.

http://www.LifeChurchMinistries.org/

Introduction

Bible Reading 6/8 - 6/15: 1Kings 3:4 - 15:24; Acts 6:1 - 10:23a; Psalm 126 - 133; Prov 16:26 - 17:8

Review

Get In The Game: Introduction

Consumer Christianity

Real Life Illustration

Preoccupation with what you can receive.

Great preaching

Great singing

Great children's ministry

Great youth ministry

Biblical Christianity

Losing your life to save your life

Peter rebukes Jesus - Mark 8:27-38

". . . take up your cross daily . . ." - Luke 9:18-26

Consumer Christians try to "save their lives" and ultimately lose them.

Biblical Illustration

The Church at Sardis (Rev 3:1-7) - Dead despite reputation

The Church at Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22) - Lukewarm

Fine linen = righteous acts of the saints - Rev 19:8

Moving from Consumer Christianity to Biblical Christianity

Our approach to Christianity is producing death rather than life!

There is a way that seems right but leads to death - Prov 14:12; 16:25

Get In The Game: Can These Dry Bones Live?

Passage: Ezek 37:1-14

Exegetical Idea

God speaks through a chosen messenger to resurrect a dead nation.

Analysis

What does this mean?

Begins with God's hand on an anointed messenger.

God takes him to a valley full of dead bones (unclean - Mat 23:27).

The bones are naked, separated, dry, and dead.

Phase 1 - tendons, flesh, and skin

Phase 2 - breath (Spirit)

Phase 3 - a vast army

Resurrection, restoration

Do I believe it?

Yes - God uses his Word to do things - Isa 55:10-11; Heb 4:12

Yes - God uses men to deliver his Word - (Cornelius - Acts 10)

Yes - God has revived his people several times in history

The Reformation - Martin Luther

The Pentecostal Revival of 1905 - William J. Seymour

The Faith Movement

The Cell Ministry Movement

What difference does it make? So What?

Much of the Church is failing to engage this generation.

Insanity - doing the same thing but expecting different results.

To accomplish God's purposes we must change.

Every follower of Jesus has a valley of dry bones tailor-made for him/her. Are you willing to be sent to your valley? Will you speak God's Word to the dry bones there and see them resurrected?

Homiletical Idea

Speak God's Word to restore the dead in your life to God's purposes.

How Do I Obey This Word?

Be a Team Player

Talk to your leaders about this.

Ask for help.

Who (Not What) Are the "Dead Bones" In Your Life?

Where are the believers in your life?

Who in your life knows Jesus but isn't reproducing himself/herself?

What God Is Saying To You About Them?

Are you spending time talking to God?

Are you listening to God?

Are you writing down what you hear?

Pray

Intercede for the "dead bones":

Pray biblically - Eph 1:15-23; Eph 3:14-19; Col 1:9-12

Pray for a Word from God for them

Speak

Speak what God tells you to say.

Speak when God tells you to speak.

New Material

Preparation

Expository Preaching

Expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies to the hearers.

Select the Passage

Study the Passage

NIV

Hebrew Study Bible

KJV

The Message

NASB

RSV

Discover the Exegetical Idea

Subject

Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why

Complement

Analyze the Exegetical Idea

Explain It: What does this mean?

Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

Formulate the Homiletical Idea

Determine the Purpose of the Sermon

Make it plain

Use accessible language and modern parables

Make sure people do something with the word God gives you for them.

Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose

Outline the Sermon

Get In The Game: Know The Message

Come and Get It While the Getting Is Good! - Luke 4:14-21

Initial Message: "Repent, the Kingdom of God is near!" - Mat 4:17

Based on God's Word - not yours: Isa 42:1-8; 49:7-10; 61:1-11

Why are we here?

Christians are followers of "The Christ" - Jesus.

Disciples want to be like their teacher.

Jesus, the Christ and our teacher, had a mission and a message.

His followers embrace both the mission and the message.

Jesus Mission

Other focused - the mission is directed towards others.

Many so-called believers are focused on themselves

"Insurance Christians" - Following the rules to avoid hell.

"Consumer Christians" - Focused on what they can get from God

Material things

Feeling good

Transcendent experiences

Consider churches in Revelation other than Sardis and Laodicea

Reflect on ways that we reward consumer Christianity

Life at the cusp of reformation

Change is at hand.

"My unbiblical practices are OK because everyone else is doing the same thing."

If we don't embrace this mission how can we be called Christians?

Jesus' Message

It has specific content: good news, freedom, sight, release, favor.

Some people get the message wrong.

The Four Corners drunk and Caesar Augustus

You need to get the message right:

Good news for people who have been facing bad news.

Freedom for those who don't have it.

Healing - especially sight for those who know they are blind.

Release for those enduring oppression.

Incorporate examples from your own life.

If you don't know what God is offering you won't value it.

If you don't value what God is offering you won't seek it.

If you don't seek what God is offering you won't get it.

It has a time frame: the "year" of God's favor.

For a limited time only - 2Cor 5:1 - 6:2

Keep Proclaiming The Message - Luke 4:22-44

Know The Message

Formulate it as simply as possible.

Salvation Stages

Meet the Father

Join the family

Take your place in the family business

Share The Message

Everyone should be able to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ in a way that's easy for others to understand.

Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)

Scripture References: Mark 8:27-38; Luke 9:23-26; Luke 4:14-21

Did you mostly "save your life" or "lose your life" this past week?

How will you "deny yourself and take up your cross daily" this month?

Are you following Jesus in his mission? Describe some ways in which you've tried to do any of the things Jesus mentioned in Luke 4:18-19.

"Insurance Christians" are primarily concerned with avoiding hell. Do you know anyone like this? How are you different from them?

Do you know people who focus more on what they can get from God than on producing disciples? Why do you think they live that way?

Do you know people who focus more on getting "deep" insights into God's Word than on practicing it? Why do you think they live that way?

Are the Christians you know making disciples? If so, do you fit in with them? If not, do you stand out from them?

Witnessing Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings

Various witnessing / works activities as determined by your life group leader.