Tag: Missions

Who are We in Christ? – Part 1

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, EvangelismLeave a comment

Jesus on the Cross

Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians while in Ephesus after he heard of some issues plaguing the church. The issues Paul deals with in 1 Corinthians are the same issues we deal with today, which is why this is such a good book for the modern day church to study.

However, before Paul dives into the issues, he reminds the Corinthians, and subsequently us, of who we are in Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 1:2 Paul writes:

“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.” (1 Cor. 1:2)

Based on 1 Corinthians 1:2, the first thing we learn is that:

(1) Those who are in Christ form a church that is set apart and set on mission by God

Notice Paul calls the Corinthians “the church of God”. They are called the church of God to distinguish them from any other gathering, which is an important idea because the church is unique. We are formed and led by God. As well as we are a people sanctified by Jesus. He makes us holy and sets us apart as God’s people.

In Jesus, sinners are made righteous. They are made Holy. They are set apart as God’s people to accomplish His mission — To make disciples.

I think we often forget how much of a privilege it is to be on God’s mission. We are sinners, who have rebelled against God. However, despite who we are, God sees fit to call us to Himself, makes us holy, and then employee us in His mission.

Thinking about God not only saving us but using us — sinners who at one time rebelled against Him and set themselves up as His enemies — is simply amazing to me. It is amazing that God would care enough to rescue His enemies. It amazes me further that He doesn’t set us on the shelf afterwards, but He actually empowers and allows us to participate in His mission.

So the next time you have an opportunity to have a gospel conversation with someone, don’t shy away. Instead praise God for saving and using you to accomplish His mission — To make disciples.

Question for Reflection

  1. Do recognize the immense privilege it is to be used by God?

Resources

Post adapted from my sermon Who Are We In Christ?

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Trust God Will Use You

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Evangelism, Practical1 Comment

Work Construction

I just finished preaching a series over the Genesis 1-12. In the last chapter — Genesis 12 — we encountered Abram (Abraham). He is a great example of someone who had to trust that God would use him.

Abraham’s Hindrance

Remember the promise God made Abraham — to make him into a great nation. That is a great promise to hear and believe if you already have a large family of 10 kids.

However, consider Abraham, he is 75 years old and doesn’t have any children. In Genesis 11:30, the text tells us:

“… Sarai was barren; she had no child.” (Gen. 11:30).

Sarai’s barrenness wasn’t for lack of trying. Abraham and Sarai weren’t late bloomers who married later in life, nor did they use birth control. In fact, according to Jewish custom, they probably had been married since they were 13 or 14, which means they had been trying to have kids for 60 years without any success.

So when God told Abraham that a great nation would come from Him, he had to really trust that the Lord would use he and his wife, because so far they hadn’t produce one child, let alone an entire nation.

Our Hindrances

In the same way we have to trust that the Lord will use us to advance His Kingdom. Trusting the Lord to use us sounds a lot easier than it really is. There are a lot things that have the potential to hinder us from believing God will use us to bring another to faith in Jesus.

(1) For some that might be your knowledge of God’s Word. Maybe you don’t believe you know enough to talk with someone else about the gospel, or you are concerned you won’t be able to answer their objections.

(2) For others that might be your past. Maybe your past was hard and difficult. You were known as a trouble maker. Maybe you even spent some time in jail. Now you can’t imagine that anyone would listen to you.

(3) Still for others it might be your ability to connect with others. Maybe you are different than those you live around and you can’t imagine how God could use you to speak into their lives.

These are the end-all-be-all of hindrances. There are many other things that may hinder us from believing God will use us to expand His kingdom.

Believing You Can’t Be Used is a Lie

However, believing you can’t be used by God to further His kingdom is a lie. Starting in 1 Corinthians 1:27 Paul writes,

“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Cor. 1:27-29)

You see, if God saves us, He will use us. No matter what abilities we possess, or what we have done. God will use us. So don’t doubt. Instead, trust that God will use you to further His kingdom.

Question for Reflection

  1. Do you trust that God will use you to further His kingdom?

Resources

Post adapted from the sermon: God’s Reclamation Project

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What is Jesus’ Mission and How Does it Affect Us?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PracticalLeave a comment

Mission

What is Jesus’ mission? How does it affect us? A good summary of Jesus’ mission and how it affects us is found in Ephesians chapter 1. In verses 3-10 we learn three things:

(1) Jesus’ mission was given and prepared before the world was created (3-4; 9-10a)

Everything that has happened in this world is no mystery to God. He knew Adam and Eve would eat the fruit in the garden, that they would rebel against Him. He knew the world would turn out the way it is today.

God was prepared. He had a plan to save His people, so they could experience life with Him. His plan involved Jesus, His Son.

Ephesians 1:3-4 says,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” (Eph 1:3–4)

And Ephesians 1:9-10a says,

“making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time,” (Eph 1:9–10a)

So Jesus’ mission was God given. It was a plan that He and the Father came up with before this world was even created.

(2) Jesus’ mission was to take our punishment for us (7)

As sinners we are separated from God and we deserve His punishment, but Jesus came to die in our place, to take God’s wrath on Himself.

Ephesians 1:7 says,

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” (Eph 1:7)

The way we experience redemption is by Jesus shedding His blood. The way Jesus shed His blood was by being nailed to a cross. While He hung on that cross, the Father’s wrath was poured out on Him. The wrath that we deserve was poured out on Jesus as He hung in our place.

So Jesus’ mission was to take our punishment for us.

(3) Jesus’ mission was to unite us to God for all eternity (10b)

We know this because the second half of Ephesians 10 tells us the plan that was revealed in the fullness of time was,

“to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” (Eph 1:10b)

So Jesus’ mission then is designed to restore all creation back to God. To restore shalom or peace first between us and the Father. Second between us and each other. Third between the Father and creation. Fourth between us and creation.

So Jesus came to unite us to God for all eternity through His shed blood on the cross and this was a mission that started before time even existed.

The Good News

The good news is that all those who would repent of their sin, who would turn from living how they want, admit Jesus is their Savior – that He came to die in their place, and follow Jesus will experience salvation.

So have you done that? Have you turned from your sins to follow Jesus? Have you given your life over to Him? Do you recognize Jesus’ mission was to come and die in your place so that your relationship with the Father could restored?

Or do you deny Jesus’ mission? Do you refuse to repent? Do you refuse to recognize Jesus as the Messiah? The Savior? Do you try to come against Jesus and destroy Him?

Questions for Reflection

  1. What do you believe?
  2. What have you done?
  3. Where are you at?

Resources

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Post developed from my sermon: Those who Come Against Jesus Don’t Win in the End

Embrace Your Mission

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, Discipleship, EvangelismLeave a comment

Army Plane

When Jesus enters Jerusalem in what is known as the Triumphal Entry, He doesn’t come in quietly. Matthew 21:8-9 says:

“Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mt 21:8–9)

So Jesus’ didn’t ride in quietly. Instead He was given the royal treatment. A makeshift red carpet was rolled out for Him, and a large crowd went in front and back of Him shouting words of praise reserved only for the Messiah.

No Mystery

So there is no mystery who Jesus is as He rides into Jerusalem. He is the One the prophets prophesied about. He is the humble and peaceful king. He is the long awaited Messiah. He is not hiding it anymore. He is not telling anyone to keep quiet.

Embracing His Mission

Instead He comes barreling into Jerusalem during the Passover. A time when the city was filled to the brim, when its population grew by the 1000’s. Jesus comes into the city surrounded by a huge crowd proclaiming He is the Messiah, so He is not hiding it anymore. He puts His claims out their for all to see.

In doing so, Jesus is embracing His mission. He is embracing His ultimate fate. He is embracing the cross.

Embrace Your Mission

Seeing Jesus embrace the mission for which He was sent, should cause us to embrace our God given mission – to grow together as disciples and be disciple makers.

Growing as disciples and being disciples makers should be something for which all Christians are known. It shouldn’t be something we hide. Instead we should embrace it and do all we can to grow together as disciples and be disciple makers.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Do you embrace your mission?
  2. Are you seeking to grow together as disciples and be disciple makers?
  3. Does Jesus embracing His mission encourage you to embrace yours?
  4. How can we grow together as disciples?

Resource

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Our Scriptural Call to Missions

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, EvangelismLeave a comment

Mission

During our Sunday service yesterday, our music minister and his wife read the following responsive reading to the congregation. The readings topic is missions. It specifically highlights the Christians Scriptural call to missions work.

Whether we leave everything behind and head overseas, or remain in the same town our entire lives, we are all called to spread the gospel. It is our biblical mandate. The following verses confirm our calling.

Note: I preserved the responsive reading breaks below.

Matthew 28:16-20, ESV

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.

And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.

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.”

John 4:35, ESV

“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” 

Romans 10:8–15, ESV

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Questions for Reflection

  1. How do these verses challenge or motivate you to missions work?
  2. How are you living as a missionary in your own city?

Resource

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How Jesus’ Disciples Will Be Treated By The World? | Part 4

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PracticalLeave a comment

Cross

What do we need to know in order to be an effective witness as a disciple of Jesus?

Continuing in Matthew 10:16-42, we also learn how to be an effective witness as a disciple of Jesus.

(1) We have to use our heads (16)

In verse 16, Jesus tells us we are to be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves. While we are sheep in the midst of wolves, we don’t have to be stupid sheep. We can use our heads to determine if a situation is not beneficial.

There has to be balance. While we are to be as wise as serpents, we are also to as innocent as doves, so we shouldn’t scheme or trick people.

(2) We must realize everything happens according to God’s plan and He will provide us with what we need because we are valuable to Him (19-20; 29-31).

God is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe. Nothing happens outside of His control. If we find ourselves standing trial for our beliefs, we can be confident it’s part of God’s plan. Our trial is actually an opportunity to spread the gospel.

When we are called to give an account for our beliefs, we can do so confidently, knowing the Holy Spirit provides what we need. If it is boldness, He will give us boldness. If it is courage, He will give us courage. If it is knowledge of what to say, He will give us the words to speak.

All this means we must rely on the Lord, trust in His plan, and know we are valuable, as we take His message to the world.

(3) Know when to move on (23).

There will be instances when people won’t accept our message. Then there will be times when those same people persecute us. When we face persecution by a whole community, it is time to move on. There are others out there who will accept our message, so we must move on and begin to share our message with them.

(4) Fear God instead of man (26-28).

The fear of men shouldn’t keep us silent. Instead we should fear God. God has the power not only to kill our bodies, but our souls as well. He has the ability to punish us for all eternity. Those who don’t fear Him will face that punishment. So we should fear God instead of man.

The result of fearing God is freedom. Freedom to proclaim Jesus’ message to all. Freedom because we no longer fear what man can do to us.

(5) True peace doesn’t come by avoiding conflict (34-36).

Jesus did not come to bring peace. Jesus came with a message that creates conflict, even conflict in our own families. In order to be an effective witness for the gospel, we have to understand the gospel creates conflict. Not between Christians, but between Christians and the world as we spread the message of the gospel. Understanding that can help us prepare for conflict as we go out with the gospel.

(6) Put Jesus first (37-39).

Two thoughts run though these verses. First, we must put Jesus before our own families. Now this doesn’t mean we don’t take care of our families. It means our belief in Jesus is not based on our families agreement. As well as it means we are willing to be taken from our families because of our beliefs.

John Bunyan faced that decision in his life. In England, there is a State church – the Church of England. In John Bunyan’s time, it was mandatory for you to attend church services.

Bunyan didn’t agree with the Church of England. He thought it was corrupt and void of the true gospel. Instead of attending the state sponsored church services, Bunyan attended an underground church where he would preach the true gospel.

His preaching led to a trial, conviction, and sentencing. Bunyan’s punishment was to be three months imprisonment. Three months came and went, but Bunyan wasn’t released. Instead, the State held him in prison until he agreed not to preach anymore. Bunyan was unwilling to meet their demands. As a result, he ended up spending twelve years in prison. Twelve years away from his family. Twelve years knowing that if he only agreed not to preach the gospel he would be released. But Bunyan stuck to his guns.

He was willing to spend time away from his own family because He put Jesus first. Are we willing to do the same?

If we are going to be an effective witness for Christ, we must be willing to give up all for Jesus, which is the second thought running through these verses.

(7) Know some will accept our message (40-42).

Knowing some will accept our message, should motivate us to continue on. As well as we should be willing to face persecution, knowing what we are doing, the message we are spreading is not in vain.

Conclusion

Reflecting back over the narrative, we learn Jesus’ disciples will face persecution, but it is worth. It is worth it because disciples of Jesus experience a restored relationship with God that results in eternal life.

Not only should our future hope serve as motivation to spread the gospel, but knowing the Lord empowers us and prepares us for our mission should as well. Jesus doesn’t send us out without telling us what to expect. He doesn’t send us out without a game plan. He doesn’t send us out without empowering us for ministry. He provides us with what we need to accomplish His mission.

Knowing these things should motivate us to turn to Jesus as our Savior and serve as His Disciples. Our path won’t be easy, Jesus doesn’t promise us that, but it will be worth it.

So if you call yourself a disciple of Jesus, spread His Word!

Resource

Post adapted from my recent sermon: How Jesus’ Disciples Will Be Treated By The World