"The Mission of God: It's Not Safe, but It's Good!"

Sunday Sermon: Feb 18, 2018

Five major teaching sections in Matthew:
1. To follow Jesus in fishing for men we need: a new ethic, a new understanding of the means of grace, a new foundation, Matthew 5-7.
2. To follow Jesus in fishing for men: we need a fearsome, danger loving, Holy Spirit dependent, attitude, Matthew 9:35 - 10:42.
3. To follow Jesus in fishing for men: we need a new view of the Kingdom, Matthew 13.
4. To follow Jesus in fishing for men: we need new view of church responsibilities, Matthew 18.
5. To follow Jesus in fishing for men: we need a new view of the King when He comes again, Matthew 24-25.

“A Great Commission church should be uncomfortable for a nominal Christian. If you show up as a guest in such a church on Sunday only as part of your casual duty, you may not like it very much. You would be welcomed, but its members would not be what you are about. They are about giving their whole lives to follow Jesus, and they commit to help one another follow Jesus. Such a commitment and such activity is part of the very culture: intentional questions, meaningful conversations, prayer, and continual reminders of the gospel.” Mark Dever

1. God has decided that broken hearted believers must pray for lost sheep, and that brokenhearted prayer precedes the conversion of unbelievers, Matthew 9:35-38; 10:18.
2. Find some co-workers; it’s a group project, there are no lone rangers, no superstars, Matthew 10:1-5.
3. Formulate your strategy, Matthew 10:5-7; 24:14.
4. Go with compassionate help, always, Matthew 10:1, 8.
5. Plan to be simple, unencumbered, unfettered, Matthew 10:9.
6. Know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, Matthew 10:11-15; Acts 13-28.
7. Trust in the Holy Spirit of grace for the right words at the right moment of anxiety, Matthew 10:16-20.
8. Have courage; when they call you Satan, it indicates that you are part of the household, Matthew 10:21-25; Acts 5:41; Matthew 13:43.
9. Be courageous: all they can do is kill you, Matthew 10:26-28.
10. Be brave because of God’s care. It is astounding, He hovers and hassles over your hair, Matthew 10:29-31.
11. Look forward to that day - Jesus’ proclamation over you before the Father, Matthew 10:32-33.
12. Of course, it’s not a safe way to live, but it’s the best way to live, Matthew 10:34-39.
13. No effort is unnoticed or lost: each does everything they can, Matthew 10:40-42.

“Is not the popular idea of Christianity simply this, that Jesus Christ was a great moral teacher and that, if only we took his advice, we might be able to establish a better social order and avoid another war? Now, mind you, that is quite true; but it tells you much less than the whole truth about Christianity and it has no practical importance at all. It is quite true that, if we took Christ’s advice, we should soon be living in a happier world. You need not even go as far as Christ. If we did all that... Confucius told us, we should get on a great deal better than we do. And so what?... If Christianity only means one more bit of good advice, then Christianity is of no importance. There has been no lack of good advice for the last four thousand years. A bit more makes no difference.” C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.