God's Vision

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,

Revelation 7 · chapter mention

and also will be on the board.

Revelation chapter 7, verses 9 and 10.

Revelation 7:9

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.

Revelation 7:9

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

Revelation 7 · chapter mention

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

Matthew 28:18

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

Matthew 28:18–20

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

Revelation 7 · chapter mention

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

John 4 · chapter mention

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