Missional – God’s Plan – Your Purpose

Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 18-20

WE ARE BLESSED

Loved worshipping today – sense of belonging as we gather

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that as Jesus Followers this morning just how blessed we are

When you focus on being a blessing God makes sure you are always blessed (Joel Osteen)

GOD’S PLAN

Church, know this this morning that you are loved, loved beyond measure

Scarlett thread of redemption that takes us to where we are today

Bible is clear we were created for relationship and Gen 1 reminds us that God walked around the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day looking for contact with Adam and Eve

Due to Adams sin, stubbornness and rebellion God out of love made an alternative plan.  A rescue plan, and that plan was Jesus.

RELATIONSHIP – HEBREWS 11 GREAT MEN OF FAITH

RELATIONSHIP – GOD STARTS WITH THE ONE - ABRAHAM – FRIEND OF GOD

In the OT God put everything in place so that mankind can live in harmony with the living God, but also live in harmony with each other!  That’s impressive!

JESUS –

He sent his only son Jesus to be the sacrifice that expressed itself in the form of a cross. A cruel death.

The Bible says that He took upon himself our sins, our iniquities (ultimate and final sacrificial lamb. A Isiah 53 )

Jesus took the keys of death and hell (Revelation 1:18 )

So that you and I can have our sins forgiven and find new life in Jesus

Finally, the door is now open for you and me to find new life in Jesus

In faith with Jesus we can have a better life, a life living in relationship with a living, loving God who quite simply loves you

A God who has plans for you which are for good and not to harm you, plans to make you prosper you, (Jeremiah 29:11 )

This is truly astonishing – we don’t deserve it, we can’t earn it, we can’t buy it

Salvation in Jesus is God’s ultimate gift to you and to me

As believers and more to the point ‘Followers of Jesus’ we have much to thank God for.

Like Abraham - God sees you as a friend

God sees you as a son and daughter

We have been –

• Saved


• Sanctified


• Set apart

Thank God today for His mercy and grace upon your life and mine

CHRISTMAS GRATITUDE

We have just said farewell to Christmas 2024. A time when we together celebrated Jesus, God’s ultimate and perfect gift.

This gift was given from heaven to earth.  The everlasting Light

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given and the government will be upon his shoulders.  He will be called, wonderful, counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

John 3:16

God so loved the world that He gave….

WHAT A GIFT

Jesus is the best gift anyone could ever have.  We have been adopted into the family of God.

No longer aliens no longer remote, afar off, but through Jesus we are divinely connected to the living God

In 2025 Holy Spirit is reminding us with a LOUD VOICE ABOUT BEING A MISSIONAL PEOPLE

THE CHURCH IS NOT JUST A BUILDING – NOT A RELIGIOUS STRUCTURE – PEOPLE MOVEMENT – YOU ARE A PEOPLE MOVEMENT

BE THE GIFT

THE NOW WORD IS THAT WE SHOULD NOT JUST THANK GOD FOR THE GIFT

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY BE THE GIFT

It’s a divine call to participate in the Missional call to represent Jesus inside and outside of these four walls.

We all have a gift, we are each one unique, we have impact, we all have our own expression faith and service that brings honour to Him.

WE STAND TOGETHER IN OUR PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST – THERE’S NO OTHER WAY IN WHICH MAN MAY BE SAVED

WE KNOW SHARING THE GOSPEL CAN BE TRICKY IN THE TIMES IN WHICH WE LIVE. MAN’S HEART SEEM’S CLOSED AND COLD

Stand against those negative voice that shout out we are not good enough, trained enough, skilled enough, know enough

If we are thinking about missional call, then we have to look at the Early Church as recorded in the scriptures

THE CHURCH IN CORINTH

BACKGROUND mainly gentiles.  All sorts of things going on

Disunity

Immorality

False teaching that threatened to destroy the church and hinder the expansion of the gospel

There was no church in Corinth – Paul left and later wrote to them!

2 Corinthians 6:11 /12 – NEGATIVE SELF TALK

V11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, our heart is wide open,

 v12 You are not restricted by us, but you were restricted in your own affections

We are restrained by our own feelings. Affections =  Greek – Emotions

Feelings are our own worst enemy’ disappointments

Corinthians – who did God call not rich, educated, wise

Open my eyes Lord

God doesn’t hold us back

We talk ourselves back, we are held hostage to our thoughts, feelings and emotions and past negative experiences.

The wonderful thing is that on our transformational love walk with Jesus, we don’t walk alone, far from it!

Working together with God

Sometimes we have to remember the word! Who did God call – HE CALLS YOU AND ME

1 Corinthians 3:9

For we are co-workers in God’s Service, you are God’s field, God’s building. Jesus lays the FOUNDATION and we play our part to build the structure into something that’s beautiful and glorifies God.

We work together with God and he needs me!!!!

Called ones Have God’s power

Acts 1: Power of the Holy Spirit

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sameria and to the ends of the earth!

 The world doesn’t like Jesus, Christians or the church

Boy we need the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit.

To be fully effective Missional people we need the help, support and direction of the Holy Spirit.

His function is to prepare the way for the gospel, prepare the way for ministry.

Sharing Jesus is a work of the Holy Spirit. HE IS OUR TEACHER, OUR COMFORTER, OUR GUIDE

HE IS THE ONE THAT GIVES US COURAGE AND STRENGTH.

I LOVE THE EARLY CHURCH

Whatever the world says or demands or believes or acts

1 Corinthians 1:22 f

We preach Christ Crucified a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to Gentiles but to those who are called both Jews and Greeks. Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God

For the foolishness of God is wider than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men