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February 15-16, 2003 XTREME LIVING – 40 DAYS OF PURPOSE! Selected WE ARE MADE FOR A MISSION! *** Ps. 33:11 “The
Lord’s plans endure forever; His purposes last eternally.” [TEV] — OUR FIRST PURPOSE IN
LIFE IS TO KNOW AND LOVE GOD – WORSHIP! — OUR SECOND PURPOSE IN
LIFE IS TO LOVE GOD’S FAMILY – FELLOWSHIP! — OUR THIRD PURPOSE IN
LIFE IS TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST – DISCIPLESHIP ! — OUR FOURTH PURPOSE IN
LIFE IS TO SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS ! - MINISTRY! *** John 17:18 “In
the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in
the world.” [The Message] *** Matthew 28:19 “Go
to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the
name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…” [CEV] *** Mark 16:15 "You are to go into all the world and
preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.” [Living Bible] *** Luke 24:47 “This
message of salvation should be taken from Jerusalem to all the nations: There
is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.” [Living] *** John 20:21 “As
the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." [Living] *** Acts 1:8 “Then
you will tell everyone about me…."
[Contemporary English
Version] *** Acts 20:24 “I
don't care about my own life. The most important thing is that I complete my
mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me—to tell people the Good News
about God's grace. [New Century
Version] — OUR FIFTH PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO SHARE THE GOOD
NEWS! – EVANGELISM ! *** 2 Cor. 5:18 “Christ
changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others
his friends also.” [Today’s English
Version]*** Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." [New International Version] WE SHARE THE GOOD NEWS BY WITNESSING – TELLING WHAT WE KNOW! *** 1 Peter 2:9-10 “You
are the ones chosen by God…God's instruments to do his work and speak out for
him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from
nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.” [Msg] *** Isaiah 6:8 “I heard the voice of the Lord
saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" [NIV] *** Acts 1:8 “You will
be my witnesses—in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of
the world." [NCV] HOW CAN I SHARE THE GOOD NEWS? 1. BY SHARING WITH THOSE IN MY WORLD! *** Luke 8:39 “Go
back home and tell people how much God has done for you." So the man went
all over town telling how much Jesus had done for him.” [NCV] Witnessing is just telling: ·
WHAT MY LIFE WAS LIKE
BEFORE I MET JESUS! ·
HOW I REALIZED I NEEDED JESUS! ·
HOW I COMMITTED MY LIFE
TO JESUS! ·
THE DIFFERENCE JESUS HAS MADE IN MY LIFE! 2. BY CARING FOR THOSE BEYOND MY WORLD! *** Galatians 6:2 “Stoop
down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so
complete Christ's law.” [Msg] PEOPLE WON’T CARE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW UNTIL THEY KNOW HOW MUCH
YOU CARE! *** Matthew 10:42 “And
if, as my representatives, you give even a cup of cold water to a little child,
you will surely be rewarded."
[Living] *** Matthew 25:34-40 “'Receive
the kingdom God has prepared for you since the world was made. I was hungry,
and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was
alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house. I was without
clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I
was in prison, and you visited me.'
Then the good people will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry…or
thirsty…when did we see you alone and away from home…when did we see you
without clothes…when did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?' Then the King will answer, 'I tell you the
truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for
me.'” [NCV] “PREACH OFTEN, AND IF NECESSARY, USE WORDS! St. Francis of Assisi 3. BY DARING TO REACH AROUND THE WORLD
! *** Mark 16:15 “Jesus
said to his followers, "Go everywhere in the world, and tell the
Good News to everyone.” [NCV] ·
YOU CAN’T SPELL “GOD” WITHOUT GO! ·
YOU CAN’T SPELL “GOODNEWS” WITHOUT GO ! ·
YOU CAN’T SPELL “GOSPEL” WITHOUT GO! ! GIVING IS ONLY DOING HALF THE COMMAND! *** Romans 10:14-15 “How
can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never
heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? And how can
anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a
beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good
news.” [CEV] IS ANYBODY GOING TO HEAVEN BECAUSE OF YOU? “Jesus
said…“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." John 20:21 [NIV] Suggested Books: – More Than A Carpenter – Josh McDowell – The Case For Christ – Lee Strobel – Letters To A Skeptic – Greg & Edward Boyd – Becoming A Contagious Christian – Bill Hybels |