October 16-17, 2004, Acts 20:24, Selected

THE AMAZING RACE!
THE RACE AGAINST TIME!

*** Acts 20:24 “But I don't place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I'm running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus—the mission of testifying to the Good News of God's kindness.” [God’s Word]
*** Acts 8:4 “Forced to leave home base, the Christians all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus.” [Message]
*** Romans 10:13-14 “All who call out to the Lord will be saved. 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?” [Contemporary English Version]
*** 2 Cor. 5:18-19 “All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others.” [New Living Translation]
*** 2 Tim. 4:2 “So proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple.” [Msg]

HOW TO WIN THE RACE AGAINST TIME:

1. BY KNOWING THE CHRIST!
*** John 14:6 “Jesus answered, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” [New Century Version]
*** Acts 4:12 “Jesus is the only One who can save people. His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save people. We must be saved through him." [NCV]
*** Galatians 1:6-7 “I am shocked that you have so quickly turned from God, who chose you because of his wonderful kindness. You have believed another message, when there is really only one true message. But some people are causing you trouble and want to make you turn away from the good news about Christ.” [CEV]
*** MT. 7:23 “Then I will tell them clearly, 'Get away from me…I never knew you.” [NCV]

2. BY OWNING THE CAUSE!

There has been a 92% increase in the number of unchurched Americans!
What is our motivation in this race against time?

A. HE ASKS US TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!
*** 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]
*** 1 Cor. 9:16 “Telling the Good News does not give me any reason for bragging. Telling the Good News is my duty—something I must do. And how terrible it will be for me if I do not tell the Good News.” [NCV]

B. HELL IS A REAL PLACE AND POSSIBILITY!
*** Ezekiel 18:20 “The one who sins is the one who dies.” [NLT]
*** Hebrews 9:27 “And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment…” [NLT]
*** 2 Cor. 5:10 “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged.” [NLT]
*** Rev. 20:11-15 “And I saw a great white throne, and I saw the one who was sitting on it. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done. They were all judged according to their deeds. This is the second death—the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” [NLT]

THIS RACE AGAINST TIME IS FOR KEEPS!

*** 2 Cor. 5:11 “That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It's no light thing to know that we'll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That's why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God.” [Msg]

3. BY GOING THE COURSE!
*** Col. 4:2-6 “Never give up praying. And when you pray, keep alert and be thankful. Be sure to pray that God will make a way for us to spread his message and explain the mystery about Christ, even though I am in jail for doing this. Please pray that I will make the message as clear as possible. When you are with unbelievers, always make good use of the time. Be pleasant and hold their interest when you speak the message. Choose your words carefully and be ready to give answers to anyone who asks questions.” [CEV]

A. PRAY FOR OPPORTUNITIES!
*** Col. 4:5 “Make the most of your chances to tell others the Good News.” [LB]

B. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND INVEST TIME IN PEOPLE!
*** Col. 4:5 “When you are with unbelievers, always make good use of the time.”

“WE HAVE TO EARN THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD!”

C. SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY!
*** Col. 4:6 “Be pleasant and hold their interest when you speak the message.”

BEFORE! DURING! AFTER!

*** 1 Peter 3:15 “If you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” [NLT]

D. FIND ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS!
*** Col. 4:6 “Choose your words carefully and be ready to give answers to anyone who asks questions.” [CEV]

RESOURCES ‘R US…[any Pastor]@chandlercc.org

E. CHALLENGE THEM TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP!
*** Col. 4:4 “Please pray that I will make the message as clear as possible.”

OUR JOB: TO TELL OUR GOOD FRIENDS ABOUT OUR BEST FRIEND!

I’M JUST A NOBODY, TRYING TO TELL EVERYBODY ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO CAN SAVE ANYBODY!