January 7-8, 2006, Selected

BRINGING P.E.A.C.E. INTO THE WORLD!

*** Luke 2:13-14 "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."" [New International Version]

CHURCH ON PURPOSE!

GOD CALLED US HERE TO THIS PLACE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
- TOUCH LIVES!
- TRANSFORM LIVES!
- TAKE THE MESSAGE OF LIFE!

*** Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you." [New Living Translation]
*** Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the good news...."
*** Luke 24:46-47 "He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."" [NIV]
*** John 20:21 "Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."" [NIV]
*** 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." [NIV]

HERE IS WHAT GOD WANTS OF EACH OF US:
- HE WANTS US TO KNOW!
- HE WANTS US TO GROW!
- HE WANTS US TO GO!

PLANTING CHURCHES!
*** Matthew 16:18b "...on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." [NIV]
*** Romans 16:3-5 "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. Greet also the church that meets at their house." [NIV]

EQUIPPING SERVANT-LEADERS!
*** Acts 20:28 "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." [NIV]
*** 2 Tim. 2:2 "You have often heard me teach. Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others." [Contemporary English Version]

ASSISTING THE POOR!
1. Did you know that half of the world...over 3 billion people live on less than $2/day...half of those...1.5 billion live on less than $1/day...
2. You don't have to travel far to see the destitute...poverty...
3. "People can't hear the gospel over the groans of their empty stomachs!"
4. Yes Jesus said: Matthew 26:11 "The poor you will always have with you...." [NIV]
5. 1 John 3:17-18 "If anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help - how can God's love be in that person? Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions" [New Living Translation]
6. Many ways we can do this...gifts...justice....teaching....
7. ILL – Steve...10-10-80...

CARING FOR THE SICK!
1. The pandemic of HIV/AIDS has infected 40 million people world wide...no cure...many preventable diseases...malaria (300 million affected)...parasites...typhus...polio... measles...eye diseases...on and on...many preventable and curable...WHY?
2. Matthew 25:37-40 "Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?" The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me." [CEV]
3. "We can't do everything, but we can do something!” Provide meds...medical care...teach & train...!
4. In Africa...Chile...instruction...

EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION!
1. Over half the world is functionally illiterate...70% is still basically an oral culture...
2. Many of the kids can't go to school because they can't afford a uniform...
3. How can we change the world unless we teach...children...
4. HUGE PROBLEMS...GLOBAL GIANTS!
5. ILL – David...5 stones...P.E.A.C.E.
6. Every government has failed...UN has failed...ONLY ONE THING BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE ON THESE GLOBAL GIANTS – THE CHURCH!
7. Networking globally...2.1 billion Christians...members and churches in almost every location in the world...largest global network in the world...!
8. If we can get all believers...mobilized...arm of God just waiting to be used...!
9. So big...break it down...

1. PERSONAL P.E.A.C.E.!
1. This is where it starts...
2. P - Share your faith...GO FISH...
3. 2 Cor. 5:17-18 "If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new! All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between us and himself, and God gave us the work of telling everyone about the peace we can have with him." [NCV]
4. Invite others in and outside the Church to your small group...
5. Start and lead a new small group...
6. E - Invite someone to come to church with you...!
7. Ask someone to help you lead the group...
8. Meet with someone one on one and study The Purpose Driven Life together...
9. A - Find someone who is going through a tough time financially...pray...assist...
10. C – Do an act of kindness for someone who is ill...Dr. visit...meal...note...prayer...!
11. Follow up...
12 E – Mentor someone...tutor...children's/student ministries...
13. James 4:17 "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." [NIV]

2. LOCAL P.E.A.C.E.!
1. This is practiced with your small group...learned during 40 days of community...
2. P – Church behind the walls...Maricopa...Hispanic...new small group...seeking new SG member who are seekers...
3. E – Invite someone to join you...for training...discipleship...hand off your group
4. A – Get your group involved...SON Ministries...Central AZ Shelter Services...Chandler Seniors Center...New Hope Community Center... Phoenix Rescue Mission...San Marcos Resource Center...Habitat for Humanity...Chandler Christian Community Center...!
5. Acts 4:34a "There were no needy persons among them." [NIV]
6. C – Get your group to do in home meals one month a year...adopt a home-bound... get involved in one of our convalescent home ministries....
7. E – Have your group volunteer in Children's/Student Ministries...invest in the child of a single parent...mentoring...Along Side Ministries... Mentor Kids...
8. Col. 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." [NIV]

3. GLOBAL P.E.A.C.E.!
1. Once you practice Personal P.E.A.C.E...group practicing Local P.E.A.C.E. move on
2. Goal to have all or part of a every small group at CCC take on a global view...
3. Network with a local church or missionary...teach P.E.A.C.E....!
4. Some will go to URPG...begin P.E.A.C.E. with local church of missionary...!
5. All of our efforts Globally...P.E.A.C.E....
6. Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." [NIV]
7. What can our Church do...dent...What did God use to kill a giant...1 willing...
8. 1 Samuel 17:47 "Everybody here will see that the Lord doesn't need swords or spears to save his people. The Lord always wins his battles, and he will help us defeat you." [CEV]
9. 2 Thes. 3:16 "May the Lord of peace himself always give you his peace no matter what happens." [NLT]