Joyfully Proclaiming Christ
We are currently in the series Joy Everlasting. This Sunday's sermon is titled - Joyfully Proclaiming Christ Proclaiming Christ
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.- Romans 10:9
-THIS SUNDAY'S TEXT-
The Joy of Proclaiming Christ
The other day I was riding home in the back of my brother’s (Jon’s) van. We were coming home from a wonderful evening of fellowship and worship with brothers and sisters in Summit. Riding next to me was my nephew (Asa). We all were sharing and carrying on – telling jokes and stories. Before too long, Asa got so excited to tell a story that he hardly stand himself. He was laughing, stuttering, giggling, and then finally he got the story out. This story was different than the previous jokes he told. This story was true and it was a wonderful story. The thing that stuck out to me the most was his excitement about telling me the story. He wanted me to be included. He wanted me to know what had happened. He was so excited to tell me the story.
As Christians, we know the greatest story ever known. We know Jesus Christ. We know who He is. We know of His coming to earth and of His life and His death. We know of Jesus’ resurrection and His ascension to heaven. We know of the work of Jesus – His payment for our sins and that through faith in Him, we are justified – made right with God. We know of the power of His resurrection, that through faith in Him, we have been born again to eternal life in Him. We know His continued work on our behalf – He is our mediator. Jesus intercedes for us, praying for His Bride, the church, and He does so according to the perfect will of God the Father. We know of the promise of Jesus. He will return one day to gather up His people and bring to bring them home for eternity.
We know Jesus. But when was the last time we rejoiced in Jesus? When was the last time we shared the good news of Jesus with another?
We proclaim Jesus Christ as our salvation and we are to proclaim Jesus Christ for the salvation of others.
Read Matthew 24:3-14. In verse 14 it reads, And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Later in Matthew, Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples – go proclaim this good news. It is to be our joy to proclaim the good news of Jesus.
-CONSIDER & MEDITATE- In preparation for this Sunday, read the following passages:
1 John 1:1-4 Romans 10 Deuteronomy 30:11-20 Isaiah 52 & 53
Pray and ask the Lord to renew the joy of your salvation in Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to give you a heart of compassion for the lost. Ask the Lord to let it be your joy to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
What does the Bible say… All of us tend to have our own opinions and resolves; we have our hills on which we would die. But let’s remember what we are told in the Scriptures (Proverbs 14:12) – There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Do we want to know the truth? Do we care to know God and His ways or are we content with our own understanding? Proverbs 3:5-7 says – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
This Fall, we are creating space for us to acknowledge God and seek His ways through focusing on What does the Bible say… For the remainder of the Summer, we will be collecting your questions on What does the Bible say… Fill out the form in the sanctuary and let’s pursue God together on those things that we desire to know and grow in.