Leading People to Life-Changing Connections . . . with Jesus

Leading People to Life-Changing Connections . . . With Jesus

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Roy Christian Church

Roy Christian Church Is Leading People to Life-Changing Connections
With Jesus, His Family, and Our World.

Last week at the park, we talked about leading people to life-change. Each of us followers of Jesus have the joy and the job of bringing people closer to Christ. We’re not saving them; Jesus is saving them. Our mission is to connect people with Christ.

How do I connect to Christ?

How does someone become a Christian? There’s no check to be written. There is no test to pass. There is not even a prayer to be prayed (no, the “Sinner’s Prayer” isn’t in the Bible). Maybe you’re familiar with the “sinner’s prayer?” “Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I do now receive him as my Lord and personal Savior. I promise to serve you to the best of my ability. Please save me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” It’s nice. The book of Acts records multiple “conversions” or “spiritual transformations,” when those far from God were rescued from sin and death and became followers of Jesus. In the New Testament, those who wanted eternal rescue are NEVER instructed or encouraged to “pray” for salvation.”

There are multiple passages that give us the pieces of the process. Each component is vital and essential. Let’s look at the pieces of the process:

HEARING: Romans 10:17. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
BELIEF: John 3:16. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
CONFESSION: Matthew 10:32-33. “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”
REPENTANCE: Acts 2:38. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
BAPTISM: 1 Peter 3:21. “This water (of the flood) symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Each of these pieces is crucial. If I say that I’m turning my life over to Jesus, but I don’t actually believe, am I saved? If someone immerses me without my consent or desire, was I really baptized into Jesus? If I hear and believe the good news but I don’t acknowledge Christ as my Savior or don’t leave my old life behind, did I really come to Christ? I don’t think so. Any piece of this, on its own, is not salvation, it’s not being “connected with Jesus.”

How can I stay connected to Christ?

In one word, by “Abiding” in Him.

FAITHFULNESS: 2 Peter 1:5-12. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

How do I help someone connect to Christ?

John 4. A novice leads her neighbors to Jesus. How did she do it? She told her neighbors about her experience with Jesus. Nothing practiced or polished. No degree. No internships or practicums. Someone who met Jesus told people she’d met Jesus. They came and experienced Him on their own and they believed.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[f]

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

1 Thessalonians 2:3-8. “For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children[a] among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

Speaking with pure motives, striving to please God. Out of love, we shared the gospel AND our lives. Probably not enough to just gospel-bomb the neighbors and then run and hide. Live an authentic life with friends and neighbors; forget seeing them as ‘projects.’

Jesus spent time with people without preconditions. Matthew 9:10-13.

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 22. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.

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