The Gifts of Christmas, Part 6

The Gifts of Christmas, Part 6

“Mission and Purpose”

John 1:35-50

Pastor KizomboKalumbula

John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

I have a questions this morning to which I need your help. “How do you get the news about the world or about the community you live in?”

Maybe you listen to the radio, watch TV, hear from other people, or browse Facebook or twitter. When an event happens today, it takes only a few seconds before the news travels around the globe, right? In Jesus’s day, there was no internet, Facebook, cell phones, radio, or TV. News traveled by word of mouth. People literally told each other what was happening. By that standards, the new about Jesus traveled at lightning speed. All you needed was a mouth.

The big idea: We are all called to share with others what we believe about Jesus.

Our mission as a church - “Our mission is to make new and better Christ-followers who impact the city and the world and influence the culture for the glory of God.”

John 1:35-36. After John the Baptist believed that Jesus was the Son of God, he told his disciples as such. He gave a testimony about Jesus. John 1:29a, “Look, the Lamb of God…” In verse 36, he repeats the same assertion, and two of his disciples believed and followed Jesus. John 1:37-42- Illustration: I recall a scene when a clay pot had been smashed and a curse pronounced: ‘May you be broken like this!’ Fearful of the effects of the curse, the people sent for someone to cleanse them. When the person arrived, he was an old man, leaning on a stick, with nothing in his hands. He was followed by a young man, carrying a bag full of stuff the old man needed to do the cleansing. The young man was the old man’s disciple and was there to do whatever his master asked him to do. This is a picture of a teacher and his disciple. A disciple does whatever the master asks him or her to do.

In John 1:37-42,

Matthew 4:18-22.

Matthew 3:4

1. Jesus is always sensitive to the need of the people. Therefore, as followers of Jesus we need to be sensitive to the needs of the people around us.

2. Jesus is always available to people who need to hear the good news. Therefore, as followers of Jesus, we need to be available to share the good news about Him.

John 1:40-42

John 1:47-50

3. Jesus is always helpful to those who come in contact with him. Therefore, as followers of Jesus, we need to be helpful to people who come in contact with us.

4. Jesus is always creative in His dealing with people; therefore, we need to be creative in our dealing with people.

This coming year may we find purpose in sharing our story about Jesus as we apply these four principles found in the gospel of John. Jesus was always available and sensitive to the needs of people. He was always helpful, and finally, He was creative in how He met the needs of those around Him.

Action Questions and further Scriptures

1. What can you learn from this message about the way Jesus talked to John’s disciples?
2. How are you doing in the four principles we learned today on the life of Jesus?
3. Which of the four principles do you feel you need to rehearse the most?
4. Do you know how to share your testimony about Jesus?

Matthew 3:4, Mathew 4:18-22, 2 Corinthians 5:20.