Ambassadors for Christ: Exalting God and Evangelizing
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound calling of Christians to be ambassadors for Christ in the public square. This calling is rooted in the fundamental purposes of the Christian life: to exalt God, build the body of Christ, and evangelize the world. As we navigate a culture that often pushes biblical morality into the shadows, we are reminded of our responsibility to stand firm in our faith and proclaim the truth of the Gospel.
The first purpose, to exalt God, is foundational. Everything in creation exists for God's glory, and our lives should reflect this truth. We are called to love God above all else, even more than ourselves, and to live in a way that pleases Him. This requires a personal relationship with God, where He is acknowledged as Lord over our lives. Our actions and works should flow from a genuine love for God, not from obligation or pride.
Building the body of Christ is the second purpose. We are tasked with equipping and encouraging one another to grow in faith and knowledge of Christ. This involves speaking the truth in love and fostering a community that is united in its pursuit of spiritual maturity. A reverent fear of the Lord is essential for this growth, as it keeps us accountable and focused on God's greatness.
The third purpose is to evangelize the world. We are called to be persuasive in sharing the Gospel, understanding that we live in a time where truth is often subjective. Our source of truth is the Word of God, which stands as the absolute truth in a world filled with human error. As ambassadors for Christ, we have the responsibility to proclaim the message of reconciliation, urging others to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
In fulfilling these purposes, we must separate ourselves from worldly ways and adopt a Bible-based worldview. Our lives should be distinct, reflecting the love of Christ that controls and inspires us. By living out our faith boldly and confidently, we can uphold the truth and shine the light of the Gospel in the public square.
Key Takeaways:
- Our primary purpose is to exalt God, bringing Him glory through our lives. This requires loving God above all else and living in a way that pleases Him. Our actions should stem from a genuine relationship with God, not from obligation or pride. [12:19]
- Building the body of Christ involves equipping and encouraging one another to grow in faith. A reverent fear of the Lord is essential for spiritual maturity, as it keeps us accountable and focused on God's greatness. [21:00]
- Evangelizing the world is a crucial responsibility. We must be persuasive in sharing the Gospel, understanding that our source of truth is the Word of God. This truth stands as the absolute truth in a world filled with human error. [31:59]
- As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to proclaim the message of reconciliation. Our lives should reflect the love of Christ, inspiring us to live distinctively and uphold the truth in the public square. [39:48]
- Separating ourselves from worldly ways is necessary to glorify God. By adopting a Bible-based worldview and living out our faith boldly, we can shine the light of the Gospel and uphold the truth in a world that often rejects it. [27:01]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[07:02] - The State of Biblical Morality
[08:39] - Building Up the Body of Christ
[09:34] - Finding Purpose in 2 Corinthians
[10:49] - Exalting God in Our Lives
[12:19] - Pleasing God Above All
[14:22] - The Judgment Seat of Christ
[15:27] - Categories of Personal Works
[17:29] - The Danger of Easy-Believism
[19:42] - Equipping the Saints
[21:00] - The Fear of the Lord
[22:52] - The Process of Sanctification
[23:47] - The Power of the Word
[24:53] - Living Distinctive Lives
[27:01] - Separating from Worldly Ways
[31:14] - Evangelizing the World
[31:59] - Understanding Truth in a Postmodern Age
[34:09] - The Source of Truth
[37:47] - The Ministry of Reconciliation
[39:48] - Ambassadors for Christ
[42:22] - Upholding the Pillar of Truth
[43:34] - Our Fearful Responsibility
[44:35] - Reflective Questions and Communion
[45:15] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- 2 Corinthians 5:7-21
- Romans 11:36
- Ephesians 4:11-15
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three fundamental purposes of the Christian life as outlined in 2 Corinthians 5:7-21? [09:34]
2. How does Romans 11:36 describe the reason for our existence and how does it relate to the sermon’s message about exalting God? [10:49]
3. According to Ephesians 4:11-15, what roles are given to the church to build up the body of Christ? [19:42]
4. What does the sermon say about the current state of biblical morality in our culture? [07:02]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of being an ambassador for Christ challenge the way Christians engage with the public square? [39:48]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the church has forgotten its primary purpose to please God? [12:19]
3. How does the sermon interpret the idea of the "fear of the Lord" and its importance for spiritual maturity? [21:00]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between love for God and love for oneself? [13:18]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily life: Are there areas where you prioritize your own desires over exalting God? How can you shift your focus to glorify Him more consistently? [12:19]
2. Consider your role in your church community. How can you actively contribute to building up the body of Christ? What specific actions can you take this week? [19:42]
3. Think about your interactions with non-believers. How can you be more persuasive in sharing the Gospel while respecting their beliefs? [31:14]
4. Evaluate your current worldview. Are there aspects influenced by worldly ways that you need to separate from to adopt a more Bible-based perspective? [27:01]
5. Identify a situation where you felt pressured to conform to societal norms that contradict biblical teachings. How can you stand firm in your faith in similar situations in the future? [26:04]
6. Reflect on the love of Christ controlling your actions. How can you let this love guide your decisions and interactions with others this week? [28:00]
7. How can you be a pillar of truth in your community, upholding and proclaiming the Gospel message? What steps can you take to ensure you are living out this responsibility? [42:22]
Devotional
Day 1: Exalting God Through Genuine Love
In the Christian life, the primary purpose is to exalt God, bringing Him glory through our actions and choices. This involves loving God above all else and living in a way that pleases Him. It is not about fulfilling obligations or seeking prideful recognition but about cultivating a genuine relationship with God. When we love God sincerely, our actions naturally reflect His glory. This love should be the driving force behind everything we do, ensuring that our lives are a testament to His greatness. By prioritizing our relationship with God, we align our lives with His will, allowing His love to shine through us. [12:19]
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:25-26, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific way you can demonstrate your love for God today, ensuring that it stems from a genuine relationship rather than obligation?
Day 2: Building Up the Body of Christ
Building the body of Christ involves equipping and encouraging one another to grow in faith and knowledge. This requires a community that speaks the truth in love and is united in its pursuit of spiritual maturity. A reverent fear of the Lord is essential for this growth, as it keeps us accountable and focused on God's greatness. By fostering an environment where believers can support and challenge each other, we create a space for spiritual development. This growth is not just for individual benefit but for the strengthening of the entire body of Christ, enabling us to fulfill our collective mission. [21:00]
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your community can you encourage or support today in their spiritual journey, and how can you do so in a way that fosters growth and unity?
Day 3: Evangelizing with Persuasion and Truth
Evangelizing the world is a crucial responsibility for Christians. In a time where truth is often seen as subjective, we must be persuasive in sharing the Gospel, understanding that our source of truth is the Word of God. This truth stands as the absolute truth in a world filled with human error. As ambassadors for Christ, we have the responsibility to proclaim the message of reconciliation, urging others to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Our approach should be both loving and compelling, ensuring that the message of the Gospel is communicated effectively and authentically. [31:59]
"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" (Romans 10:14, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one person in your life who needs to hear the Gospel. How can you share the message of reconciliation with them in a persuasive and loving manner?
Day 4: Living as Ambassadors for Christ
As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to proclaim the message of reconciliation. Our lives should reflect the love of Christ, inspiring us to live distinctively and uphold the truth in the public square. This involves separating ourselves from worldly ways and adopting a Bible-based worldview. By living out our faith boldly and confidently, we can shine the light of the Gospel and uphold the truth in a world that often rejects it. Our distinctiveness should be evident in our actions, words, and attitudes, serving as a testament to the transformative power of Christ in our lives. [39:48]
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific area of your life can you better reflect the love of Christ, ensuring that your actions serve as a testament to His transformative power?
Day 5: Separating from Worldly Ways
Separating ourselves from worldly ways is necessary to glorify God. By adopting a Bible-based worldview and living out our faith boldly, we can shine the light of the Gospel and uphold the truth in a world that often rejects it. This separation is not about isolation but about living distinctively, ensuring that our lives are aligned with God's will. By doing so, we become beacons of hope and truth, demonstrating the power of a life transformed by Christ. Our distinctiveness should be evident in our values, choices, and interactions, serving as a witness to the world. [27:01]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one worldly influence you need to separate from today, and how can you replace it with a practice that aligns with a Bible-based worldview?
Quotes
1. "Today, our country is making laws to legitimize the sinful lifestyles that no one would dare speak of a few decades ago. And our government is making other laws that make it illegal for Christians to live out their biblical morality. Today, God and biblical morality have been pushed out of our schools, out of our universities, out of our government, and worst of all, out of many of our churches." [07:27] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If Christians will return to living out the very purposes for which we were created, then the church will have an impactful presence in the public square, but it all has to start and end with God. Everything God has done from the creation of the universe to the creation of angels, to the creation of man, and even in allowing Satan to influence this world, everything God has done is to bring praise, glory, and honor onto himself." [10:32] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Our God is a jealous God, and He is pleased most when we love Him most. We are to love our Lord more than our spouse, more than our parents, and yes, even more than our children. Ah, but I'm forgetting one. And this is the one I struggle with the most. In order to please God, we must love God more than ourselves. And we must make Him Lord over our lives." [13:25] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The judgment seat of Christ, also called the behemoth seat, is where we, Christians, will give an account of all the good that we have done or not done. Put another way, we will be judged for how faithful we have been with the blessings God has given us. And in America, he has blessed us richly. To be clear, this is not a judgment of salvation. This is not the great white throne of judgment for unbelievers. All true believers are saved when they come before Jesus at the judgment seat." [15:05] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Faith must come from a deep and consuming love for Jesus that transforms our hearts and naturally produces good works that flow from Christ -centered lives. For all those that make the decision to commit their lives to Christ, we the church are called to build them up into the body of Christ. This. This is the second purpose of the Christian life." [19:17] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Reverent fear is a healthy respect of God, where we honor God, we stand in awe of God, and we tremble before God at his greatness. Regretfully, any fear of God, reverent or otherwise, has been long wiped away in our culture today. The church must relearn God's desire for us to fear him reverently, so that the fear of God can be restored again in the hearts of Christians." [21:06] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Church family, when we lead biblically -based, Christ -centered, transformed lives that glorify God, we look much different from the world. And the world looks at us and calls us crazy. When I look back at my life, so much of it has been spent trying to fit in, trying to gain popularity from the world. I have been striving so hard for something that is the exact opposite of what Jesus wants for me." [25:10] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "The truth is that we must separate ourselves from the world if we are going to glorify God. And we must separate ourselves in our thinking. We must adopt a Bible -based worldview. We must also separate ourselves by not partnering with the world. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" [26:32] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "God is relying on us to make his appeal to the world. We are the very instruments of God. And God leaves no room for error. At the end of this passage, he tells us what? Our appeal to the unbelieving world is to be. Paul says, we implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake, he made him to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in him, we can be in right standing with God." [40:26] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "When Christians boldly, yet with humility, speak the powerful light of the gospel, darkness has no choice but to hide like the coward that it is. Satan is a coward. He is a bully. Yet alone, we are no match for him. Don't anyone dare take him on directly. That battle is not ours. It will be fought in the spiritual realm. Our role in this battle is to hold up the pillar of truth." [42:53] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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