Ambassadors of Christ: Engaging the World with Love
Summary
In our walk with Christ, we are called to be ambassadors of His love and truth, not just within the walls of our church but out in the world where the need for His message is great. We are to engage with our community, not in fear, but with the confidence that comes from knowing who we are in Christ. We are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, using our unique gifts and talents to reach out to those around us.
Jesus Christ has given us a responsibility to share Him with others, to talk about Him, and to live out the gospel in our everyday lives. This is not a passive calling; it is active and requires us to step out of our comfort zones and into the lives of those who may not yet know Him. We must resist the temptation to isolate ourselves or to create an echo chamber where only those who are like us are welcome. Instead, we must open our hearts and minds to all people, knowing that we stand firm on the truth of Jesus.
We have been changed by Christ, and this transformation is not meant to be kept to ourselves. We must remember that we are all sinners saved by grace, and approach others with humility, valuing them as highly as our Savior does. Our evangelism should be rooted in the understanding that if God can save us, He can save anyone.
Our mission is not to change people; that is the work of God. Our role is to share the good news of Jesus Christ, to love others without precondition, and to build relationships that allow for meaningful conversations about faith. We must know our audience, just as Paul did, and be able to relate to our culture in a way that is relevant and compassionate.
In our interactions, we must remember that we are all equal at the foot of the cross. There are no divisions too great for God to bridge. We are called to serve our community, to wash the feet of those around us, and to show them a glimpse of how amazing God truly is. He has broken down the dividing walls, and it is our privilege to share this good news with boldness and love.
Key Takeaways:
- We are called to be active participants in sharing the gospel, stepping out into our communities with the love and truth of Jesus Christ. This requires us to engage with others, not from a place of fear, but with the power and love that God has given us. [01:09:44]
- Our transformation through Christ is a testament to God's grace. When we share our faith, we must do so with humility, recognizing our own sinfulness and the immense value that God places on every individual we encounter. [01:10:17]
- Evangelism is not about changing people to fit our mold; it is about sharing the life-changing message of Jesus. We must build genuine relationships and trust that God will work in the hearts of those we reach out to. [01:05:48]
- Understanding our audience is crucial in effectively communicating the gospel. Like Paul, we must immerse ourselves in our culture and learn to speak to the hearts of those around us in a way that resonates with their experiences and perspectives. [58:33]
- We are all equal in God's eyes, and our mission field is right where we are. Each of us has a unique role to play in God's plan, using our individual gifts and talents to make a difference in our sphere of influence. [39:54]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 10:16 - "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."
2. Acts 22:21-22 - "Then He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.' And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, 'Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!'"
3. Ephesians 2:14 - "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He instructs His followers to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" in Matthew 10:16?
2. In Acts 22:21-22, why did the crowd react so violently to Paul's statement about being sent to the Gentiles? [41:44]
3. According to Ephesians 2:14, what has Jesus accomplished regarding the divisions among people?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How can the instruction to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" be applied to our interactions with those who do not share our faith? [01:09:12]
2. Why is it significant that Paul emphasized his mission to the Gentiles, and how does this relate to the broader mission of the church today? [41:44]
3. What does it mean that Jesus has "broken down the middle wall of separation," and how should this influence our approach to evangelism and community engagement? [01:11:57]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt called to step out of your comfort zone to share your faith. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [01:09:44]
2. How can you use your unique gifts and talents to engage with your community and share the love of Christ? Identify one specific action you can take this week. [39:54]
3. Think about a person or group you have avoided because of differences in beliefs or lifestyle. How can you approach them with humility and love, recognizing their value in God's eyes? [01:10:17]
4. In what ways can you build genuine relationships with those who do not yet know Christ, and how can you create opportunities for meaningful conversations about faith? [01:05:48]
5. How can you better understand the culture and experiences of those around you to effectively communicate the gospel in a relevant and compassionate way? [58:33]
6. Reflect on the idea that we are all equal at the foot of the cross. How does this truth impact your view of others and your approach to serving your community? [01:11:57]
7. Identify one specific way you can serve your community this week, showing them a glimpse of how amazing God truly is. How will you put this into action? [01:11:05]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Active Gospel Engagement
In the journey of faith, believers are not meant to be passive observers but active participants in the mission field that is the world around them. This active engagement means stepping out into the community with the love and truth of Jesus Christ, embodying the confidence that comes from knowing one's identity in Him. It is a call to move beyond the church walls and into the lives of those who may not yet know the hope found in Christ. This requires courage, a willingness to engage with others, and the utilization of the power and love that God has bestowed upon each believer. It is about being present in the world, ready to share the transformative message of the gospel through words and actions. [01:09:44]
"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." - Luke 10:19
Reflection: How can you step out in faith this week to actively engage with someone in your community who may need to hear about the love of Christ?
Day 2: Testify to Grace with Humility
The transformation that believers experience through Christ is a powerful testament to the grace of God. When sharing one's faith, it is essential to approach others with humility, recognizing that everyone is a sinner saved by grace. This humility allows believers to value each person as highly as Christ does, without judgment or condescension. It is a reminder that the story of redemption in one's own life can serve as a beacon of hope for others, demonstrating the boundless love and mercy of God. Sharing faith should be an expression of gratitude for God's grace, an invitation to others to experience the same life-changing love. [01:10:17]
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." - Galatians 5:13
Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate humility and grace when discussing your faith with someone who may have different beliefs or perspectives?
Day 3: Build Relationships, Trust God's Work
Evangelism is not about changing people to fit a particular mold; it is about sharing the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. Believers are called to build genuine relationships with others, creating a foundation of trust and openness that allows for meaningful conversations about faith. It is through these relationships that the love of Christ can be most effectively communicated. The role of a believer is to plant seeds of faith and love, trusting that God will work in the hearts of those they reach out to. The transformation of hearts is the work of the Holy Spirit, not something that can be forced or manufactured by human effort. [01:05:48]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25
Reflection: Who is someone in your life with whom you can begin to build a deeper relationship, providing an opportunity to share the love of Christ?
Day 4: Culturally Relevant Gospel Communication
Understanding one's audience is crucial for effectively communicating the gospel. Like the Apostle Paul, believers must immerse themselves in their culture and learn to speak to the hearts of those around them in a way that resonates with their experiences and perspectives. This means being aware of cultural nuances and being able to relate the timeless truth of the gospel in a manner that is relevant and compassionate. It is about meeting people where they are, speaking their language, and showing them that the message of Christ is not only timeless but also applicable to their lives today. [58:33]
"To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." - 1 Corinthians 9:22
Reflection: How can you better understand the cultural background and experiences of someone you know, in order to communicate the gospel in a way that is relevant to them?
Day 5: Equality and Service in Christ's Love
At the foot of the cross, all are equal. This profound truth reminds believers that their mission field is right where they are, and that each person has a unique role to play in God's plan. Using individual gifts and talents, believers are called to serve their community and demonstrate the love of Christ in tangible ways. This service is an expression of the unity and equality that Christ has established, breaking down barriers and washing the feet of those around us. It is a privilege to share the good news with boldness and love, showing others a glimpse of how amazing God truly is. [39:54]
"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." - Romans 12:4-5
Reflection: What is one act of service you can perform this week that will demonstrate the equality and love of Christ to someone in your community?
Quotes
1) "We're not in the business of changing anybody. We're in the business of telling the story of the good news of Jesus Christ." [01:05:48](Download | Download)
2) "Jesus Christ has given us a responsibility to just go share Him. Just talk about Him." [01:08:35](Download | Download)
3) "Let's have open hearts, open minds, open arms for people. We know the truth. We're standing firm on Jesus." [01:09:12](Download | Download)
4) "I've been changed. Jesus did that for me. He changed me. He changed you. If he can save us, he can save anybody out there." [01:10:17](Download | Download)
5) "We need to boldly go out armed with the truth of Jesus and go out and stir this place up with good news all over the place." [01:04:27](Download | Download)
6) "We all have a particular skill set, gifts and talents that we can use, that we can surrender to our God to use." [39:54](Download | Download)
7) "Paul was a master at this because he took the time to get to know the culture that he was in." [58:33](Download | Download)
8) "We're all equal at the foot of the cross. The story to tell. Help us to tell it boldly." [01:11:57](Download | Download)
9) "We don't need to run from anything. We don't need to hide from anything. We need to go out and learn to skillfully and lovingly start meaningful conversations." [01:04:27](Download | Download)
10) "We've been called commission to go into the world with the good news. Are we of the world? No. Are we in the world? Yes. Have we been called to go?" [01:02:34](Download | Download)
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