Beautiful Feet: Spreading the Gospel with Purpose
Summary
### Summary
This weekend, we conclude our "Sent" series, which has explored how Jesus continues to walk the earth through us, His body. Over the past six weeks, we've discussed various aspects of being the body of Christ, including the heart, hands, home, mouth, and mind of Christ. Today, we focus on our feet and their role in fulfilling the Great Commission. Jesus instructs us in Matthew 28 to go and make disciples of all nations, and Isaiah 52:7 beautifully describes the feet of those who bring good news as "beautiful."
Our feet symbolize activity, motion, and progress in spreading the gospel. We are called to step out and seize opportunities to share Christ, running with endurance the race set before us. God expects us to share the promise of eternal life with others, not as a condition for our salvation but as a response to the salvation we've already received. Our sacrifices and acts of obedience benefit us more than they benefit God, keeping us humble, grateful, and focused on the eternal rather than the temporal.
We must develop a "taco eye" for opportunities to share the gospel, recognizing disturbances in people's lives as openings to introduce them to Jesus. Whether it's through organized church activities or everyday interactions, we should be vigilant and ready to share the good news. Even simple acts of Christianese—acknowledging God in everyday conversations—can plant seeds that may bear fruit in the future. People will remember our faith when they face their own disturbances and seek spiritual guidance.
In conclusion, sharing the gospel is the greatest expectation God has for us. We are the light and salt of the world, equipped to bring hope to a world full of disturbances. Let's embrace this calling with beautiful feet, ready to carry the message of Christ wherever we go.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Great Commission and Our Feet: Jesus commands us to go and make disciples, symbolizing our active role in spreading the gospel. Our feet represent the motion and progress required to fulfill this mission. We are called to step out and seize opportunities to share Christ, running with endurance the race set before us. [30:40]
2. God's Expectations and Our Response: God's expectations are not conditions for our salvation but responses to the salvation we've already received. Our acts of obedience, such as overcoming temptation and giving tithes, benefit us more than they benefit God. They keep us humble, grateful, and focused on the eternal rather than the temporal. [33:43]
3. Developing a "Taco Eye" for Opportunities: We must be vigilant and ready to recognize disturbances in people's lives as opportunities to share the gospel. Just as divers look for signs of octopus in the reef, we should look for signs of spiritual need in those around us. These disturbances are openings to introduce them to Jesus. [49:27]
4. The Power of Christianese: Simple acts of Christianese—acknowledging God in everyday conversations—can plant seeds that may bear fruit in the future. People will remember our faith when they face their own disturbances and seek spiritual guidance. This subtle form of evangelism can open doors for deeper spiritual conversations. [01:00:42]
5. The Eternal Impact of Sharing the Gospel: Sharing the gospel is the greatest expectation God has for us. It directly impacts the population of heaven and hell, affecting the eternity of untold billions. By sharing God's love letter to a broken world, we write a love letter back to God. This calling is both a privilege and a responsibility. [42:26]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[30:40] - The Great Commission and Our Feet
[32:09] - Beautiful Feet: Partnering with God
[33:43] - God's Expectations and Our Response
[35:16] - Overcoming Temptation and Humility
[36:53] - The Role of Tithing and Church Attendance
[38:23] - Servants Doing Their Duty
[39:49] - Sobering Realities and God's Expectations
[41:06] - The Assignment of the Great Commission
[42:26] - The Eternal Impact of Sharing the Gospel
[43:49] - Opportunities to Share the Gospel
[45:29] - Developing a "Taco Eye" for Opportunities
[49:27] - Recognizing Disturbances in People's Lives
[51:02] - Personal Evangelism and Christianese
[01:00:42] - The Power of Christianese
[01:02:14] - Practical Examples of Christianese
[01:09:08] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 28:19-20: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
2. Isaiah 52:7: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"
3. Romans 10:14-15: "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? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus command us to do in Matthew 28:19-20? How does this relate to the concept of "beautiful feet"? [30:40]
2. According to Isaiah 52:7, what makes the feet of those who bring good news "beautiful"? [32:09]
3. In Romans 10:14-15, what sequence of actions is described that leads to someone calling on the name of the Lord? [41:06]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of recognizing disturbances in people's lives as opportunities to share the gospel? [49:27]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 shape our understanding of our role as Christians in the world today? [30:40]
2. Why do you think Isaiah describes the feet of those who bring good news as "beautiful"? What does this imagery convey about the act of sharing the gospel? [32:09]
3. Reflecting on Romans 10:14-15, why is it important for believers to be sent out to preach the gospel? How does this passage emphasize the necessity of evangelism? [41:06]
4. The sermon mentions that our acts of obedience benefit us more than they benefit God. How does this perspective change the way we view our responsibilities as Christians? [33:43]
#### Application Questions
1. The sermon encourages us to develop a "taco eye" for opportunities to share the gospel. Can you think of a recent situation where you noticed a disturbance in someone's life? How did you respond, and how might you respond differently now? [49:27]
2. How can you incorporate simple acts of Christianese into your daily conversations? Think of a specific scenario where you can acknowledge God in a natural way. [01:00:42]
3. The sermon emphasizes that sharing the gospel is the greatest expectation God has for us. What are some practical steps you can take this week to share the good news with someone in your life? [42:26]
4. Reflect on a time when you felt hesitant to share your faith. What were the barriers, and how can you overcome them in the future? [57:50]
5. The sermon mentions various church activities and everyday interactions as opportunities to share the gospel. Identify one church event or personal interaction where you can intentionally share your faith this month. [43:49]
6. How can you stay vigilant and ready to share the gospel in your workplace, school, or community? What specific actions can you take to be more aware of the spiritual needs around you? [49:27]
7. Think of someone in your life who is going through a difficult time. How can you offer them spiritual support and introduce them to Jesus in a compassionate and non-intrusive way? [51:02]
Devotional
Day 1: The Great Commission and Our Feet
Our feet symbolize the activity, motion, and progress required to fulfill the Great Commission. Jesus commands us to go and make disciples of all nations, emphasizing the importance of stepping out and seizing opportunities to share Christ. This active role in spreading the gospel is not just a task but a calling that requires endurance and dedication. By running the race set before us, we actively participate in God's mission to bring hope and salvation to the world. [30:40]
Isaiah 52:7 (ESV): "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'"
Reflection: Think of a specific person or group in your life who needs to hear the gospel. What steps can you take this week to actively share the good news with them?
Day 2: God's Expectations and Our Response
God's expectations for us are not conditions for our salvation but responses to the salvation we've already received. Acts of obedience, such as overcoming temptation and giving tithes, benefit us more than they benefit God. These acts keep us humble, grateful, and focused on the eternal rather than the temporal. By aligning our actions with God's expectations, we cultivate a heart that is attuned to His will and purpose for our lives. [33:43]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you can practice greater obedience to God. How can this act of obedience help you focus more on the eternal rather than the temporal?
Day 3: Developing a "Taco Eye" for Opportunities
We must be vigilant and ready to recognize disturbances in people's lives as opportunities to share the gospel. Just as divers look for signs of octopus in the reef, we should look for signs of spiritual need in those around us. These disturbances are openings to introduce them to Jesus. By developing a "taco eye," we become more attuned to the spiritual needs of others and can seize opportunities to share the good news effectively. [49:27]
Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where someone shared a personal struggle or disturbance. How can you use that opportunity to introduce them to Jesus or offer spiritual support?
Day 4: The Power of Christianese
Simple acts of Christianese—acknowledging God in everyday conversations—can plant seeds that may bear fruit in the future. People will remember our faith when they face their own disturbances and seek spiritual guidance. This subtle form of evangelism can open doors for deeper spiritual conversations and help others see the relevance of faith in everyday life. [01:00:42]
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily conversations. How can you naturally incorporate mentions of God or your faith to plant seeds of the gospel in others' lives?
Day 5: The Eternal Impact of Sharing the Gospel
Sharing the gospel is the greatest expectation God has for us. It directly impacts the population of heaven and hell, affecting the eternity of untold billions. By sharing God's love letter to a broken world, we write a love letter back to God. This calling is both a privilege and a responsibility, and it reminds us of the eternal significance of our mission. [42:26]
2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
Reflection: Consider the eternal impact of your actions. How can you be more intentional in sharing the gospel with those around you, knowing that it affects their eternal destiny?
Quotes
1. "We are folks to walk out the message of the gospel. We are to walk out the message of the gospel. We are to walk out the message of the gospel. We are to step out and step into opportunities to share Christ. We're to run with endurance the race for souls that is before us. And folks, you want to know, in all honesty, I think that it's safe to say that God expects this from us. He expects this from us. And hear me now, our salvation is not dependent on meeting his expectations. That's not our salvation. What it is, is his expectations are there. Because he's already saved us. He's already given us eternity. We already have the promise of eternal life with him." [33:43] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I've come to realize that the great cloud of witnesses doesn't roar from their celestial grandstands every time I overcome the temptation to sin. I don't think they get all, you know why? I should celebrate though. I should roar because he has equipped me to overcome temptation. He fully expects me to overcome it knowing, and I know this and he knows it, that if I don't overcome it, it could kill me. Amen? It could kill me, right? He knows that." [35:16] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I'm confident that angels like Gabriel and Michael, they don't do backflips every time I tithe. Come on. I think he expects me to know that all I have comes from him. He's given me 10 tents. So by him providing me the opportunity to invest in something that has eternal dividends, I get blessed. Somebody say amen. I get blessed. And that in turn, it gets my affections off of the temporal. When I'm able to release and give to an unseen God, it gets my eyes off the temple and gets my mind and my heart on eternal. Amen? That in turn, it keeps me from greed and selfishness and covetousness. It's all for me." [36:53] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I believe that the sharing of the gospel in God's expectation is that which is nearest and dearest to his heart. I believe. That's the whole reason Jesus left earth. I mean, left heaven to come to earth. That's the whole reason, right? I believe sharing the gospel is nearest and dearest to God's hand. I believe, and I'm not alone by a long shot, sharing the gospel or not sharing the gospel will have direct impact on the population of heaven. And on the population of hell. I believe that with all my heart. I believe that sharing the gospel will impact the eternity of untold billions, past, present, and future." [42:26] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I believe that God's gospel, God's gospel, listen to me, the gospel of God is his love letter to a broken world. And when you and I share the gospel, we're writing a love letter back to God. Somebody say amen. We're writing it right back to him. We share his love letter. I believe, I believe that the greatest of rewards at the judgment seat of Christ will be to those who shared the gospel. I believe that. In whatever way, right? I believe the one question God will ask all of humanity, past and present, at the judgment seat of Christ, and sadly, even at the great white throne judgment, I believe his question is going to be, what did you do with the message of my son?" [42:26] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Whenever we saw a disturbance in the reef, we saw an opportunity to move in and take advantage of that opportunity. How many know where I'm going with this? I'm of the opinion, folks, that God's people need that taco eye for that disturbance or those opportunities to share the gospel in real time. Amen? You're looking for a disturbance. Especially in 2024, we are surrounded. Listen to me, people. We are surrounded by unchurched people who are experiencing disturbances in their lives. Come on. There are couples. There are families. There are co-workers. There are neighbors. There's... People groups that are trying to survive a host of disturbances going on, and we see them all over the place, and I would say in confidence, listen to me, I would say in confidence for many, if not all of them, folks, all they need is Jesus." [49:27] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "I don't care if it's a crumbling marriage, a rebellion in the home, a bad doctor's report, a loss of a job. Ultimately, Jesus is the answer for all of them in this broken world. Can you say amen? He is the answer. As God's people, folks, we need to have that. We can see those disturbances. People whose, the reef has been disturbed, right? So we can share him. We can show him off to the world." [51:02] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Seasons change. Situations change. Life-changing events happen. What was a closed door yesterday could very well be an opportunity, tomorrow. Somebody say amen. Things change. Keep your eyes open. Maybe you're like many today, and you say, you know what, Art? I hear you, but personal evangelism or even trying to break the ice with conversations about eternity, it's a little bit of a stretch for me. I get it. We lack confidence. We think we're going to ask something we won't have an answer for." [57:50] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Why do I do that? Because like I just said, seasons change, circumstances change, life-changing events will happen. You don't know that person, that group of people who are aware that you are a spiritual person, listen to me very carefully, they're going to seek you out. I know it to be true and many of you know that too. They're going to seek you out. They're going to remember that little Christianese you thought that was so insignificant. They will seek you out. Folks, when life changes and people get knocked down so far that the only option they have is to start looking up, guess who they're going to remember? Your Christianese." [01:00:42] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "They're going to remember your Christianese. They're going to remember. You're planting seeds that may take 10 years to get watered, but it's going to happen. Amen. Zechariah 4 says this, despise not the day of small things. Amen. Because you don't know, but your little bit of Christianese can do. So as we wrap up this series and this weekend, talking about our beautiful feet and the gospel we're supposed to carry them with, we're reminded that we need to have that taco eye, people. Amen. Look for disturbances. That's an opportunity awaiting, right? And also in the midst of disturbances and chaos, by us refining our Christianese, we are afforded more opportunities to share the good news, to share the gospel, because I'll say it again. I believe the single expectation from God, the single greatest expectation from God is sharing the gospel." [01:09:08] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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