Embracing Our Legacy: A Call to Mission

``We're saying we're called on a mission to spread the good news that by believing in Jesus they can be saved and know the truth of the words of Paul in Romans 6 23 for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. [00:29:12] (21 seconds)

We're saying we're called on a mission to spread that good news that people can be saved and know they are saved I don't know about you but I think that's quite an incredible mission and what a legacy to be part of a legacy that gives us confidence that when we are called we can do it because just as he empowered John Wesley to spread his message so too God will empower each and every one of us and that's something to celebrate. [00:29:33] (30 seconds)

And so following the second greatest commandment, love your neighbour as yourself, we love our actual neighbours. It's actually easy to go, yeah, our neighbours, they're all the people out there. But actually we are also called to love the people who are literally right next door to us, or two doors away. The people who live down the street, who go to the local school, right across the next door boundary, who shop at the same supermarkets as us, no matter where they are. And loving them means understanding what they need and how we can help. [00:47:43] (38 seconds)

I love how the message puts it in John 1, 14. The word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood. That's your memory verse for today. So say it with me. The word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood. [00:48:21] (19 seconds)

As the people of God who call this church our church home, we are called to reach our communities for Christ, no matter where they are. We are called to transform lives in our communities so that homes in our communities are transformed so that those very communities are transformed by the very gospel and the good news of Jesus Christ. [00:50:38] (21 seconds)

It's one way that we can live out galatians 6 10 therefore as we have opportunity let us do good to all people it's one way we can love our neighbors one way we can show the people of this community that we care about them one way that you can show the people of your community that you care about them and when people know that we care about them they'll be more open to hear about how much god loves them and wants a relationship with them it's like the old saying goes people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. [00:56:28] (37 seconds)

Rooted in history, stretching back over 200 years here in New Zealand. A history of missionaries who saw the potential for every person and every culture to be redeemed and transformed. And we each have a goal. To boldly step into the world around us. Not with fear or pride, but with the love of Jesus and the hope of the gospel. [00:57:37] (29 seconds)

And so I leave you with this. What does it look like for you to follow in the footsteps of John Wesley? In the footsteps of those early missionaries and all who have gone before. How will you add to the legacy that they have left us? How will you spread scriptural holiness over the land? Whatever the answer is for you. May we each boldly go. Not just where no one has gone before. But where God is calling us today. [00:58:20] (32 seconds)