Embracing Our Mission: Christ Among Us
Summary
The sermon titled "Christ Among Us" begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of missions and the role of believers in spreading the gospel. He highlights the dilemma of mankind, created to worship God, but separated from Him due to sin. To rectify this, God sent Christ to live among us, a blueprint for believers to follow. The pastor underscores the incarnational nature of God's mission, reminding the congregation that Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth in human form, lived among people, and sacrificed himself on the cross for their sins.
The pastor shares a personal story about New Jersey being considered an unreached people group, emphasizing the need for believers to be Christ among the people they interact with daily. He also shares a personal experience from a trip to Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the challenging circumstances they faced, including a lengthy quarantine and the impact of the Delta variant in the country. Despite these challenges, the pastor shares a powerful testimony of a missionary encounter with a driver who expressed curiosity about the Bible, leading to a deep conversation about its meaning.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of being Christ's representatives in the world, sharing personal experiences of witnessing miracles and the transformative impact they can have on individuals and their families. He shares a story of serving in Indonesia during a tsunami and how miracles brought about significant changes in people's lives. The pastor also shares a testimony of a man whose wife accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior, highlighting the miraculous changes that can occur when Christ is among us.
The sermon concludes with the pastor recounting a harrowing experience where he and his wife were confronted by an armed individual while traveling to preach at a church. Despite this frightening encounter, the pastor emphasizes the importance of continuing their mission to be Christ-like among others, even in difficult and dangerous situations. He expresses gratitude for the thoughts and prayers of the congregation and highlights the sacrifices made by missionaries who risk their lives to spread the message of Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- God sent Christ to live among us, providing a blueprint for believers to follow in their daily lives. This mission is not limited to foreign countries but can be practiced in our everyday interactions with people ([12:45]).
- As followers of Jesus, we are called to be Christ among others. This involves learning different languages, cultures, and even living far away from our families. The church must be passionate about ensuring that every person on Earth hears the amazing story of Jesus ([22:30]).
- The pastor shares a powerful testimony of a missionary encounter with a driver who expressed curiosity about the Bible. This encounter led to a deep conversation about its meaning and eventually led to the driver expressing his desire to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior ([35:20]).
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of being Christ's representatives in the world, sharing personal experiences of witnessing miracles and the transformative impact they can have on individuals and their families. Miracles are not solely for our own benefit, but also for the hurting and unbelieving individuals around us ([48:10]).
- Despite facing dangerous situations while spreading the gospel, the pastor emphasizes the importance of continuing their mission to be Christ-like among others. He highlights the sacrifices made by missionaries who risk their lives to spread the message of Christ ([59:30]).
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 1:10-14: "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 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."
2. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?"
Observation Questions:
1. What does John 1:10-14 reveal about the world's response to Jesus when He came to earth?
2. In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, what does it mean to be the "pleasing aroma of Christ" among those who are being saved and those who are perishing?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of Jesus as the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us, as described in John 1:10-14, relate to the idea of believers being Christ among others?
2. In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, how does the metaphor of being an aroma that brings life or death apply to the role of believers in spreading the gospel?
Application Questions:
1. Reflecting on John 1:10-14, how can you embody the presence of Christ in your daily interactions with others?
2. Considering the metaphor in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, what specific actions can you take this week to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Christ in your community or workplace?
3. Can you think of a situation where you had the opportunity to be Christ among others but missed it? How would you handle it differently now?
4. What is one way you can demonstrate the grace and truth of Christ, as described in John 1:14, to someone who does not recognize Him?
5. Reflecting on the challenges faced by missionaries, what is one sacrifice you can make this week to spread the message of Christ?
Devotional
Day 1: Embodying Christ in Our Daily Lives
God sent Christ to live among us, providing a blueprint for believers to follow. As followers of Jesus, our mission is to become like him to those who have never heard or seen him before. This mission is not limited to foreign countries but can be practiced in our daily lives. [12:45]
1 Peter 2:21 - "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."
Reflection: How can you embody Christ in your daily interactions today? Can you think of a specific situation where you can demonstrate Christ's love and compassion?
Day 2: Staying True to the Gospel Message
The importance of staying on message when sharing the Gospel with others is paramount. The core message of salvation through Jesus, that he died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead, is the message that needs to be shared. [24:30]
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures."
Reflection: How can you ensure that you stay true to the Gospel message when sharing your faith today? Can you think of a specific conversation where you can share the core message of salvation?
Day 3: Spreading the Fragrance of Christ
As Christians, we are called to be a sweet-smelling fragrance that spreads throughout our community, so that people may come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The power of Christ within believers can bring about miraculous transformations in the lives of individuals and their families. [36:20]
2 Corinthians 2:15 - "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."
Reflection: How can you spread the fragrance of Christ in your community today? Can you think of a specific act of kindness that can demonstrate Christ's love to someone in your community?
Day 4: The Power of Prayer and Faith
A powerful story of a woman who came seeking healing for her husband highlights the transformative impact of prayers and faith. Recognizing the spiritual battle at hand, prayers shifted from physical healing to taking authority over any demonic power affecting the husband. [48:10]
James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Reflection: How can you utilize the power of prayer and faith in your life today? Can you think of a specific situation where you can exercise your authority in Christ through prayer?
Day 5: Actively Spreading the Gospel
The ultimate goal is for Christ to be among all people everywhere. Engaging with people, asking about their lives, and being bold in sharing faith if the opportunity arises is a call to action for all believers to actively participate in spreading the gospel. [59:30]
Matthew 28:19-20 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in spreading the Gospel today? Can you think of a specific person with whom you can share your faith?
Quotes
"The problem with the world today is that so much sin has separated it from God and in order for that to be rectified or justified, the Lord needed to do something and so what he did was he sent Christ to live and to be among us." [58:15]
"What God did by sending Jesus into the world to save us was that he gave us a blueprint of what we need to do in following him. As Jesus was sent into the world and lived among us, it kind of gives us this descriptor of what missions is." [59:41]
"I want you to know that the mission of God is incarnational...we become like Jesus to people who have never seen and never heard before, that's really what this mission is all about." [01:00:17]
"We forget that we're Christ among them and that as a Christian he's asked us to be that sweet smelling fragrance that will go throughout all of central New Jersey so that people even here will know him as Lord and as Savior." [01:11:45]
"As Christ is Among Us and as he is inside of you, there is the opportunity for you to see Miracles take place in your personal life and not only in your personal life but miracles in the lives of people around you." [01:12:23]
"There are people out there who were hurting and as a result of a miracle, their lives will change, their family will change, their trajectory will change, everything will change because of a miracle that takes place in their lives." [01:12:55]
"Our prayers changed from healing to taking authority over any kind of demonic power that's in this body in the name of Jesus." [01:18:07]
"We are the power of Christ among them, we are the message of Christ among them." [01:19:22]
"Sometimes when we talk about Christ among us as you give your missions offering, you're supporting people that are literally laying their lives on the line... the real end of time is when Christ is among all people everywhere and that's what we're working towards." [01:29:46]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?