Embracing Our Role as Ambassadors for Christ

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound calling of being ambassadors for Christ, a theme that resonates deeply with our identity as Christians. We began by reflecting on the incredible work being done by our global partners, particularly in Cambodia and Pakistan, where the gospel is reaching those who have never heard the name of Jesus. This serves as a powerful reminder of the impact our church can have when we support and send ambassadors to the ends of the earth.

Drawing from 2 Corinthians 5, we delved into the essence of our identity in Christ. Paul describes us as new creations, transformed by the love of Christ, which compels us to live not for ourselves but for Him who died and was raised for our sake. This transformation brings about a new reality, a new relationship, and a new role. As new creations, we are spiritually reborn, reconciled to God, and entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. This ministry is not just a task but a core part of who we are, as we are called to be ambassadors, representing Christ in our daily lives.

The role of an ambassador is significant. Just as earthly ambassadors represent their countries, we represent the kingdom of heaven here on earth. Our lives, words, and actions should reflect the love and truth of Christ, drawing others to Him. This calling is not optional; it is an integral part of our Christian identity. We are urged to implore others to be reconciled to God, understanding the eternal significance of this message.

We also considered the unique challenges and opportunities faced by those called to be cross-cultural ambassadors. While we may not all be called to serve in foreign lands, we are all called to support and pray for those who do. Our global partners are an extension of our church, reaching places and people we may never encounter. As we engage in global outreach, we are reminded of the privilege and responsibility we have to be ambassadors both locally and globally.

In closing, we are encouraged to embrace our identity as ambassadors for Christ, living out our faith with intentionality and urgency. Let us be faithful in our calling, supporting our global partners, and sharing the message of reconciliation with those around us.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Love of Christ Compels Us: The love of Jesus is not just a feeling but a driving force that moves us to action. It is His love for us, demonstrated through His sacrifice, that compels us to live for Him and share His message with others. This love should be the motivation behind our role as ambassadors. [51:56]

2. A New Creation in Christ: As believers, we are transformed into new creations. This new reality is a spiritual rebirth that changes our identity and purpose. We are no longer defined by our past but by our relationship with Christ, which empowers us to live out our calling as His representatives. [54:50]

3. Reconciliation is Central to the Gospel: The heart of the gospel is reconciliation—restoring our broken relationship with God through Christ. As ambassadors, we are entrusted with the message of reconciliation, sharing the good news that through Jesus, we can be forgiven and have a personal relationship with God. [56:45]

4. The Urgency of Our Message: Our role as ambassadors carries an urgency. Just as we would warn someone of physical danger, we must implore others to be reconciled to God, understanding the eternal consequences of their decision. This urgency should drive us to share the gospel with love and compassion. [01:02:11]

5. Supporting Global Outreach: While not all are called to serve overseas, we all have a role in global outreach. We can learn about, pray for, send, give to, and support our global partners who are reaching the least reached. This partnership extends our impact and fulfills our calling to make disciples of all nations. [01:17:23]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [44:42] - Introduction to Global Outreach
- [46:12] - Supporting Ahmad and Nadia
- [49:11] - Ambassadors for Christ
- [50:10] - Reading from 2 Corinthians 5
- [51:00] - The Love of Christ Compels Us
- [51:56] - Understanding Jesus' Sacrifice
- [53:06] - Living for Christ
- [53:57] - C.T. Studd's Motto
- [54:50] - A New Reality in Christ
- [55:40] - A New Relationship with God
- [56:45] - Reconciliation and the Gospel
- [58:39] - Our New Responsibility
- [59:40] - Our New Role as Ambassadors
- [01:02:11] - The Urgency of Our Message
- [01:17:23] - Supporting Global Outreach

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Ambassadors for Christ

Bible Reading:
- 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Paul mean when he says "the love of Christ controls us" in 2 Corinthians 5:14? How is this love described in the sermon? [51:00]

2. According to the sermon, what are the three aspects of a believer's identity in Christ mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5? [54:50]

3. How does the sermon describe the role of an ambassador, and how does this relate to our identity as Christians? [49:11]

4. What examples were given in the sermon about the impact of global outreach, particularly in Cambodia and Pakistan? [46:12]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does understanding Jesus' love as a compelling force change the way believers live and share their faith? [51:00]

2. In what ways does being a "new creation" affect a believer's daily life and interactions with others? [54:50]

3. Why is reconciliation central to the gospel, and how does this shape the message we share as ambassadors for Christ? [56:45]

4. The sermon emphasizes the urgency of our message as ambassadors. How can this urgency be balanced with sensitivity and respect in sharing the gospel? [01:02:11]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt compelled by Christ's love to take action. How did it influence your decisions or interactions with others? [51:00]

2. As a new creation in Christ, what past identity or behavior do you need to let go of to fully embrace your role as an ambassador? [54:50]

3. How can you actively participate in the ministry of reconciliation in your community? Identify one specific action you can take this week. [56:45]

4. Think of someone in your life who needs to hear the message of reconciliation. What steps can you take to share this message with them in a loving and urgent manner? [01:02:11]

5. How can you support global outreach efforts, even if you are not called to serve overseas? Consider ways to pray, give, or encourage those who are serving. [01:17:23]

6. Identify one area in your life where you can be a better ambassador for Christ. What practical steps will you take to improve in this area? [01:03:45]

7. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of the gospel message to effectively share it with others? Consider resources or practices that could help you grow in this area. [01:04:33]

Devotional

Day 1: The Compelling Force of Christ's Love
The love of Christ is not merely an emotion but a transformative force that propels believers into action. This love, demonstrated through Jesus' ultimate sacrifice, is the foundation of our calling as ambassadors for Christ. It is a love that compels us to live not for ourselves but for Him who died and was raised for our sake. As ambassadors, we are driven by this love to share the message of reconciliation with others, understanding that it is not just a duty but a privilege to represent Christ in our daily lives. The love of Christ should be the motivation behind every action, word, and decision we make as His representatives. [51:56]

"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience the love of Christ through your actions today? How can you intentionally demonstrate this love to them?

Day 2: Embracing Our New Identity in Christ
As believers, we are transformed into new creations, a profound change that redefines our identity and purpose. This transformation is a spiritual rebirth, where we are no longer defined by our past but by our relationship with Christ. As new creations, we are empowered to live out our calling as His representatives, embracing a new reality, a new relationship, and a new role. This new identity compels us to live with intentionality, reflecting the love and truth of Christ in every aspect of our lives. Our past no longer holds us back; instead, we are defined by the love and grace of Christ, which empowers us to fulfill our role as ambassadors. [54:50]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: What aspects of your old identity do you need to let go of to fully embrace your new identity in Christ today?

Day 3: The Heart of the Gospel: Reconciliation
Reconciliation is central to the gospel message, restoring our broken relationship with God through Christ. As ambassadors, we are entrusted with the message of reconciliation, sharing the good news that through Jesus, we can be forgiven and have a personal relationship with God. This ministry of reconciliation is not just a task but a core part of who we are as believers. We are called to implore others to be reconciled to God, understanding the eternal significance of this message. Our role as ambassadors is to reflect the love and truth of Christ, drawing others to Him and sharing the hope of reconciliation. [56:45]

"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of reconciliation today? How can you share this message with them in a loving and compassionate way?

Day 4: The Urgency of Our Message
Our role as ambassadors carries an urgency, as we are called to implore others to be reconciled to God, understanding the eternal consequences of their decision. Just as we would warn someone of physical danger, we must share the gospel with love and compassion, driven by the urgency of the message. This urgency should compel us to live out our faith with intentionality, sharing the hope of reconciliation with those around us. As ambassadors, we are called to reflect the love and truth of Christ, drawing others to Him and sharing the eternal significance of the gospel message. [01:02:11]

"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: What is one specific way you can share the urgency of the gospel message with someone in your life today?

Day 5: Partnering in Global Outreach
While not all are called to serve overseas, we all have a role in global outreach. We can learn about, pray for, send, give to, and support our global partners who are reaching the least reached. This partnership extends our impact and fulfills our calling to make disciples of all nations. As ambassadors, we are reminded of the privilege and responsibility we have to support and pray for those who are serving in foreign lands. Our global partners are an extension of our church, reaching places and people we may never encounter. By supporting global outreach, we are fulfilling our calling to be ambassadors both locally and globally. [01:17:23]

"And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'" (Romans 10:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively support global outreach today? Consider one specific action you can take to support a global partner or mission.

Quotes

1. "And can you just imagine maybe like, let's say a thousand years from now, you're in heaven and one of those five people comes up to you and says, hey, are you from that Central Manor Church? You know, I was never there, but I understand that you sent a couple to tell us about Jesus. Thank you. If it wasn't for that, we would have never come to know him. That would be really cool. So that's why we're supporting Pray for Ahmaud and Nadia and pray that those five believers would turn into 50 believers." [46:12] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The Bible says that if you are a Christian, your true citizenship is in heaven. But we live here on earth and represent our king. We represent Jesus. And being an ambassador is part of our identity in Christ. And it helps us to understand why we are here." [49:11] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Paul is saying that the love of Jesus actually moves him, moves him to action. He goes on to explain this love in verses 14 and 15. He says that one died for all, and of course, that one is Jesus. You know, Christians often say that Jesus died for us, but sometimes I forget that not everybody understands what that means." [51:56] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Paul wrote that Jesus became sin so that we could become the righteousness of God. What does that mean? Well, before Jesus died on the cross, he lived a perfect life. He was righteous. That's why he was worthy to die for us. And two things happen when we put our trust in Jesus. First, Jesus takes our sin upon himself and pays the penalty for our sins. But second, when we trust in Jesus, he gives us his righteousness." [01:05:16] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Our God desires and he deserves to be worshipped by people from every tribe and nation and people and language. We can't all go but we can all send and support those serving among the least reached. Now, I'm almost done. The idea of global outreach or missions may be new to some of you. And I just want to challenge you today. And I'm going to just, I mean, my prayer is that we would all grow in our love for God's world and for the nations. For whom Jesus died." [01:17:23] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "When you wake up in the morning, the question is not whether you will be an ambassador. It's whether you will be a good ambassador or a bad one. There's two parts to being a good ambassador, if you think about it. The first is our words and actions that reflect Jesus. Just the way we live our lives. And the second is our faithfulness to communicate the message." [01:03:45] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "If you think about it, how much more serious should we take our role as ambassadors for Christ? A landmine can physically hurt or kill somebody. But if a friend of mine dies without Jesus, he will spend eternity separated from God. Paul says to implore people to be reconciled to the Father. So it's good to think, when was the last time you told someone about Jesus?" [01:02:55] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

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