Empowering Every Believer to Change the World
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored what it means to be a world-changing Christian. We began by acknowledging the seemingly unconventional methods Jesus and His disciples used to spread the Gospel. Despite their humble beginnings and seemingly inefficient strategies, they profoundly impacted individual lives and, consequently, the world. This led us to our first point: redefining what "world" means. Changing the world doesn't always mean grand gestures; sometimes, it means changing one person's world, which can ripple out to affect many others.
We then delved into the importance of supporting the mission with what we've been given. Peter and John didn't have money to give the lame man at the temple gate, but they offered what they had: the power of Jesus' name, which healed him. This teaches us that our contributions to God's mission can take many forms, whether it's financial support, time, skills, or even just being present for someone in need.
Next, we discussed the necessity of being aware and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance. Our busy lives can often drown out God's voice, but being attuned to His leading is crucial for recognizing opportunities to share the Gospel. This awareness allows us to act in both big and small ways, ensuring that we are always ready to change the world around us.
We also shared personal stories to illustrate these points. From playing with children in Nicaragua to answering a skeptical teenager's questions, these experiences showed that world-changing actions often look different than we expect. They can be as simple as being present and available for others.
Finally, we emphasized that this mission is not just for pastors or missionaries but for all believers. Each of us has unique gifts and opportunities to contribute to God's kingdom. By embracing our roles, no matter how small they may seem, we can collectively make a significant impact.
### Key Takeaways
1. Redefine "World": Changing the world doesn't always mean grand, sweeping actions. Sometimes, it means changing one person's world, which can have a ripple effect. Jesus and His disciples often focused on individuals, showing us that small acts of kindness and faith can lead to significant changes. [20:36]
2. Use What You Have: Peter and John didn't have money to give the lame man, but they offered what they had—the power of Jesus' name. This teaches us that our contributions to God's mission can take many forms, whether it's financial support, time, skills, or simply being present for someone in need. [33:07]
3. Be Aware and Sensitive to the Holy Spirit: Our busy lives can often drown out God's voice, but being attuned to His leading is crucial for recognizing opportunities to share the Gospel. This awareness allows us to act in both big and small ways, ensuring that we are always ready to change the world around us. [46:46]
4. Personal Stories Illustrate Impact: From playing with children in Nicaragua to answering a skeptical teenager's questions, these experiences show that world-changing actions often look different than we expect. They can be as simple as being present and available for others. [27:41]
5. Mission for All Believers: The mission to change the world is not just for pastors or missionaries but for all believers. Each of us has unique gifts and opportunities to contribute to God's kingdom. By embracing our roles, no matter how small they may seem, we can collectively make a significant impact. [54:12]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[13:20] - Olympics and Perspective
[16:26] - Jesus' Unconventional Methods
[17:51] - Acts 3: Peter and John Heal the Lame Man
[19:12] - Being a World-Changing Christian
[20:36] - Redefining "World"
[23:19] - Personal Stories from Missions
[27:41] - Playing with Children in Nicaragua
[29:02] - Answering Questions in Nicaragua
[33:07] - Supporting the Mission with What You Have
[35:56] - Different Gifts, Same Mission
[38:20] - Spectacle Ministry in Nicaragua
[39:32] - Biblical Basis for Using Gifts
[46:46] - Awareness and Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit
[50:01] - Prayer for New Believers
[51:40] - Prayer for Awareness and Gifts
[54:12] - Closing and Commissioning
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Acts 3:1-10 - Peter and John Heal a Lame Man
2. Mark 16:15 - The Great Commission
### Observation Questions
1. What did Peter and John offer the lame man at the temple gate instead of money? (Acts 3:6)
2. How did the people react when they saw the healed man walking and praising God? (Acts 3:9-10)
3. According to the sermon, what does it mean to redefine what "world" means in the context of being a world-changing Christian? [20:36]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of using what you have to support God's mission? [33:07]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Peter and John chose to heal the lame man instead of giving him money? How does this reflect on their understanding of their mission? (Acts 3:6)
2. How does the Great Commission in Mark 16:15 relate to the idea of changing the world one person at a time? [20:36]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of being aware and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in our daily lives? [46:46]
4. How do personal stories shared in the sermon illustrate the impact of small, seemingly insignificant actions in God's mission? [27:41]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt you had little to offer in a situation. How can Peter and John's example of using what they had (the power of Jesus' name) inspire you to contribute in similar situations? [33:07]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being aware and sensitive to the Holy Spirit. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are attuned to the Holy Spirit's guidance in your busy life? [46:46]
3. Think about a personal story where a small act of kindness or faith had a significant impact on someone's life. How can you be more intentional about these small acts in your daily interactions? [27:41]
4. The sermon mentions that the mission to change the world is for all believers, not just pastors or missionaries. What unique gifts or opportunities do you have that you can use to contribute to God's kingdom? [54:12]
5. How can you redefine what "world" means in your context? Identify one person whose world you can positively impact this week and plan a specific action to do so. [20:36]
6. The sermon talks about not being debilitated by the big or discouraged by the small. How can you balance your efforts between large-scale goals and small, everyday actions in your faith journey? [23:19]
7. How can you support the mission with what you have, whether it's financial support, time, skills, or simply being present for someone in need? Identify one specific way you can contribute this week. [33:07]
Devotional
Day 1: Redefine "World"
Changing the world doesn't always mean grand, sweeping actions. Sometimes, it means changing one person's world, which can have a ripple effect. Jesus and His disciples often focused on individuals, showing us that small acts of kindness and faith can lead to significant changes. In our daily lives, we may not have the platform to influence millions, but we can profoundly impact those around us. By focusing on the needs of individuals, we can create ripples that extend far beyond our immediate reach.
[20:36]
Matthew 25:40 (ESV): "And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’"
Reflection: Think of one person in your life who could use a small act of kindness today. How can you make a difference in their world?
Day 2: Use What You Have
Peter and John didn't have money to give the lame man, but they offered what they had—the power of Jesus' name. This teaches us that our contributions to God's mission can take many forms, whether it's financial support, time, skills, or simply being present for someone in need. We often underestimate the value of what we have to offer. God can use our unique gifts and resources to fulfill His purposes, no matter how insignificant they may seem to us.
[33:07]
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: What unique gift or resource do you have that you can offer to someone in need today? How can you use it to serve God's mission?
Day 3: Be Aware and Sensitive to the Holy Spirit
Our busy lives can often drown out God's voice, but being attuned to His leading is crucial for recognizing opportunities to share the Gospel. This awareness allows us to act in both big and small ways, ensuring that we are always ready to change the world around us. By slowing down and making space for God's voice, we can become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance and more effective in our mission.
[46:46]
Galatians 5:25 (ESV): "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."
Reflection: Take a moment to quiet your mind and ask God to make you more aware of His presence. What is one way you can create space in your daily routine to listen for the Holy Spirit's guidance?
Day 4: Personal Stories Illustrate Impact
From playing with children in Nicaragua to answering a skeptical teenager's questions, these experiences show that world-changing actions often look different than we expect. They can be as simple as being present and available for others. Personal stories remind us that our actions, no matter how small, can have a significant impact on someone's life. By sharing our experiences and being open to new ones, we can inspire others to take action as well.
[27:41]
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (ESV): "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when a small act of kindness or presence made a significant impact on you or someone else. How can you be more intentional about creating these moments in your daily life?
Day 5: Mission for All Believers
The mission to change the world is not just for pastors or missionaries but for all believers. Each of us has unique gifts and opportunities to contribute to God's kingdom. By embracing our roles, no matter how small they may seem, we can collectively make a significant impact. Every believer is called to be a part of God's mission, and together, our combined efforts can bring about meaningful change.
[54:12]
Ephesians 4:16 (ESV): "From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Reflection: What unique role do you feel God is calling you to play in His mission? How can you start embracing this role today, no matter how small it may seem?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Today we're talking about being a world-changing Christian...we're figuring out how to be a world-changing Christian, and for the life of me, when I read the gospels and acts, as funny as I might put it, or as joking as I might put it in acting, I do legitimately sometimes think this way." [19:12] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The idea of changing the world for Jesus is so massive that we shy away from it. And the idea of the small things, you might clap for those certain things, but some of you are discouraged when, man, you're going around thinking, what am I doing with my life? Why have I not done X, Y, and Z? What is my purpose?" [23:19] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus was not debilitated by the big or discouraged by the small. Jesus did come to this earth to save all of those within it. And he preached to crowds that were massive. He decidedly changed the entire era that he lived in. But he also stopped by children. He talked to 12 teenagers for three whole years, which would make any of y'all go nuts." [24:57] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "RT, do not be surprised if in your quest to share the gospel, the definition of that world changes many times. You know, in Mark chapter 16, verse 15, it might be a verse that you might be familiar with. It's Jesus giving the great commission to his disciples. He says, go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." [31:39] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Use what God has given you to serve the mission and change the world. And if you're unsure, we just don't know. We just don't know. We just don't know. We just don't know. We just don't know. We just don't know. We just don't know. We just don't know. We just don't know. We just don't know. We just don't know. We just don't know. We just don't know." [39:32] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "My first point this morning is that in order to become a world-changing Christian, you have to constantly accept new definitions of what world means. You have to constantly accept new definitions of what world means. You have to redefine what it means in so many different areas and contexts." [20:36] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The giftings and purposes that have been laid out for you are what you are to use in bringing God's kingdom and spreading the gospel. I look out at this crowd and I see some of you all that astound me with your gifts. Some of you are light years better at evangelism and sharing the gospel than I am." [35:56] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Perhaps you're not a preacher to a congregation, but you're great at taking children so that the parents can pay attention during service. Maybe you don't have the Bible memorized to quote to your neighbor, but you do know your way around cars and can help them with an oil change for free." [37:11] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Being a world-changing Christian requires of you knowing what your gifts are. It requires of you seeking out our God. It requires of you leaning into many definitions of what the word world means. But make no mistake, it requires of you an awareness of faith." [46:46] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We cannot be debilitated by the big. We cannot be discouraged by the small. We have to lean into what we have been given and we have to have awareness enough so that we can change the world. We have to have awareness enough so that we can change the world." [48:20] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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