Intentional Engagement: Sharing Hope in Christ

 

Summary

In our journey to saturate Lexington with the gospel, we recognize that the greatest challenge facing our communities is lostness. Our mission is to equip and mobilize each member of our church to engage deeply with one neighborhood, investing time and effort to share the love and message of Jesus Christ. This isn't about a one-time outreach; it's about consistent, intentional engagement. We encourage everyone to dedicate one hour, in one neighborhood, once a month. For those who feel uncomfortable with door-to-door evangelism, there are various ways to participate, such as prayer walking, inviting people to church events, or helping with service projects. We will provide training to equip you with the confidence and tools needed to share the gospel effectively.

Reflecting on John the Baptist's role in pointing others to Jesus, we are reminded of our purpose: to direct people to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. As we delve into Revelation 5, we see a vision of the future that is secure, not because of our strength or intelligence, but because it rests in the worthy hands of Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb. Despite the pessimism about the future prevalent in our society, we find hope in the fact that Jesus has conquered sin and death. He is worthy to open the scroll, symbolizing God's plan for redemption and judgment.

Our future is secure because it is held by the one who is both the sovereign ruler and the sacrificial lamb. Jesus' worthiness is not just in his power but in his sacrificial love, having ransomed us with his blood. This assurance allows us to face the uncertainties of life with confidence, knowing that our ultimate future is secure in him. As we worship, let us center our lives on Jesus, trusting that he will restore and reign over all creation. Our hope is not in the temporary solutions of this world but in the eternal reign of Christ.

Key Takeaways:

1. Intentional Engagement: Our mission is to deeply invest in one neighborhood, focusing on consistent and intentional engagement rather than a one-time outreach. This approach allows us to build meaningful relationships and share the gospel effectively. [03:50]

2. Diverse Participation: There are many ways to participate in sharing the gospel, even if door-to-door evangelism is uncomfortable. Prayer walking, inviting people to church events, and service projects are all valuable contributions. Training will be provided to equip everyone with the necessary tools. [06:04]

3. The Worthiness of Jesus: Revelation 5 reveals that our future is secure because it rests in the worthy hands of Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb. His worthiness is not based on power or intelligence but on his sacrificial love and victory over sin and death. [49:31]

4. Restoration and Reign: Jesus' sacrifice not only ransoms us but also restores us to our intended purpose as a kingdom of priests. No matter how broken or sinful we are, Jesus offers restoration and a secure future. [01:18:13]

5. Eternal Worship: Our ultimate hope is in the eternal reign of Christ, where all creation will worship him. This future reality assures us that despite current struggles, our future is secure in the hands of the Lion and the Lamb. [01:24:28]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:50] - Diverse Ways to Participate
- [06:04] - Prayer and Preparation
- [23:57] - Offering and Worship
- [42:26] - Introduction to Revelation 5
- [48:33] - The Scroll and the Worthy One
- [49:31] - The Lion and the Lamb
- [51:27] - The Future is Secure
- [52:49] - Pessimism and Hope
- [54:01] - The Worthiness of Jesus
- [01:12:31] - The Ransom and Restoration
- [01:14:12] - The Song of the Lamb
- [01:16:03] - The Reality of Death
- [01:18:13] - Restoration and Reign
- [01:24:28] - Eternal Worship
- [01:28:07] - Trusting in the Future
- [01:30:48] - Response and Invitation

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- John 1:26-34
- Revelation 5:1-14

#### Observation Questions
1. What is the mission of the church as described in the sermon, and how does it relate to the concept of "Saturate Lexington"? [03:50]
2. How does the sermon describe the different ways members can participate in sharing the gospel if they are uncomfortable with door-to-door evangelism? [06:04]
3. In Revelation 5, what is the significance of the scroll and why is it important that it is opened? [48:33]
4. How is Jesus described in Revelation 5, and what do these descriptions signify about His role and character? [49:31]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the role of John the Baptist in John 1 serve as a model for the church's mission today? [23:57]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between Jesus' worthiness and His sacrificial love? [49:31]
3. How does the vision in Revelation 5 provide hope for believers facing uncertainty in today's world? [52:49]
4. What does it mean for believers to be a "kingdom of priests," and how does this identity impact their daily lives? [01:18:13]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own neighborhood. How can you intentionally engage with your community to share the love of Jesus? What specific steps can you take this month? [03:50]
2. If you are uncomfortable with traditional evangelism methods, what alternative ways can you participate in sharing the gospel? Consider prayer walking or inviting someone to a church event. [06:04]
3. In what ways can you center your life on Jesus, trusting in His eternal reign, especially when facing personal or societal challenges? [01:24:28]
4. How can the assurance of a secure future in Jesus help you face current struggles with confidence and hope? [52:49]
5. Identify an area in your life where you feel broken or sinful. How can you seek restoration through Jesus' sacrifice and love? [01:18:13]
6. Consider the concept of eternal worship. How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine to keep Jesus at the center of your life? [01:24:28]
7. Think of someone in your life who may be lost or wandering. How can you point them to Jesus, the Lamb of God, in a meaningful way this week? [23:57]

Devotional

Day 1: Intentional Engagement in Our Communities
In our mission to saturate Lexington with the gospel, the focus is on intentional and consistent engagement within one neighborhood. This approach is not about a one-time outreach but about building meaningful relationships over time. By dedicating one hour, in one neighborhood, once a month, individuals can invest in the lives of those around them, sharing the love and message of Jesus Christ. This method allows for deeper connections and more effective sharing of the gospel. The goal is to equip and mobilize each member of the church to engage deeply, fostering a community where the gospel can thrive. [03:50]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your neighborhood can you start building a relationship with this month, and how can you intentionally invest in their life?


Day 2: Diverse Ways to Participate in Evangelism
Sharing the gospel doesn't have to be limited to door-to-door evangelism. There are various ways to participate, even for those who feel uncomfortable with direct approaches. Prayer walking, inviting people to church events, and participating in service projects are all valuable contributions. The church provides training to equip everyone with the necessary tools to share the gospel effectively. This diversity in participation allows everyone to find a way to contribute that aligns with their strengths and comfort levels, ensuring that the message of Jesus reaches as many people as possible. [06:04]

"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching." (Romans 12:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What unique gifts or skills do you have that can be used to share the gospel in your community?


Day 3: The Worthiness of Jesus
Revelation 5 presents a powerful image of Jesus as both the Lion and the Lamb, emphasizing His worthiness not based on power or intelligence but on His sacrificial love and victory over sin and death. This vision assures believers that their future is secure in the hands of Jesus, who is worthy to open the scroll, symbolizing God's plan for redemption and judgment. Despite the pessimism about the future prevalent in society, Christians find hope in the fact that Jesus has conquered sin and death, offering a secure future to all who trust in Him. [49:31]

"And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?' And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it." (Revelation 5:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding Jesus' worthiness and sacrificial love impact your view of the future and your daily life?


Day 4: Restoration and Reign through Jesus
Jesus' sacrifice not only ransoms believers but also restores them to their intended purpose as a kingdom of priests. No matter how broken or sinful one may feel, Jesus offers restoration and a secure future. This assurance allows believers to face life's uncertainties with confidence, knowing that their ultimate future is secure in Him. As followers of Christ, individuals are called to live out their restored purpose, serving as a testament to Jesus' transformative power and reign over all creation. [01:18:13]

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you live out your restored purpose as part of God's kingdom of priests today?


Day 5: Eternal Worship and Hope in Christ
The ultimate hope for believers lies in the eternal reign of Christ, where all creation will worship Him. This future reality assures Christians that despite current struggles, their future is secure in the hands of the Lion and the Lamb. Worshiping Jesus and centering one's life on Him provides the strength and assurance needed to navigate life's challenges. The focus is not on temporary solutions but on the eternal reign of Christ, which offers true hope and restoration for all creation. [01:24:28]

"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe." (Hebrews 12:28, ESV)

Reflection: How can you center your life more fully on Jesus today, trusting in His eternal reign and hope?

Quotes


And we started with that question, what's the biggest problem in our communities and around us? And that's lostness. Lostness is the biggest problem that we see around us. And we want to help with that. And so we talked about Saturate Lexington and that the mission of us going out to these different communities and to these different neighborhoods is to equip and mobilize our church to saturate our local community with the gospel of Jesus Christ. [00:02:12]

We don't simply want to go one time and do a shotgun approach. We want to aim like a rifle in that area. So as you're part of your Sunday school classes, your groups, that should be asking, where should we go? Where can we serve? What's a neighborhood right around here that we can invest in? And so what are we asking from each and every member is one hour, one neighborhood and once a month. [00:03:32]

There's many ways to participate. We're going to be doing some prayer walking. There's different things that we can invite people to, like Easter services, VBS, other opportunities. You can lead an alpha class or help with service projects. If you're worried about those things, we will give you the training and opportunities to do that. [00:03:55]

Lord, we want your name and your gospel to be known by every single person in our community. And we want every single person to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. And so I ask, Lord, that you would help us to be part of your plan to save the people in our community. God, be gracious to us when we're scared, when we're weak, when we don't know what to do or we don't know where to go. [00:06:04]

John had one purpose, to point people to Jesus. That's what he was doing. He was saying, this is the one who's come for you and for me. And we know that Jesus has come. We know that he has died in our place and risen to life. And we want to honor him in all that we do today. That's who we are here for today, to see and to savor the one who is truly the Lamb of God. [00:21:56]

And then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst. And among the elders, he had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one who is seated on the throne. And when he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb. [00:49:31]

You are worthy. To take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slaughtered and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them a kingdom of priests to our God and they will reign on the earth. [00:50:05]

The song of the lamb is that Jesus is worthy, because he was the ransom. Now, normally, when a ransom is paid, it's paid with a bag full of cash or suitcase of some amount of money, but it was not cash that redeemed and ransomed the people of God, it was blood, blood of the Son of God. [01:14:12]

No matter how broken you are, maybe you're broken because of things done to you. People have abused you physically or emotionally or even sexually. Maybe you're broken because of things said to you. You'll never amount up to anything. You are nothing and no one. Maybe it was a family member or a teacher, a friend that you thought was a friend. You're broken. I'm telling you, you can be restored. [01:19:12]

The future is totally secure because it's held within the hands of the lion and the lamb. Let's pray. Lord, we look at our world and think, will it ever get better? Will it ever not be a struggle? Maybe the world around us, maybe the world in our own home. Some of us, it's the immediate future. Sometimes it's our health. [01:28:19]

And Lord, until the day of Your return, let us go out with the message of the Gospel. The message of the Lamb. And be like John the Baptist and say, Behold the Lamb. Look to Jesus. Help our lives and our lives. And let our mouths point to Jesus as the one who can save, who can redeem, who can restore people from every tribe, tongue, language, and nation. [01:34:51]

And you will not sing it. You will not sing it half-heartedly. Or even if you sing it to your best ability today. It will be beyond anything. And that is coming to each and every one of us who trust in the Lamb. Tonight we are going to gather once again around 5 o'clock. We are going to talk about these things in groups. [01:33:35]

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Transcript
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