Living Missionally: Balancing Distinction and Engagement

 

Summary

The sermon addresses the challenges of living as Christians in a world that often feels overwhelming and disconnected. The speaker urges believers to adopt a heart like Jesus, filled with compassion and a longing to see people reconciled to God. They emphasize the importance of engaging with others, building relationships, and sharing the gospel through personal connections, community care, and global commitment. The speaker draws from the teachings of Tim Keller, highlighting the balance Christians must maintain between being distinct from the world and actively participating in it to build common ground with neighbors.

The sermon is grounded in Jesus' High Priestly prayer from John 17, where Jesus prays for his disciples and all believers. The speaker focuses on the church's mission to glorify Christ by sharing the gospel, making disciples, and teaching God's word. They discuss the dual movement of being called out of the world to be kept in Jesus' name and guarded, while also being sent back into the world with a mission. The speaker warns against the dangers of either isolating oneself from the world in pursuit of purity or compromising Christian morals to avoid offense.

The speaker also shares the church's involvement in community outreach, such as supporting a local elementary school and engaging in global missions. They recount a personal story of receiving food assistance and the fulfillment found in volunteering at a food pantry, illustrating the impact of living missionally. The church's mission statement is introduced, emphasizing the goal of helping people live all for Jesus by cultivating deep roots in His word, strong ties with His people, and a wide reach to His world.

Key Takeaways:

- Christians are called to recognize the image of God in every individual and respond with the compassion of Jesus, who wept over the lost. This compassion should move believers to action, befriending and serving others to point them towards reconciliation with God. The laborers may be few, but the harvest is plentiful, and Christians are called to courageously participate in this mission. [57:58]

- The church must navigate the tension between being set apart from the world and being sent into it. Believers are to live as exiles, with a greater allegiance to God, while engaging with the world to build relationships and share the gospel. This balance is crucial for fulfilling the mission of the church and glorifying Christ. [42:47]

- Jesus' prayer in John 17 reveals the church's ultimate purpose: to glorify Christ. By living missionally—sharing the gospel, making disciples, and teaching God's word—the church brings glory to Christ. This mission involves both being called out of the world for holiness and being sent into the world for witness. [27:47]

- The concept of "wide reach" is central to living missionally. Christians are encouraged to intentionally pursue relationships for the sake of the gospel, sharing not only God's word but also their lives and love with others. This relational approach to evangelism is often the most effective means of sharing the gospel. [47:28]

- Believers are citizens of heaven and exiles in this world. This identity frees them to serve their neighbors without fear or anger, keeping their eyes on the main thing—living for Jesus. While the world may go astray, Christians are reminded that this is not their ultimate home, and their focus should be on fulfilling their purpose in this world. [35:48]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 17:12-19 (ESV)
> "While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He says, "I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world"? (John 17:14)
2. According to the sermon, what are the two movements of mission that Jesus describes in His prayer? ([37:50])
3. How does the speaker describe the church's mission statement, and what are the three dimensions of living "all for Jesus"? ([21:43])
4. What personal story did the speaker share to illustrate the impact of living missionally? ([18:37])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus pray for His disciples to be kept from the evil one rather than being taken out of the world? (John 17:15)
2. How does the concept of being "called out of the world" and "sent into the world" create a balance for Christians in their daily lives? ([37:50])
3. What does it mean for Christians to live as "exiles" and how does this identity affect their engagement with the world? ([32:10])
4. How does the speaker's recounting of the church's involvement in community outreach reflect the mission of glorifying Christ? ([16:12])

#### Application Questions
1. The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing the image of God in every individual and responding with compassion. How can you practically show compassion to someone in your community this week? ([54:09])
2. Reflect on the idea of being "called out of the world" but also "sent into the world." How can you maintain your Christian distinctiveness while actively engaging with non-believers? ([37:50])
3. The speaker mentioned the church's mission statement of cultivating deep roots in God's word, strong ties with His people, and a wide reach to His world. Which of these areas do you feel you need to grow in, and what steps can you take to do so? ([21:43])
4. The concept of "wide reach" involves intentionally pursuing relationships for the sake of the gospel. Identify one person in your life who is not a believer. What specific action can you take this week to build a relationship with them? ([46:52])
5. The speaker shared a personal story about receiving food assistance and then volunteering at a food pantry. How can you get involved in a local outreach program to serve your community? ([18:37])
6. Jesus' prayer in John 17 reveals the church's ultimate purpose to glorify Christ. How can you align your daily activities and interactions to reflect this purpose? ([27:47])
7. The sermon warns against isolating oneself from the world in pursuit of purity. How can you ensure that your pursuit of holiness does not lead to disengagement from the mission of sharing the gospel? ([39:04])

Devotional

Day 1: Compassion Ignites Mission
Compassion is not a passive emotion but a compelling force that drives Christians to engage with the world. Recognizing the image of God in every person, believers are moved to action, building relationships that can lead to sharing the gospel and reconciliation with God. The world is ripe for harvest, and it is through compassion that laborers are sent into the fields. [57:58]

Colossians 3:12 - "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you can show Christ-like compassion to today, and how can you practically do so?

Day 2: Exiles with a Purpose
Living as exiles in this world, Christians are called to a life that is distinct yet deeply engaged with those around them. This tension requires a delicate balance, maintaining allegiance to God while building common ground with neighbors. It is through this engagement that the church can fulfill its mission and glorify Christ. [42:47]

1 Peter 2:11-12 - "Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."
Reflection: In what ways can you build relationships with non-believers while maintaining your Christian distinctiveness?

Day 3: Glorifying Christ in Mission
The ultimate purpose of the church is to glorify Christ through living missionally. This involves sharing the gospel, making disciples, and teaching God's word. Jesus' prayer in John 17 exemplifies this mission, calling believers to be sanctified in truth while being sent into the world as witnesses. [27:47]

John 17:18 - "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."
Reflection: What is one step you can take this week to actively participate in the mission of making disciples and teaching God's word?

Day 4: Relational Evangelism
The gospel is most effectively shared within the context of genuine relationships. Christians are encouraged to intentionally pursue connections with others, not only sharing the word of God but also their lives and love. This "wide reach" approach to evangelism reflects the incarnational ministry of Jesus. [47:28]

1 Thessalonians 2:8 - "Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well."
Reflection: Who are you currently building a relationship with for the sake of the gospel, and how can you deepen that connection this week?

Day 5: Citizens of Heaven Serving Earth
As citizens of heaven, Christians are freed to serve their neighbors without fear or anger, focusing on the main thing—living for Jesus. This identity empowers believers to act with love and service, even when the world strays from God's path. Their ultimate home is with Christ, which informs their purpose on earth. [35:48]

Philippians 3:20 - "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How does your identity as a citizen of heaven shape the way you interact with your community, and what is one tangible way you can serve your neighbors this week?

Quotes

"Church, let's pray that Jesus would give us a heart like his, that weeps over the lost, that longs to see them reconciled to their father." [57:18] (Download)

"God when we step out in faith to befriend and serve and point them toward you, grant us your peace that we might be courageous." [57:58] (Download)

"Sharing meals with people, even consider doing Simple acts of service... just being willing to step outside of our own little world to see someone else, to engage with someone else, to serve someone else can become the bridge that you need in order to build a relationship that Jesus Christ can use to draw that person to himself." [49:17] (Download)

"We have to be engaged with the people that we live among. We must be actively engaged; we can't become closed off, isolated, or content to live out our days in a Christian ghetto." [45:42] (Download)

"The best and most effective way, and most Jesus-like way, to share the gospel with someone is in the context of a relationship." [46:52] (Download)

"We must always be seeking to share our lives, our love, and our attention with someone when we want to share God's grace with them." [47:28] (Download)

"Our citizenship is in heaven and our allegiance, therefore, is to God alone. We are exiles, we're foreigners, and we're strangers in a strange land." [34:01] (Download)

"Remembering our citizenship in heaven and our identity as resident aliens in this world actually frees us up to live for Jesus and serve our neighbors without fear or anger." [35:08] (Download)

"Simple gospel-centered work that Jesus Christ calls us to, to feed the hungry, really does bring glory to Christ. As the world sees His followers feeding people as He calls us to, that brings glory to Jesus Christ." [50:52] (Download)

"Jesus calls us out of the world to send us back into the world. He makes us different, sets us apart, for the very purpose that he might take us and send us right back into the world he called us out of." [37:50] (Download)

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Transcript
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