Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life: Section 38

PURPOSE 5

YOU WERE MADE FOR A MISSION

The !uit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.

Prov. 11:30

Monday 22 November 2010

Becoming a World Class Christian

Section 38, Pages 297-304


The great commission is your commission

Mark 16:15 -He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Ps 67:2 (LB) - send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for

all mankind


World class or worldly?Worldly Christians: focus on personal fulfillment. Saved but self centred. Prayer focus on their own needs and blessings. A me first faith. How can God make my life more comfortable?They want to use God for their purposes rather than being used by him, for his purposes





Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities- also known as Vanity.Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation.Gluttony - desire to consume more than that which one requires.Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.Anger - also known as Wrath.Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain - also called Avarice or Covetousness.Sloth - avoiding physical or spiritual work.


http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/pride.html

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/pride.html

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/envy.html

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/envy.html

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/gluttony.html

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/gluttony.html

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/lust.html

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/lust.html

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/anger.html

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/anger.html

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/greed.html

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/greed.html

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/sloth.html

http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/sloth.html

World Class Christians: Saved for a mission. Eager for assignment. Fully alive. Privileged to serve God. Joyful, contagious, enthusiastic.God invites you to take part in the largest, most diverse, most significant move in history - Rev 7:9 - After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.


Jesus commissioned his disciples to go everywhere and preach the gospel - we have airplanes, ships, trains, buses, cars - we can go anywhere in the world in a matter of hours - and now with the internet we can communicate with almost the whole planetThe only barrier is how we think - your perspective and attitudes must change.


Jesus commissioned his disciples to go everywhere and preach the gospel - we have airplanes, ships, trains, buses, cars - we can go anywhere in the world in a matter of hours - and now with the internet we can communicate with almost the whole planetThe only barrier is how we think - your perspective and attitudes must change.


How to think like a World Class Christian


1. Shift from self centred thinking to other centred thinking

An eternal perspective stops you focussing on minor issues - distinguishes the urgent from the ultimate.1 Cor 14:20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.Php 2:4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.


Most of us are self absorbed - only God can deliver us from such thinking.1 Cor. 2:12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.Pray for unbelievers when you are with them - 1 Cor 10:33...even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.


2. Shift from local thinking to global thinking

God cares about the whole world, Jn 3:16Acts 17:26-27 - From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.


The world is already thinking globally - media, businesses, clothes, sports teams etc.Christians thinking globally need to:Pray for a specific nations by name (Ps 2:8), Opportunities to witness, Courage to speak up, Those who believe, Rapid spread of the message...(Col 4:3, Rom 1:10, Eph 6:19, Jn 17:20, 2 Thess 3:1, Matt 9:38)Missionaries - and all involved in the global harvestRead the news with “Great Commission eyes” - change brings tension and openness to the gospelGet involved with a short term mission trip


Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”- is simultaneous not sequential - as a Christian you should be on mission wherever you are.


3. Shift from “here and now” thinking to eternal thinking

An eternal perspective stops you focussing on minor issues - distinguishes the urgent from the ultimate.2 Cor 4:18 - So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.Luke 9:62, 1 Cor 7:31


3. Shift from “here and now” thinking to eternal thinking

An eternal perspective stops you focussing on minor issues - distinguishes the urgent from the ultimate.2 Cor 4:18 - So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.Luke 9:62, 1 Cor 7:31

How much time and energy are you

wasting on things that will not matter a year from now?

Heb 12:1Monday 22 November 2010

Luke 16:9 - I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.Are you using “your” money on self gratification or on bringing people to Christ?You cannot take your money to heaven - but you can be reunited with those you brought to know their Lord and Saviour.

1 Tim. 6: 17-19 TM Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.


4. Shift from thinking of excuses to thinking of creative ways to fulfill your commission

Forget your excuses and get involved - age, skills, language are only excuses:Sarah said she was too old, Jeremiah too young - God used them both.Many Christians miss God’s plan because they spend their time asking not obeying - God has called you through the truth of Scripture - now get on with it!


4. Shift from thinking of excuses to thinking of creative ways to fulfill your commission

Forget your excuses and get involved - age, skills, language are only excuses:Sarah said she was too old, Jeremiah too young - God used them both.Many Christians miss God’s plan because they spend their time asking not obeying - God has called you through the truth of Scripture - now get on with it!

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?


The Great Commission is my commission

Point to ponder


Ps 67:1-2May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us— so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

Verse to remember


What steps can I take to prepare to go on a short term missions experience in the next year?

Question to consider


Spiritual

Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life: Section 38