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THE GOSPEL IN MOTION: From Blessing to Blessing Others

Intro: We are engaged in a mission, not in retreat, but actively working on the mission field. As such, we encounter terms in scripture such as

��Gen.12:1-3

The Lord spoke to Abram, saying, “Leave your homeland, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will reveal to you. 2 I will create a great nation from you, bless you, and make your name renowned, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse anyone who dishonors you; through you, all the families of the earth will be blessed.”c

Notes:

�“Leave your homeland, your relatives, and your father’s house” – Don’t be comfortable … we learn to leave somethings behind.

“go to the land that I will reveal to you” – “going” never stops. When we sit idle, we lose relevance.

“I will bless you…so that you will be a blessing” – Question, who are we blessing with the blessings we have received?

shepherd (1 Pet. 5:2)

servant/bondservants (Rom. 1:1),

fishers of men (Matt. 4:19)

soldiers (1 Cor. 3:10–11)

disciples (Matt. 28:19)

Sowers & reapers (Jn. 4:37–38) vessels/instruments (Acts 9:15)

ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18)

light bearers/children of light (Matt.5:14)

ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20),

workers/laborers (Matt. 9:37–38),

witnesses (Acts 1:8),

builders/co-builders (1 Cor. 3:10–11)

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The Mission Begins from those in Our Sphere of Influence:

– family, local church member, neighborhood, city, nation and nations (world).

Matt.10:5-8

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’^c 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,^d cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Matt.28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^b the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Notes: �12 disciples were called/They should go nowhere among the gentiles (reason: first to the Jews - Matt.15:24 “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”.

“Know who you are sent to reach – God usually design you to appeal to some people, puts His desire in your heart for them, create opportunities for both to meet.”

11 disciples obeyed His command to go to ‘the mountain’ (a symbol of revelation, divine encounter, authority Acts 1:8), then go… and make disciples of all nations.

The commissioning is first local, then global. Partnering and serving in a local church is key to this commission.

“Are we genuinely raising disciples of Jesus, or are we unintentionally multiplying people who are shaped more by comfort and convenience than by the call to follow Christ?”

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Here I am Send Me – Isaiah 6:8

Thoughts

The gospel didn’t stop with us—it’s meant to flow through us.
We are not a cruise ship for comfort, but a rescue vessel for souls.
If you’ve received grace, it’s time to give it away freely.
Church isn’t about what we can get—it’s who we’re becoming and who we’re reaching.

Consumer mindset vs Co-laborer mindset (where do I stand?)

Consumer – what do I get out of this? – feed me, clothed me, call me, check on me, pray for me (legitimate needs)

Co-laborer – what do I have to contribute? – transitions quickly from a consumer to co-laborer, looking for ways to weave the local church’s vision to the great commission.

Consumer – the spectator mindset – disengages when needs are not met (legitimate when its general, not selfish)

Co-laborer – hangs on, sees a need and willing to jump in. Someone’s salvation may depend on my yes.

Consumer – sees church as a service provider, instead of a sending base
Co-laborer – sees church as a place of equipping, fellowship and reaching out to those around us first, then outside.

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The Gospel’s Call to Co-Labor

2 Cor. 5:18–20

“...God gave us the ministry of reconciliation... We are ambassadors for Christ.”

Rom. 10:13–15

"How can they hear without someone preaching?"

The Power of Partnership

Phil. 1:3–5

3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

Note:

Paul saw evangelism as a shared work, not the job of a few "anointed" ones.

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