Famous Last Words and Apple Trees
Last words are important
They confirm what you have said, what you want people to do.
Some are not all that helpful
Major General John Sedgewick who was killed in the Amrican civil war when he looked over a parapet to direct artillery fire and said: “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance.”
Jesus’ last words are far more important
– Matt 28:19 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go into all the world and make disciples, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey all I have commanded you. And surely I am with you until the end of the age”
All authority
Died, risen, vindicated – I’m large and in charge
Therefore go and make disciples
Sometimes we have to physically go – my story of going to King’s Lynn is a clear call from God, driving under the South Gates – call it The Gateway – it will be a gateway for the gospel to go to the nations.
But the disciples stayed in Jerusalem to wait for the empowering of the Spirit and to be there for a church plant to grow to thousands! – so it is not always physically go – it’s more about attitude!
Going into everything you already do with a let’s go and make disciples attitude.
Fresh vision and passion for lost people
We have been stuck at 45 people for a while
41,679 population in King’s Lynn – 600 evangelical church goers 1.4%
Jesus’s last words – confirmation of what he had said previously and what he wants to give our lives for
Earlier he had told 3 stories – lost sheep, lost coin, lost son
Those stories involved an all out search – the lost items were highly valued
Rejoicing by people and in heaven when they are found!
I believe Jesus wants to restore a passion for lost people – one of the most vital marks of being baptised in and filled with the Spirit Acts 1:8. Passion lacking – get filled!
Go means we need to be missional as well as attractional
Attractional – leafleting, come to us on a Sunday – which we will still do, because it works
Missional – attitude is go
Emphasis attitude – not about doing new or more stuff – most of us are too busy anyway. It is about having a heart to reach the people God has placed around you because of what you are already doing.
Apple tree – high and low hanging fruit.
Low fruit is ready to pick, the high fruit is not yet ready
When make disciples – goal is baptise them and teach them to obey
Steps
- No Christian friends
- No awareness of God
- Realisation of a spiritual void
- Awareness of a higher power
- One true God
- Interested in Jesus
- Hears the Gospel message
- Conviction of Sin
- Faith needed
- Fruit picked
- Baptism & obeying what Jesus has commanded – love God, love neighbour….
Work together to move the fruit down the tree!
Develop friendships First thing Matthew did
Do what you are already doing with a go attitude!
Discover Stories Ask questions to find out where they are at
Discern the next steps How will they become a lower fruit?
That is a mission for life groups, friendships
Two projects
International café – breathe new life. Aim to build friendships with Eastern Europeans, coffee and cake, help them practice English, speakers, testimonies. Sun 17th 8pm to find out more
Youth – had a club with 5-10 Eastern European kids. We will be starting a fortnightly youth club in the autumn for them and teens in the church. Aim to get 10 to Newday 2012
And surely I am with you
We will know the presence of God in it – No lo without the go!
The Holy Spirit guides us to develop the friendships, discover stories, discern the next steps. Words to say, questions to ask. Faith issue
If you have…
No passion for the lost – be filled with the Spirit again – He makes us witnesses.
No faith for friends – come to God for faith – weary in it?
