Sermon Series:
This week, Greg Frankenfield asks, "How are we doing?" He is asking in the sense that Christian witness within the church and to the world that is watching Christians and their acts. So, listen to Greg and ask yourself, "How are you doing?"
Sermon Outline
Our Mission as God's People:
To represent Jesus and the Father to each other and to the unbelieving world
Steps we are commanded to take in order to accomplish our mission:
Called to grow increasingly free from sin, know the truth and love others sacrificially.
Called to help each other to be free from sin and love like Jesus.
Called as group to live and love like Jesus in order to represent God's character to the watching world.
Our focus today is especially on steps one and two:
Our situation: Each of us has certain strengths or virtues. And, each of use has sin patterns by which we do what Christ commands us to not do or we fail to do what he commands us to do. We are called to get rid of sinful patterns and build patterns that are life giving imitations of Jesus. We are not meant by Christ to do this alone.
The importance of helping each other in our personal efforts to become strong disciples of Jesus: If we grow to be more and more like Jesus, leaving sin behind and developing a Jesus shaped lifestyle of sacrifical love. We will represent Christ to each other and, together we will represent Him to the world around us. For us as individuals and gor Grace Fellowship, these things are mission critical!
Many New Testament scriptures guide us in seeking and supporting others in their efforts to live more Christlike lives.
The prophet Nathan is an example of helping conquer sin by confronting Kng David about his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband in 2 Samuel.
Questions for Study and Discussion:
- What would be the Lord's desire for your growth in terms of ending a sin pattern or an unwise behavior that reduces your availability to serve Christ?
- Do you have a Character Friend? If no, how could you develop that kind of relationship?
- Have you ever been a Character Friend? What would help you serve in that way?
- Are there ways Grace Fellowship Church could grow in our collective witness to God's presence and character?
Greg Frankenfield.mp3- Length: 1:39:06
