Church of the Nazarene – East Rock
Mission in Action Part 4: Christ
Transformed by God to bring hope to others through Christ.
Our mission statement says “Transformed by God to bring hope to others through Christ”
We believe this concise, yet powerful statement gives light and guidance to our purpose as the church and as individual believers.
So, this teaching series- called Mission in Action is not just to make sure you know the mission statement, but so that you understand it more deeply, find excitement in its possibilities and desire to engage with us to see this mission lived out.
While Christ is literally the last word in our mission statement, it’s not just a play on words, It’s there on purpose.
We are committed to giving Christ the last word, to focus on Him, to give him the authority in all we do as the church. After all, apart from him- we really don’t have anything to offer others.
Philippians 3:7-11
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
To give Christ the last word is to see him as the central focus and authority of our lives and of our mission together. It means we give Christ the authority over our lives, the past, and the present. And to make him the focus of the future.
To give Christ the last word is to give him authority over everything, even if that’s what it costs.
The invitation to give Christ the last word over our past means that we decide to abandon anything that would keep us from experiencing relationship with him now.If that’s pride in our accomplishments, our jobs, our families, or even our self-reliance- we must let the past go to embrace Christ
If it’s Guilt, or shame, or regret that have you paralyzed- Give Christ the last word over your past.
Your past doesn’t have that power over you when give your life to Jesus.
To see Christ have the last word means we don’t just give him authority over our past- We give all our lives over to him for the sake of Christ.
Paul is helping us to see, there is absolutely nothing in this world worth as much as knowing and experiencing Jesus as Lord. Nothing!
As a church we are called to see others come to know Christ- to experience him as their lord and savior.
To give Christ the last word means that he is not only the life we experience, but also the authority that will guide our actions.
That’s going to challenge me, that will challenge you, because Christ having the last word means that we follow him, no matter what.
It’s not going to be our preferences that are get the final word.
It might not be what’s popular
It’s probably not what’s easiest or even what’s comfortable. It might even feel un-safe in the moment.
In those moments, will we give Christ the last word?
That’s our mission!
Transformed by God to bring hope to others through Christ!
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