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Sermon: Evangelism Reset
Sunday, April 23rd, 2023 (The Third Sunday of Easter)
Acts 2:14a, 36-47, Ps 116:11-16v, 1 Pet 1:13-25, Luke 24:13-35

Introduction: Evangelism Reset

MOTIVATION, MOVEMENT, and MOMENTUM.
In talking about MOTIVATION,
I want to focus on the internal work that we need to begin doing
before we ever begin a conversation with anyone.
And I will end this sermon by giving you
a homework assignment that we will continue
throughout the season of Easter.

MOTIVATION
Why start with MOTIVATION, you might ask:
Just like with anything else in our lives, we tend to think that some virtuous things are good ideas, or nice suggestions. Getting into shape, reading that one good book, and reaching out to that one person in need is something that we probably SHOULD do. But with the proper MOTIVATION, we take good ideas and turn them into commitments.

A commitment is something that you do. It is part of you. You re-organize your life to fulfill commitments.

STORY ** Blood pressure getting higher **

Moving from Good Idea to Commitment took MOTIVATION.

Look with me as we see the way that these STORIES motivate Jesus’ disciples to begin doing the work of EVANGELISM.

TRANSITION: Let’s turn to the Gospel story for today:
Today’s Gospel reading recites the famous event of Jesus' appearance
to his disciples on the road to Emmaus.

EMMAUS: Motivation
Luke 24:32 Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?

Notice here that this encounter the disciples had with Jesus resulted in some major internal shift. They began seeing their day through the lens of Jesus' incredible MERCY.

Movement
Luke 24:33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’

These disciples run back to the 11 and confirm what God has been doing in others by sharing their experience with Jesus.

Momentum
Luke 24:35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Culture of bread breaking to reveal Jesus

JESUS gave the disciples all that they needed. He was with them. And he gave them a repeated action (bread breaking) that they could do to continue that work of MOTIVATION, MOVEMENT, AND MOMENTUM.

Acts: Motivation
Acts: 2:43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.

Movement
Acts 2:46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.

Momentum
Acts 2:47b And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
See here that they continued “breaking the bread”
They continued performing wonders and signs
And God added to their number.

Their heart is aligned with God’s heart.

Movement
What is God calling you to do?
What should you do next in response to all that God has done for you?
What will you do?

Momentum
What is your greatest Hope?

People’s prayer cards

AMEN

Thank you for listening!
If you would like to support the ministry of Good Samaritan Church, or learn more about us please visit us at www.goodsamaritansugarhill.com.
Or visit our social media pages

linktr.ee/GSACBuford

Sunday, August 6th, 2023 (The Feast of the Transfiguration)

Ex 34:29-35 Ps 99 2 Pet 1:13-21 Luke 9:28-36

Introduction

The Transfiguration of Jesus shows us that heaven is here now.

1. We encounter the power of heaven now.
2. We bring heaven to others.
3. We grow confident in Christ.

Immediately before this story:

• Peter says, “Messiah”
• Jesus foretells death, then
• “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:27).

We encounter the power of heaven now.

A Dynamic (Spirit-filled), Sacred (Set-apart), and Cohesive (Scripture-centered) faith is one in which we should expect to BE in the presence of Jesus - and see him working.

We bring heaven to others.

1. Peter did not get it: Luke 9:33: “Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.”
2. 1 Kings 19 - Elijah visits:

God says, “What are you doing here? [...] GO!” Elisha, Jehu,
God does amazing thing for Elijah

Exodus 34: Moses’ Honeymoon with YHWH

8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. 9 He said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.” 10 He (YHWH) said: I hereby make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform marvels, such as have not been performed in all the earth or in any nation; and all the people among whom you live shall see the work of the Lord; for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

We grow confident in Christ.

2 Peter 1:19 - So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

First, notice what I am not saying: you should not grow confident in yourself. The journey of a Christian is one in which the GRACE of God and his love for you increases.

Conclusion:

Allow God to reveal heaven to you

Bring heaven to a world in darkness

Allow your confidence in Christ to increase

AMEN

Thank you for listening!
If you would like to support the ministry of Good Samaritan Church, or learn more about us please visit us at www.goodsamaritansugarhill.com.
Or visit our social media pages

linktr.ee/GSACBuford

Sunday, August 27th, 2023 (The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 138; Romans 11:25-36; Matthew 16:13-20

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour
The most expensive, expansive, extravagant musical tour ever.

SO FAR: 52 dates

Between ticket sales, merchandise, album purchases - the Taylor Swift franchise has grossed over $5 billion.

According to Dan Fleetwood, President of QuestionPro Research and Insights. “If Taylor Swift were an economy, she’d be bigger than 50 countries; if she was a corporation, her Net Promoter Score would make her the fourth most admired brand, and her loyalty numbers mimic those of subjects to a royal crown.”

I want to ask you a basic question: Who is Taylor Swift?

I. Who am I?
This is THE question!
When Jesus walked onto the scene there were a lot of people who had already come to conclusions about who Jesus was. Many of the religious types rejected Jesus. Nathanial in the book of John goes so far as to say, “can anything good come out of Nazareth? And by the time of Jesus’ third year of ministry - people had all sorts of questions about Jesus. But more importantly, their questions were drawn from their preconceptions.

II. Who do you say I am?
Caesarea Philippi
Jesus places this question of who he is against the backdrop of Caesarea Philippi.
Greco-Roman: Temples, Courts, and Grottos to the recently divinized Caesar Augustus, the god Pan, and the nymphs.
Canaanites: Bashan (the mountain) the Rephaim and the Anakim (the giants) dwelled in this land. And in the mythology of the 1st century Jew - this was the location where the Nephelim in Genesis chapter 6 descended down to earth to have inappropriate relationships with the daughters of men.

Jesus wants us to go past knowing him. We are commanded to tell others … the work is in the SAYING.
In every way this points to the reality of Jesus’ calling. The work of Jesus has so far only led the disciples to the corners of Galilee, the northern portion of Israel.
But the ministry of the Church is going to expand past the borders of Israel. They are going to travel across many of the countries that would later make up Europe, western Asia, northern Africa - and into the ends of the earth.
Every location is a place that Jesus seeks to redeem.
But Jesus takes the claim even further. His ministry will reach past all the places where the living travel - and even break down the gates between the living and the dead. Jesus himself will break the bonds of death forever.

Why does this matter?
the claim: You are the Rock, and against this rock …
The who of Jesus changes the who of us.
Somewhere built into the claim of Jesus’ assembly is one that confronts the fame of the competing cults of Caesar, Pan, and the Nymphs.

You are the Christ …
You are the son of the LIVING GOD.

III. You are …!
Simon, Peter: the Rock.
The word rock - as Mountain - the new location of Jesus transfiguration.
The foundation of the Church.

When you answer the question, who is Jesus, the question, who am I suddenly shifts. Jesus as the King - has the authority to alter every aspect of your role in his Kingdom - but as the Son of God - he has the power to change your very being itself.

Notice that Jesus never asks Peter who Peter thinks Peter is - Jesus is in the business of giving Peter his own identity.

Thank you for listening!
If you would like to support the ministry of Good Samaritan Church, or learn more about us please visit us at www.goodsamaritansugarhill.com.
Or visit our social media pages

linktr.ee/GSACBuford