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Gateway Church gathers
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at 10:30 a.m.

Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd.
(Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia.

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A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY


AUDIO


Being a lighthouse:
Witnessing God's way
(pt. 4)

Jerry Varnado, pastor
Gateway Church, Athens GA

October 8, 2006
  • Main Scripture texts: Matthew 5:14-16; Luke 10:1-9
  • We're studying the biblical pattern for witnessing -- taught by Jesus in Luke 10:

    1)     Speak peace to pre-believers;
    2)     Fellowship with them;
    3)     Take care of their needs;
    4) Proclaim the Good News.

  • Today I'm going to focus on "proclaiming the Good News" -- or as the text reads: "Tell them the Kingdom of God is near."

  • The "Kingdom of God" is the established reign and rule of God in human life. We don't build the Kingdom, Jesus does. But there are things we can do to participate in the advancement of the Kingdom.

  • Being a lighthouse in our communities -- that is, witnessing God's way -- creates an atmosphere conducive to the coming of God's Kingdom, and conducive to others being able to receive it.

  • We can look at life under God's rule from perspectives:

1)

Individual perspective -- A person who has the Kingdom within should be characterized by peace, joy, kindness, self-control and the other fruit of the Holy Spirit.

2)

Community perspective -- We see God's intention for the human community in both in Genesis and Revelation. In Eden, everything was in total harmony. In Revelation, we read of the place where there is no longer any suffering or sickness or crying or pain.

  • The result of the Kingdom coming is that people live in the immediate presence of God, under His sovereign rule -- resulting in peace, joy, and the end of pain and suffering.

  • Jesus said them the Kingdom of God is near. What did He mean?

  • Until Jesus came the Kingdom of God was only a theory -- it was not a reality in human life. In Jesus Christ the Kingdom of God moved from theory to reality.

  • And the incredible claim of Jesus is that He can reproduce His life in anyone who will submit to Him. So "the Kingdom of God is near" means the Kingdom was breaking into the realm of human history.

  • Through Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God is now available to you and me and to anyone who will repent and believe.

  • When people receive our words of blessing, when they enjoy a loving fellowship that makes them feel safe in sharing the deepest needs of their hearts, when we pray for them and God responds, we have followed Jesus' model for creating a platform for our witness.

  • In that witness, we are to share with them how they, too, can enter and participate in the coming of God's Kingdom.

  • Speak peace to pre-believers, fellowship with them, take care of their needs and pray for them. Then proclaim the Good News: "The Kingdom of God is near!"

  • That's what Jesus taught; that's what Jesus did. Let's be like Jesus.


Supporting texts: John 14:27 | Luke 10:17 | John 17:13 | Galatians 5:22-23 | Genesis 3:8 | Revelation 21:1-5 | John 3:3

 

A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here (26 min.).
(Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.)

An audio tape of the sermon summarized above is available
free of charge (U.S. requests only).
Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office.
Please specify tape number 061008a: Being a Lighthouse, pt. 4.


© 2006 Gerald R. Varnado

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