Morning Worship
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Series: “I Am a Missionary”
Today: “The Message of a Missionary”
Scripture: Matthew 16:24-28 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” 
Intro: Our message matters because it will determine what people will do with Jesus.
* Today’s scriptures are important for two reasons.
A. They are Jesus’ words! Our leader is speaking.
B. They are the heart of the message that we must keep straight. 
I. THE MESSAGE IS ABOUT ACTION , NOT JUST AFFIRMATION.
A. Mental affirmation is not enough.
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.
B. To believe in the Bible means to change ourbehavior to match Christ’s behavior.
1 John 3:7-9 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 
II. THE MESSAGE IS ABOUT SACRIFICIAL LOVE, NOT SELF LOVE.
A. The cross is the symbol of Jesus’ message. It’s the icon.
B. That cross is a daily sacrifice for brothers .
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. 
III. THE MESSAGE IS ABOUT ETERNAL DESTINY , NOT LIFE HERE.
A. Jesus drives home the all important motivation for getting this message right:
“What good will it be for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul ?”
B. Following Jesus means valuing the never dying life in you more than the slowly dying shell that holds it .
Conclusion: Our message is Jesus saves, like a parachute in a plane heading for a crash.
1. Having Jesus is not always comfortable , it’s sacrificial.
2. Having Jesus will change our behavior , can’t keep sinning.
3. Having Jesus is all about our eternal destiny .