Hope for the World Week 1: Reached People Reach People
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” Revelation 7:9-10
1. We Are Reached People “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“From my perspective, ‘in Christ’ far outstrips the term ‘Christian’ in describing Christianity. Aside from the fact that "Christian" is only used three times in the New Testament, it allows for an ambiguous interpretation. But ‘in Christ’ demands reflection on a dynamic, living relationship.” Kent Hughes
“Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:10
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…” 2 Corinthians 5:19
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation...” 2 Corinthians 5:18
2. Reached People Reach People “…that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20
What is an ambassador?
An authorized representative or messenger
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Why does all this really matter?
Seeing the world come to know Christ matters because sin is real and the wages of sin is death.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
"Every sin will be punished. It will either be punished in hell, or it was punished on the cross." John Piper
“I cannot preach on hell unless I preach with tears.” D.L. Moody
As ambassadors for Christ, we need:
1. Spiritual Appetites
“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.’” John 4:34
As ambassadors for Christ, we need:
1. Spiritual Appetites
2. Spiritual Awareness
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36
As ambassadors for Christ, we need:
1. Spiritual Appetites
2. Spiritual Awareness
3. Spiritual Action
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on __________ behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)
Before you call a church your home, there are some questions you deserve to have answered. Questions like: What do we believe? Where are we going? How are we going to get there? Discovering Hope is an important step in getting to know our church family.
Our mobile app is a great place to connect to what God is doing in Las Vegas, the West and the World through Hope Church. On our app you can find information on events and activities, watch sermon videos, take message notes, request prayer and much more! We hope our app serves you well!
