The Light has come – Week #2

The Light has come – Week #2

3 main sections of today

1. Jesus is the Light of the World
2. The condition of mankind
3. How do we share the answer to a dying world

Jesus is the Light of the World

John 1:4-5 CSB – 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

Matt 4:16-17 CSB The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. 17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Luke 4:18-21 CSB

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

20 b “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.”

John 9:25 CSB – He answered, “Whether or not he’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!”

The condition of mankind

Genesis 1:26 CSB – Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness”

Ecclesiastes 3:10 CSB – He has also put eternity in their hearts,

2 Corinthians 4:4 – CSB – the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

How do we share the answer to a dying world

Ephesians 4:11-12 CSB – 11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,

The goal here for all of us not to become Jonathan, but it is for each of us to learn to be passionate about sharing Jesus through the personalities that Jesus gave to each of us.

John 3:16 – CSB – 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus needs each of us to allow Him to flow through us.

2 Timothy 4:5 – CSB – 5 But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

1 Peter 3:15 CSB – 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.

Different ways to share with folks around us

1. The Bless app: Bless your neighbor
2. Humbling ourselves and asking Jesus to do what we can’t, which is what leads us to pray.
3. Handing out Christmas Eve celebration invitations
4. Serving at the Green Springs elementary school to bless parents and students and to cause them to ask why we do what we do.
5. Having the Life on Mission app on your phone – It is called the 3 Circles tool in our discipleship program.
6. We are going to keep searching for more creative ways to reach the lost.

I would love for whoever wants to participate in expanding the list that is just above.