Grace Community ChurchGrace Community ChurchJune 14, 2009June 14, 2009

From Influenced to From Influenced to InfluentialInfluential

Romans 15:14-21Romans 15:14-21

A Living SacrificeA Living Sacrifice

Romans 15:14-15Romans 15:14-1514 14 “I myself am satisfied about you, my “I myself am satisfied about you, my

brothers,brothers, that you yourselves are full that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled withof goodness, filled with all knowledge all knowledge and able to instruct one another.and able to instruct one another.15 15

But on some points I have written to But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, you very boldly by way of reminder,

because of the grace given me by because of the grace given me by God” God”

THREE core characteristics that will THREE core characteristics that will enable us to TRULY IMPACT, and enable us to TRULY IMPACT, and

make an eternal difference.make an eternal difference.

Romans 15:16-17Romans 15:16-1716 “16 “to be to be a minister of Christ Jesus to a minister of Christ Jesus to

the Gentiles in the priestly service of the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the gospel of God, so that the the offering of the Gentiles may be offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Spirit. 17 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I In Christ Jesus, then, I have have reason to be proud of reason to be proud of my work my work for God.”for God.”

Isaiah 66:20Isaiah 66:20

“ “AAnd they shall bring all your nd they shall bring all your brothers from all the nationsbrothers from all the nations as an as an offering to the LORD”offering to the LORD”

The Apostle PaulThe Apostle Paul

had a priestly ministry ~ had a priestly ministry ~

A core characteristic A core characteristic

we need to assimilate is a we need to assimilate is a demeanor that expresses concern demeanor that expresses concern

for the lost.for the lost.

Romans 15:16-17Romans 15:16-1716 “16 “to be to be a minister of Christ Jesus to a minister of Christ Jesus to

the Gentiles in the priestly service of the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the gospel of God, so that the the offering of the Gentiles may be offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Spirit. 17 17 In Christ Jesus, thenIn Christ Jesus, then, I , I have have reason to be proud of reason to be proud of my work my work for God.”for God.”

Romans 15:18-19aRomans 15:18-19a18 “18 “For I will not venture to speak of anything For I will not venture to speak of anything

except what Christ has accomplished except what Christ has accomplished through me through me to bring the Gentiles to to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, obedience—by word and deed, 19 19 by the by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God”power of the Spirit of God”

The Apostle PaulThe Apostle Paul

had a powerful ministry ~ had a powerful ministry ~

A core characteristic A core characteristic

we need to assimilate is a devotion we need to assimilate is a devotion pledged to Christ!pledged to Christ!

Romans 15:19-21Romans 15:19-21

“—“—so that so that from Jerusalem and all the way from Jerusalem and all the way around around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 20 and and thus I make it my ambition to preach the thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already gospel, not where Christ has already been named, been named, lest I build on someone lest I build on someone else’s foundation, else’s foundation, 21 21 but as it is written, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will see, and those who have never heard will understandwill understand.”.”

““Risk is right. And the reason not because God Risk is right. And the reason not because God promises success to all our ventures in his cause. promises success to all our ventures in his cause. There is no promise that every effort for the cause There is no promise that every effort for the cause of God will succeed, at least not in the short run. of God will succeed, at least not in the short run.

• John The Baptist…John The Baptist…

• The Apostle Paul…The Apostle Paul…

……How many graves are there in Africa and Asia How many graves are there in Africa and Asia because thousands of young missionaries were because thousands of young missionaries were freed by the power of the Holy Spirit from the freed by the power of the Holy Spirit from the enchantment of security and then risked their lives enchantment of security and then risked their lives to make much of Christ among the unreached to make much of Christ among the unreached people of the world! And now what about you?” people of the world! And now what about you?”

~John Piper ~John Piper Don’t Waste your LifeDon’t Waste your Life

The Apostle PaulThe Apostle Paul

had a pioneering ministry ~ had a pioneering ministry ~

A core characteristic A core characteristic

we need to assimilate is a dream we need to assimilate is a dream lived out to the glory of God!lived out to the glory of God!

Do you want to make an eternal Do you want to make an eternal difference? difference?

• A demeanor that expresses concern for the lostA demeanor that expresses concern for the lost

• A devotion pledged to ChristA devotion pledged to Christ

• A dream lived out to the glory of GodA dream lived out to the glory of God