Living in the Balance

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

- Matthew 22:34-40

Know the route and the rules of the road - Jesus first.

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

- Matthew 22:37

Make room for yourself.

39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

- Matthew 22:39

Make room for others.

Stay full.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 

- Philippians 4:8-9 

Leave room for disruptions.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

- Ephesians 4:1-3

Follow Jesus’ lead.

52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.

- Luke 2:52

The Yoke’s on You - Rest for your Soul

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

- Proverbs 4:23

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

- Matthew 11:28-30

Four verbs: come, take, learn, find.

Accept Jesus’ invitation.

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

- Matthew 11:28

Submit to Jesus’ authority and follow His ways.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart…

- Matthew 11:29

Arrive at the rest you’ve been longing for.

and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

- Matthew 11:30

Empowered Living

“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

‭‭- Acts‬ ‭1:4-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Power to live holy for Him.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.””

‭‭- Matthew‬ ‭3:11-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Power to be a witness for Him.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…”

- Acts 1:8 ESV

Power to go and make disciples for Him.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

‭‭- Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20‬ ‭ESV

How Do We Do It?

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

- Genesis 3:6-8

God came to us.

9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

- Genesis 3:9

14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

- Genesis 3:14

We go to others.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

- Acts 1:8

But we aren’t told how to go to others.

9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?...”

- Acts 1:9-11

This is how we do it: Campus Ministry and Church Planting.

1. Campus Ministry

2. Church Planting

The Socially Responsible Church

30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 

- Mark 6:30-34

The primary need is spiritual.

34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
- Mark 6:34

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

- Titus 3:4-7 

Identify the opportunity and respond in faith.

35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”

 - Mark 6:35-38

Thank God for what you have. It’s more than enough to get the job done.

39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.

- Mark 6:39-41 

God will make a way.

42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

- Mark 6:42-44

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

- 2 Corinthians 9:8

What's at the Center?

Jesus is worthy.

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

- Revelation 5:1-5

Jesus is worthy to be at the center.

6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.

- Revelation 5:6

Jesus is worthy to be at the center of our church.

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 

- Luke 2:41-43

Jesus is worthy to be at the center of our lives.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

- Matthew 6:33

The Reason We Honor God

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

- Ecclesiastes 1:1-3

We honor God because He is the highest authority.

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.

- Psalm 22:27-28

When we honor God He honors us in return.

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

- Daniel 4:34, 36-37

When we honor God he fulfills our purpose through Jesus.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

- John 1:1-3

In the beginning was the (reason), and the (reason) was with God and the (reason) was God.

Empowered to Make Disciples

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit…”

- John 20:21

Jesus empowers us confidently

Jesus empowers us supernaturally

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

- Acts 1:8

Jesus empowers us immediately

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. 20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

- Acts 9:17-22

If not us, what other option do we have?

Make Disciples. Make a Difference.

We need strength.

“You then, my child, be strengthened…”

- 2 Timothy 2:1

Discipleship can be difficult.

“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

- 2 Timothy 2:3

God can empower us.

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

- 2 Timothy 2:1

“29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31  but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

- Isaiah 40:29-31

We empower others.

“2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

- 2 Timothy 2:2

There is a prize for those who press on.

“4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.”

- 2 Timothy 2:4-6

Making an Impact

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:16-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Go as the church

Go according to the Great Commission 

Go with confidence