Your Radical Experiment Matthew 7:21-27 James 1:22-25

“I am convinced that we as Christ followers in American churches have embraced values and ideas that are not only unbiblical but that actually contradict the gospel we claim to believe. And I am convinced we have a choice.” (David Platt, Radical, Page 3)

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:21-27 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Matthew 7: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.”

Look in the Mirror, Build on the Rock The difference between wise and the fool is the response. The difference between wise and the fool is the response. – Are you going to believe Jesus? – Are you going to obey Jesus?

Look in the Mirror, Build on the Rock The difference between wise and the fool is the response. The difference between wise and the fool is the response. Convictions should guide our response, not guilt. Convictions should guide our response, not guilt.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

Revelation 3:15-17 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”

Look in the Mirror, Build on the Rock The difference between wise and the fool is the response. The difference between wise and the fool is the response. Convictions should guide our response, not guilt. Convictions should guide our response, not guilt. Don’t settle for lukewarm faith. Don’t settle for lukewarm faith.

For the next year...  Pray specifically for the entire world. “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."” Matthew 9:35-38

For the next year...  Pray specifically for the entire world. “When Jesus looked at the harassed and helpless multitudes, apparently his concern was not that the lost would not come to the Father. Instead his concern was that his followers would not go to the lost.” “When Jesus looked at the harassed and helpless multitudes, apparently his concern was not that the lost would not come to the Father. Instead his concern was that his followers would not go to the lost.” David Platt, Radical, page 187

For the next year...  Pray specifically for the entire world.  Read the Bible everyday. “We have settled far too long for "Bible lite," both as individual Christians and in the community of faith... If you and I are going to penetrate our culture and the cultures of the world with the gospel, we desperately need minds saturated with God’s Word." “We have settled far too long for "Bible lite," both as individual Christians and in the community of faith... If you and I are going to penetrate our culture and the cultures of the world with the gospel, we desperately need minds saturated with God’s Word." David Platt, Radical, Page 191

For the next year...  Pray specifically for the entire world.  Read the Bible everyday.  Give sacrificially to a specific cause. “The challenge is not just to give away excess stuff that you really don’t need anyway. That’s not sacrifice. Sacrifice is giving away what it hurts to give.” “The challenge is not just to give away excess stuff that you really don’t need anyway. That’s not sacrifice. Sacrifice is giving away what it hurts to give.” David Platt, Radical, Page 195

For the next year...  Pray specifically for the entire world.  Read the Bible everyday.  Give sacrificially to a specific cause. 1.Gospel-centered 2.Church-focused 3.Meet a specific, tangible need 4.Trustworthy causes with long term goals.

For the next year...  Pray specifically for the entire world.  Read the Bible everyday.  Give sacrificially to a specific cause.  Invest your time in a new context.  Commit to real Christ-centered community.

“It is a glorious privilege to be a part of the universal body of Christ, united with brothers and sisters across the world and across history in a heavenly community. But it is also the New Testament pattern for us to be a part of a local body of Christ, a gathering of brothers and sisters in a particular location where our Christianity comes to life in commitment to one another. By the design of God, the local church affects every facet of our Christian lives.” David Platt, Radical, Page 204

For the next year...  Pray specifically for the entire world.  Read the Bible everyday.  Give sacrificially to a specific cause.  Invest your time in a new context.  Commit to real Christ-centered community.