What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20 ValuesTransformation

Four Core Values PeopleJesusMinistry Every Day What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20

People Are Valuable!  Some things just can’t compare  Definite versus Indefinite shelf-life  Principle #1: Engage your community and culture What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20

Book quotes read by Pastor Howie Holmes during his October 26, 2014 message: “Our most recent data show that young outsiders have lost much of their respect for the Christian faith. These days nearly two out of every five young outsiders (38 percent) claim to have a bad impression of present-day Christianity…. We are known for having an us-versus-them mentality. Outsiders believe Christians do not like them because of what they do, how they look, or what they believe. They feel minimized – or worse, demonized – by those who love Jesus.” “We have become famous for what we oppose, rather than who we are.” ― David Kinnaman, unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters

People Are Valuable!  Some things just can’t compare  Definite versus Indefinite shelf-life  Principle #1: Engage your community and culture  Engage – to attract someone’s interest  Community – those immediately around us  Culture – things we do without thinking; formed by a person’s values, ultimately becoming our behavior, language, and overall demeanor  This means we are to attract the interest and make significant connection with all whom we come in contact with each day! What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20

John 4:37-38 (NASB) 37 For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NASB) 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

Jesus Is Most Valuable!  Our “one true value” – Jesus  Our faith – personal  Our firm foundation of that faith – Jesus  Matthew 7:25 What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 7:24-27 (NASB) 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell— and great was its fall.”

Jesus Is Most Valuable!  Our “one true value” – Jesus  Our faith – personal  Our firm foundation of that faith – Jesus  Matthew 7:25  1 Timothy 6:17-19 What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NASB) 17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

Jesus Is Most Valuable!  Our “one true value” – Jesus  Our faith – personal  Our firm foundation of that faith – Jesus  Matthew 7:25  1 Timothy 6:17-19  1 Corinthians 3:11 What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20

1 Corinthians 3:11 (NASB) 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Jesus Is Most Valuable!  Our “one true value” – Jesus  Our faith – personal  Our firm foundation of that faith – Jesus  Matthew 7:25  1 Timothy 6:17-19  1 Corinthians 3:11  Principle #2: Establish believers in the foundation of Jesus Christ Hebrews 6:1-2 What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20

Hebrews 6:1-2 (NASB) 1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

Jesus Is Most Valuable  What does Hebrews 6:1-2 tell us not to teach in relationship to Principle #2: Establish believers in the foundation of Jesus Christ? What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20

Hebrews 6:1-2 (NASB) 1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

Jesus Is Most Valuable  What does Hebrews 6:1-2 tell us not to teach in relationship to Principle #2: Establish believers in the foundation of Jesus Christ?  Taking OT principles as inadequate – repentance from dead works and faith toward God What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20

Hebrews 6:1-2 (NASB) 1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

Jesus Is Most Valuable  What does Hebrews 6:1-2 tell us not to teach in relationship to Principle #2: Establish believers in the foundation of Jesus Christ?  Taking OT principles as inadequate – repentance from dead works and faith toward God  Laying aside OT practices as inadequate – the doctrine of baptisms and the laying on of hands What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20

Hebrews 6:1-2 (NASB) 1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

Jesus Is Most Valuable  What does Hebrews 6:1-2 tell us not to teach in relationship to Principle #2: Establish believers in the foundation of Jesus Christ?  Taking OT principles as inadequate – repentance from dead works and faith toward God  Laying aside OT practices as inadequate – the doctrine of baptisms and the laying on of hands  Laying aside OT prospects as inadequate – the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus Is Most Valuable  So, what does Hebrews 6:1-2 tell us to teach in relationship to Principle #2: Establish believers in the foundation of Jesus Christ?  Repentance – turning from sin to Christ  Faith – trusting in Christ and the power He has to change us  Baptism – uniting with Christ in life and death  Laying on of hands – working with Christ  Resurrection – rising in Christ as a final destination and as power to live the obedient Christian walk  Eternal judgment – glory in Christ What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus Is Most Valuable  The Bible becomes Jesus the “living word”  This makes for a New Community  The Bible uses this word 86 times  85 times in the OT and only once in the NT  NT reference is to a Jewish community  So why did it disappear in the NT?  It did not!  The NT word for community is church!  Our relationship with Jesus places us in relationship with each other called the church!  The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ! What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20

Application Do you see people as valuable? How valuable? How is your church life? What on Earth Are You Doing? Matthew 28:19-20