Sermon Central
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Potential: Mole Hills Into Mountains Series
Contributed by John Knight on Jan 31, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: Understanding the potential God has given each of us for accomplishing the task of mission and ministry.
Me, My Church, & I
Potential: Mole Hills Into Mountains
Franklin Field- "Poor eyes limit your sight; poor vision limits your deeds."
This morning we continue our study of Vision. (As most of you recall)
Vision-having an oversight of my life
-seeing the forest through the trees
-seeing my life as it relates to my purpose
-how my past/ present experiences enable me to participate in and fulfill my
purpose.
Vision-arises from our purpose, focuses our power, and enables us to see our
potential.
Purpose 1.corporate -ministry of reconciliation
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."
2. personal/ individual
occupations-dentistry, law, education, etc., ministries
S-spiritual gifts
H-heartbeat
A-abilities
P-personality
E-experiences
We also studies the power that each of us has been given in order to accomplish our purpose.
Power Jesus said in Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you."
Each of us has been given the power of the Holy Spirit
It is the fire in the lantern
purpose of a lantern
cannot fulfill purpose without flame.
We have been created with a purpose, but we cannot fulfill our purpose without the power of the Holy Spirit.
Potential One we have gained vision for our lives; once we have achieved an enlarged perspective:
understanding our purpose
empowered by God to achieve that purpose
we are capable of perceiving our potential.
Random House Dictionary
1. possible, as opposed to actual
2. capable of being or becoming
3. possibility; potentiality
4. a latent excellence or ability that may or may not be developed
This morning we look at the example of Simon Peter to realize the potential each of us is capable of.
I. Simon Peter
A. Background (who he was, where he came from)
Fisherman
Tradition: disciple of John the Baptist
Called by Jesus-to be a fisher of men
Intimate with Christ
Made declaration, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God."
Immediately Jesus said, "You are Peter. You are a solid rock, and I’m
going to build my church on you."
B. Limitations
1. Just a man "And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?""
2. Did not possess needed resources "Peter said, "I have no silver or gold""-Acts 3:6
possibly out of a job.
3. Not well known "And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?""
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered." -Acts 4:13
4. Uneducated, Common "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus"
C. Potential
1. Healed a lame man "But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong." -Acts 3:6-7
2. Spoke publicly "And when Peter saw it he addressed the people."
3. Had boldness to face the Sanheidran ""
4. Because of Peter’s witness (word & deed) 5,000 made a commitment to Christ
"But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to about five thousand." -Acts 4:4
II. Example/Illustration
III. Application
Arguments- Not gifted enough
Not educated enough
Not enough resources
