JESUS’ SUPPORT(Comprehensive of parts 1-3)—Luke 8:1-3
Jesus’ ministry received practical/physical support.
The ministry of the gospel receives support.
What is the promoted thru a support of the gospel of Christ?
Some attitudes promoted by the support of the Gospel of Christ.
Support of the Gospel of Christ promotes...
1—Jesus’ support promotes
A MISSIONARY Attitude(:1a) Far-reaching
—Explanation:(:1a)
“And it came about soon afterwards, that He began going about from one city & village to another, ...”
“One...to another/Every city & village”—
Methodical approach to spread of ministry.
Mat. 10:5-7—“These twelve[disciples] Jesus sent out ....instructing them,...“...as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
—Argumentation:
Acts 1:8—“but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
—Illustration:
Employee’s trip to Germany for Torrington(car motor bearings)/Purpose to teach & learn/MISSIONARY Attitude
—Application:
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ promote a MISSIONARY ATTITUDE?
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ Practical?
2—Jesus’ support promotes
A DIVERSE Attitude(:1b) Manifold/Multifold/Multifaceted
—Explanation/Argumentation:(:1b)
“...proclaiming & preaching the kingdom of God;...”
“Proclaiming(Preaching)”—khrussw—To officially Herald, Publish or make known.
“Preaching(Proclaiming)/Bringing/Shewing the glad tidings”—euaggelizw—Bring good news/message.
?How many ways exist in which to bring good news?
&
?What is the good news?—“The kingdom of God”—God’s presence, rule & reign.
—Illustration:
Esposito’s, Tallahassee/Focus on Gardening but Christmas as well/2 seasons/DIVERSE Attitude
Scuba & Ski Chalet in Savannah/All year/DIVERSE Attitude
—Application:
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ promote a DIVERSE ATTITUDE?
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ Practical?
3—Jesus’ support promotes
A COOPERATIVE Attitude(:1c; 2a; 3c)
—Explanation:(:1c; 2a; 3c)
:1—“And the twelve were with Him...”
:2a—“......& also some women who had been healed of evil spirits & sicknesses...”
:3c—“...& many others...”—Women
Co-laborers with Christ
—Argumentation:
3Jn. 1:5-8—“Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, & especially when they are strangers; & they bear witness to your love before the church; & you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers with the truth.”
—Illustration:
Local Church with no extended family is sick/Cooperative
Large business/CEO, Managers, Secretaries, Financial, Experimental, Production, Any organized effort requires cooperation—willingly submit to the organizational structure
—Application:
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ promote a COOPERATIVE ATTITUDE?
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ Practical?
4—Jesus’ support promotes
A GRATEFUL Attitude(:2a)
—Explanation:(:2a)
“...& also some women who had been healed of evil spirits & sicknesses:...”
“Women”—Victims of culture
“Healed”—
“Evil Spirits”—
“Sicknesses/Infirmities”—
Affected by & Zealously bound to Jesus’ truth.
—Argumentation:
Col. 3:16-17—“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching & admonishing one another with psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
Col. 4:2—“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;...”
2Cor. 4:15—“For all things are for your sakes, that the grace which is spreading to more & more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.”
—Illustration:
Graduate College/Profoundly & extremely thankful for the investment of others in my life/GRATEFUL
—Application:
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ promote a GRATEFUL ATTITUDE?
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ Practical?
5—Jesus’ support promotes
A RADICAL Attitude(:2b)
—Explanation:(:2b) Sharp/Extreme/Drastic
“& also some women who had been healed of evil spirits & sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,”
Radically saved people make diligent yokefellows & offer compelling testimonies—Different worldview
—Argumentation:
Jn. 3:3—“Jesus answered & said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”—Birth is radical!
Eph. 3:23—“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us....”
*Change from Satan’s dominion to God’s dominion is found in our personal perception/experience of the difference.
—Illustration:
My profession as Marine Biologist/Salvation/Convinced God didn’t want me in that profession anymore/RADICAL
—Application:
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ promote a RADICAL ATTITUDE?
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ Practical?
6—Jesus’ support promotes
An INFLUENTIAL Attitude(:3a)
—Explanation:(:3a) Political movers & shakers
“& Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, & Susanna, & many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”
“Herod’s”:
Herod Antipas—a son of Herod the Great—Roman tetrarch of Galilee & Peraea.
Took his brother Herod Philip’s wife Herodias.
He cast John the Baptist into prison.
“Herod’s steward”—Charged w/ Herod’s domestic affairs, to provision &/or care & tutelage of children.’
*Joseph was a steward over Potiphar’s house.
Christian Men & Women are influencers of households/businesses/schools/governments/neighborhoods, etc...not just for morality’s sake but for salvation’s & Kingdom’s sake.
*The Gospel cuts across all boundaries!—Universally influential
—Argumentation:
Lk. 21:12-15—“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you & will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues & prisons, bringing you before kings & governors for My name’s sake. “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. “So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance & wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.”
—Illustration:
ITBS(Iowa Test of Basis Skills)/Iowa school systems INFLUENTIAL/Stanford Nine test/
—Application:
?Your support of the Gospel promote an INFLUENTIAL ATTITUDE?
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ Practical?
7—Jesus’ support promotes
A BEAUTIFUL/Unique/Delicate Attitude(:3b)
—Explanation:(:3b) Rare
“& Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, & Susanna, & many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”
“Susanna”— ‘A lilly’—Unique/Beautiful/Attractive Scent
From Where does our beauty arise?...
—Argumentation:
1Pet. 3:3-4—“And let not your adornment be merely external--braiding the hair, & wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle & quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”
2Cor. 5:17—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
—Illustration:
Atamasco Lilly & Spider Lilly/Blooms in a sea of low grass/Unique & Different from surroundings/BEAUTIFUL/Unique/Delicate
Canoeing on Alapaha River/Wild Swamp Lilly on bank/BEAUTIFUL/Unique/Delicate
*The Gospel of Jesus is both rare & delicate & beautiful.
—Application:
?Your support of the Gospel promote a BEAUTIFUL ATTITUDE?
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ Practical?
8—Jesus’ support promotes
A LARGE/Broad Attitude(:3c)
—Explanation:(:3c) Big
“& Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, & Susanna, & many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”
“Many others”—Jesus’ ministry is much broader than one person though it hinges on One Person.
Involves all mankind!
—Argumentation:
1Cor. 12:4-7—“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, & the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
—Illustration:
Parts manufacturers for Freightliner/Parts ensure he movement of goods across the Americas/Part of something bigger/LARGE ATTITUDE
Christians must see themselves as part of something bigger!
—Application:
?Your support of the Gospel promote a LARGE ATTITUDE?
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ Practical?
9—Jesus’ support promotes
An ANONYMOUS Attitude(:3c)
—Explanation:(:3c) God’s glory
“& Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, & Susanna, & many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”
“Joanna”—Only known thru her husband
Many women known thru husbands—Preacher such-&-such’s wife—Dr. such-&-such’s wife
“Susanna”—Unknown & Unnamed except here.
“Many others”—Unnamed
“Others”—Feminine—Other women
Support of Jesus’ ministry is not a support of ‘people’ so much as its a support of the One working thru those people—Jesus!
Anonymity brings a peace—Focus on the work of God
We do honor those who have done well in Christ but not to undermine God.
—Argumentation:
John 3:30—John the Baptist appraoached about Jesus baptizing more people than him answered—“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
1Cor. 10:32—11:1—“Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved....“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”
—Illustration:
Me picking up trash at crossroads/Recognition is of no concern/The cleanliness is!/ANONYMOUS Attitude
—Application:
?Your support of the Gospel promote an ANONYMOUS ATTITUDE?
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ Practical?
10—Jesus’ support promotes
A SACRIFICIAL Attitude(:3c)
—Explanation:(:3c)
“& Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, & Susanna, & many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”
“Contributing to their support/Ministered unto/Provided for”—diakonew—To minister
—Argumentation:
Rom. 12:1—“I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Prov. 21:3—“To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the LORD rather than sacrifice.”
—Illustration:
Soap/Gives itself away that we may be clean/SACRIFICIAL Attitude
—Application:
?Your support for the Gospel promote a SACRIFICIAL ATTITUDE?
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ Practical?
11—Jesus’ support promotes
A PERSONAL Attitude(:3c)
—Explanation:(:3c)
“& Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, & Susanna, & many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”
“Out of their private means/From/Of their substance”—Personal decision to direct resources toward Jesus’ ministry.
A descision one must make to him/herself.
—Argumentation:
Ex. 35:21-22, 36:5-7—“And everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the LORD’S contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments. Then all whose hearts moved them, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and bracelets, all articles of gold; so did every man who presented an offering of gold to the LORD.”....“and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the LORD commanded us to perform.” So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.” Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more. For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it.”
Personal determination to accomplish the Lord’s work.
—Illustration:
AWANA/Personnel heavy/Conviction of church to support it/PERSONAL Attitude
—Application:
?Your support for the Gospel promote a PERSONAL ATTITUDE?
?Your support for the Gospel of Christ Practical?
—CONCLUSION—
Action:
Jesus’ support promotes...
A MISSIONARY Attitude(:1a)
A DIVERSE Attitude(:1b)
A COOPERATIVE Attitude(:1c; 2a; 3c)
A GRATEFUL Attitude(:2a)
A RADICAL Attitude(:2b)
An INFLUENTIAL Attitude(:3a)
A DELICATE Attitude(:3b)
A LARGE Attitude(:3c)
An ANONYMOUS Attitude(:3c)
A SACRIFICIAL Attitude(:3c)
A PERSONAL Attitude(:3c)
Presented 03/19/02am to:
Camellia Gardens of Life Care
804 Broad St.
Thomasville, GA 31792
