Love, Prayer and Grace Text: Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Love, Prayer and Grace is our mission statement; therefore, it’s time I talk about it. In fact, through those three words everything we do as a church can be explained and defined! If the body does something without Love, Prayer and Grace she will need to reevaluate why she is doing it. Statement: true or false: “It’s God’s will that His church grow?” Illustration: If a child isn’t growing his or her parents would start to think something’s wrong. God never intended for His body to sit, soak and sour!
I. In the book of Acts 2: 1-47 there are three key words you will see in action: 1. Love. 2. Prayer. 3. Grace.
A. #1.Love and evangelism work together! Rick Warren say’s in The Purpose Driven Church “If you knew the cure for cancer, I’m sure you’d do everything you could to get the news out. It would save millions of lives. But you already know something better!”
B. John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
C. Love is the answer for every problem; however, sometimes love speaks hard truth. It’s not always easy to love! Love doesn’t bale out, love doesn’t let go. Love will win the world!
D. #2.Prayer: Worship and prayer go hand and hand, you really won’t worship without prayer! Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.
E. Notice that worship and prayer comes before service, and You can’t serve what you don’t worship and pray about! Psalm 34:3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
F. Prayer and evangelism is so important! Christ actually gave us five great commissions, one for each gospel, and one in the book of Acts!
G. The fifth time Jesus said in Acts 1: 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
H. Remember, prayer and evangelism is our privilege. Growth isn’t optional; Jesus Christ commands it! Satan comes to blind us; satan understands that you won’t wittiness to someone you won’t love! John 17: 22-23 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
I. #3.Grace: grace is taught and then it’s caught! If I fed you a message of condemnation, that’s the message you would have! You’re not good enough! Your going to hell! You’re wearing the wrong clothes! You better follow the law because Christ wasn’t enough!
J. Grace say’s, I love you and I will pray for you, and I will do anything and everything to see our church grow! II. Cor. 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
K. Grace say’s go make disciples! Because you remember the grace that was given to you way back when! Grace spells out Jesus Christ! Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
L. Grace say’s, “ How many were saved? How many are coming? Are the pews full? Grace rejoices over positive results! Grace is seen at it’s best in Luke 15 when the prodigal comes home, and his father opens his arms. Grace is seen at it’s worse in the same chapter when the prodigal’s older brother wishes his brother was gone forever!
M. Altar: Every person in here who needs love, prayer and grace please raise your hands! Every person who will start showing Love, Prayer and Grace raise your hands!
