Missio Dei Fellowship Sermons: Recent Episodes
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Jesus' instruction to the church is clear - make disciples! The ongoing aspect of this mandate is to make disciples by teaching them. Many view the teaching aspect of discipleship as merely reading through a book with someone in a coffee shop. However, it is far more broad, and involves opening up your entire life to a person. This sermon explores the concept of teaching, and calls the church to consider how they can best obey this principle in its multi-faceted aspects.
Genesis 3 is the explanation for everything that is broken, vile, and foolish in our hearts and in this world. Up to this point all is good and both the man and woman dwell in pure innocence before one another and before God. Satan’s trap was laid and the man and woman walked right into it. They instantly knew good and evil and they immediately discovered it was not good. When we find ourselves or others in sin today, our reactions and responses are merely mirrors of what we see with the first couple. Listen, read, and then weep. Then dry your tears and look for the Redeemer.
This passage portrays the wonderful reality of how God comes to the weak. He comes when least expected, and to those who deserve nothing. The passage recounts the response to the birth of Christ, and shows how His birth was a cosmic reality, involving both heaven and earth. The theme of God coming to those in darkness is a perfect illustration of how God reveals Himself in the midst of a darkened heart.