November 4, 2018
ReAlign Conference 2018
Where Disciples End Up
Disciples of Jesus cannot just sit around. There is a mission that God is calling us too and our world desperately needs to know about Jesus.
Hab 1:5
5 "Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.
Hab 2:14
14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
Adam & Eve
God creates a world to display his glory
Gen 1:28
‘God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
Cain
Interesting Adam and Eve’s children provide a microcosm of God’s plan for the earth in Genesis 4
Noah
The population multiplied till Noah caught God’s eye as a man who stood out from the culture.
God spoke again of his plans, described by some commentators as ‘God’s terrible secret’.
Gen 6:17-18
17 I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark--you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.
Gen 9:7-11
7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it."
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 "I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you--the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you--every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."
Abraham
Gen 12:1-3;
1 The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
Gen 22:17-18
17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.
Israel
God chooses a people group to demonstrate and reflect his love to the world
In Romans 9:17, Paul says that God's goal in redeeming Israel was so "that [his] name may be proclaimed in all the earth."
In Isaiah 66:19, God promised that he would send messengers "to the coastlands afar off that have not heard my fame or seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations."
Moses
God raises up another leader for his people who find themselves now in Egypt, as slaves to Pharoah.
Prophets
The trauma of the exile concentrated the prophets focus on renewed hope and blessing.
Dan 7:13-14
13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Jesus
We reach the climax of the drama. Jesus appears. God commits to fulfilling all his promises in his Son.
Eph 2:13
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”
John 8:12
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 17:18
As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Gal 3:26-29
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
World Stats
650 million bible believing Christians
1.3 billion nominal Christians - stand in Christian tradition but need renewal
2.5 billion culturally near non Christians. europe, NZ, canada,
2.7 billion culturally distant non Christians.
90% money and workers - reached Christians
1% money and workers - culturally distant unreached
97% of churches in the west never reproduce themselves – out of the 3% that do, half of those are due to church splits.
Isaiah 12:4
"Make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted."
Heaven
God renews the whole of creation with Christ at the centre.
Rev 7:9-10
9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
Connection Card
- I want to surrender my life to Jesus.
- I need an encounter with God that leads to obedience.
- I’m willing to share my faith with someone who isn’t yet a Christian.
- I will pray for an unreached people group this week.
