February 2, 2015 Text 1 Corinthians 1:1-25 Congregational Reading 1 Corinthians 1:18-23 The Old Paths Part Four Proclaiming Christ Theme for 2015 - Back to Basics Theme Verses "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." (Revelation 2:4-5) Our theme for the year is Back to Basics. Our theme verse tells us to do the first works, meaning the works that are first in position of time or first in importance or priority. God told the Church at Ephesus to go back to where they started and do the things that they did when their church was first established. Other Verses that Support our theme - Jeremiah 6:16 19 Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth: "Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:1-3) When we say that we are getting Back to Basics this year, it means we are going to do the first works, seek the old paths wherein is the good way, and we are also going to keep it very simple and uncomplicated. Three weeks ago we spoke about the subject of Preaching Truth. We said that preaching is a basic, foundational, and simple method of
communicating the Truth of God s Word. We stated that, as a church, preaching would always be preeminent in our services. We committed to preaching continuously, courageously, and compassionately. Two weeks ago, we discussed Praying Fervently and we listed some very practical things that will help us develop an intimate level of communication with God through prayer. We talked about having a specific place for regular prayer, and a scheduled time, along with a tangible list of things that we need to talk to God about. Last week, we talked about Praising God through our singing, and through our statements, and through a life that is surrendered to the will of God. Transition This week, we will discuss another basic, simple, fundamental and foundational part of our relationship with God, both on a personal level and on a corporate level, which is Proclaiming Christ. Introduction Proclaiming Christ is a first work, and it is a basic that we need to get back to and stick to. Read the text 1 Corinthians 1:1 25, explaining the context. The Church at Corinth had a lot of problems, but the first thing that Paul speaks about to this troubled Church is importance of preaching or proclaiming Christ. Jesus Christ must be the focal point, the very center of everything that we do and say. Christ is the most important part of everything we do and say. Everything we do revolves around Jesus. Turn to Philippians 2:1 11 Turn to Colossians 1:9 18 It s all about Jesus Christ, so naturally it should be His name that is exalted and proclaimed more than anything else in our church.
I We Need to Proclaim Christ s Gospel "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is the message, the good news, that Christ died for our sins, and that He was buried, and that He rose from the dead exactly as the Scriptures said that He would. When we place our faith, our trust, our dependence on Christ s gospel than we are saved, born again into the family of God. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.... For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-10, 13) It is the message of the gospel that brings salvation to lost souls. We cannot be saved from Hell, except through the gospel. Therefore, everyone who names the name of Christ should boldly proclaim the message of Christ s gospel. It is the last thing that Jesus commanded the church to do while He was still on the earth: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15) "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:18-20) The Holy Spirit was given in order to empower us to proclaim the gospel: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) The reason that Jersey Shore Baptist Church exists is so that the gospel message can be proclaimed here in Galloway Township and the surrounding communities. A We are to proclaim it corporately through organized outreaches: church- wide soul winning; the bus ministry; the detention center ministry; Reformers Unanimous; the nursing homes and Senior Care. All of these ministries exist primarily to provide opportunities for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to be proclaimed. The gospel will also be proclaimed through our worship services, Adult Bible Classes and Sunday Schools, though they primarily exist in order to equip the Saints so that they can be more proficient at proclaiming the Gospel. B We are to proclaim it individually through the connections that each of us have to the people of our community. Individually, we are responsible to proclaim the gospel to our families, our neighbors, and our co- workers. C We are to proclaim in internationally through supporting church planting throughout the world through our Missions Program. The Gospel does not need defending. If Jesus Christ is not alive and cannot fight His own battles, then Christianity is in a bad state. But He is alive and we have only to preach His gospel in all its simplicity, and the power that goes with it will be evidence of its divinity. (C. H. Spurgeon)
II We Need To Proclaim Christ s Glory We glorify God the most through a life that is surrendered to His will, and filled with His Spirit. We are responsible to represent Christ in this world. We are His ambassadors. We can t do what we want to do. We can t be what we want to be. We can t say what we want to say. We must be to this world what He would be, and do what He would do, and say what He would say. We are His hands, His feet, and His mouth in this world today. "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) The Bible says that we are supposed to adorn the doctrine of God, which basically means that we are to make Christ look good to this world. We proclaim Christ s glory by making Him look good to the people around us. When people look at your life, do they see Christ, or do they see you? Are you making Christ look good to those who are watching you? Conclusion Our mission is to proclaim Christ through both our words and our lives. It is either all of Christ or none of Christ! I believe we need to preach again a whole Christ to the world - a Christ who does not need our apologies, a Christ who will not be divided, a Christ who will either be Lord of all or will not be Lord at all! (A. W. Tozer)