Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church     
 
Pastor Tim Janiszewski - "Mission in Motion"

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Messages of Grace

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9:00 AM
Unified Service


 
This Sunday
July 19, 2015



Summer Missions Celebration


 




Picture of Pastor Tim
July 16, 2015

 

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." Matthew 9:35-38

 

Dear MLEPC Members and Friends:

 

The passage written above will look very familiar to those who have attended our Mission Possible 8 breakfasts this week. We have read these four verses together every day. We have unpacked their meaning morning by morning. This passage is the beginning to what we may call, "Jesus' Mission Possible Sermon," found in Matthew 9:35-10:42. This week, Jesus wants us to be His people on a mission that is only possible due to the vision, strategy, resources, and strength that God provides. Beyond this week, Jesus calls us to live as His Mission Possible people "360/365"-- 360 degrees around in every life-direction, 365 days each year. So in short order, here is a review of five principles from Jesus that encourage us always to be His people who reach outward to the world in witness and service.

  1. Jesus is our missions role model in motion. Matthew reports that Jesus went through the villages and towns of His region. Jesus didn't stay at home, waiting for people to come to Him. Jesus didn't only share the mission with folks who came to the synagogue or temple. No, Jesus took His ministry and mission to the dusty streets of the towns and villages of Galilee. Likewise, missions done in Jesus' style by us will reach beyond our church walls into our community. Our mission is active and outward focused, not passive and inward focused.
  2. Jesus gives us our missions message. Matthew tells us that Jesus taught and preached in those villages and towns. He was not shy or reserved about announcing His agenda about the Kingdom. We get the sense that He seized every good opportunity to speak. If you will, Jesus' approach was to preach the Gospel at all times and whenever possible to use words. Jesus who is the Word of God in human form wasn't shy about proclaiming words for God. Neither are we as His followers. We walk in His footsteps when we share the Message with family, friends, neighbors, work associates, and even strangers.
  3. Jesus demonstrates how we match the message with service. Matthew continues by noting that Jesus not only taught and preached; He simultaneously healed every sickness and disease. His Good News was expressed in good words and good works that walked together. No one could ever rightly accuse Jesus of being all talk and no action. We likewise are to say the Good News in word and then to display the Good News in service. This is why our MLEPC Statement of Mission reads that we commit to "reach outward to the world in witness (words) and service (works). This MP8 week each year is a shining example of this perfect combination that Jesus models for us.
  4. Jesus gives us our motivation for missions. Matthew states that when Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion on them. The actual Greek word translated "compassion" refers to a person's bowels or guts. So a more colorful interpretation would be that when Jesus saw the crowds, it hit Him in the gut. Do you know the emotional feeling that is so powerful it is like being punched in the stomach? That's what Jesus felt for the people. It's deep compassion that hurts deep inside for folks. That's the sort of motivation we are called to have for people who do not yet know Jesus as their Good Shepherd who know His voice and follow in His way.
  5. Jesus calls us to pray for the mission. Matthew concludes by recording Jesus' first spoken words in His Mission Possible Sermon. Jesus directs us to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out works in missions. There is great need for God's people to go, to speak, to serve, and to show compassion. There's never enough of it. So pray. So ask God to send out His people in mission. But if you pray this prayer, watch it! You may find that you are one of those whom He sends. In fact, I can assure you that in great or small ways, Jesus will send you. After all, Jesus sent our church out all week long for the eighth consecutive summer.

We wouldn't have it any other way!

 

Pastor Tim  

 

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