ESCAPE FROM RESPONSIBILITY! (3 OF 9)
Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17, Jonah 2:1-10, Jonah 3:1-10, Jonah 4:1-11, Luke 19:41
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Escape From Responsibility! (3 of 9)
Series: Great Escapes
Dennis Marquardt
Jonah 1:1-4:11; Lk. 19:41
INTRO: One of the great images of childhood is the city fire department. Passing by the local fire station can be very impressive, beautiful red shiny engines sit in a housed setting. Men in handsome uniforms are busy shining and testing the equipment. The setting can be very impressive until you realize what it is all about. Like one child who asked their father after passing the station frequently, "Why do all those firemen stay at that station and all day polish and look at their engines?" The father explained that they were passing the time while waiting for a fire call ... and it was important to always keep the equipment in good condition. While this works well for fire stations it is not a good model for the church and Christians!
Too often churches and Christians take this approach to ministry and evangelism ... we have our impressive shelter or buildings and we keep polished the various ministries we offer, we even keep ourselves theologically tuned-up. We apply new coats of worship to cover the rust while we wait for sinners to call in because they finally realize the fire of hell is raging in their lives! The problem with this approach is that the world is already ablaze with sin, the call came in 2,000 years ago by Jesus for the world of sinners, and the question is: "Have we responded like the destructive fires are real?" Or, are we trying to escape the responsibility to reach the lost with other excuses: "I'm not good at talking to others"..."it's not my gift"... my job is to keep the 'fire engines' shiny ... not put out fires!" etc.
PROP. SENT: The great commission of Jesus to win the lost went out to ALL believers, not some; it is every Christian's responsibility to be reaching the lost for Christ especially realizing the finality of eternity and the uncertainty of life now!
I. THE SIN OF JONAH! Jonah 1:1-3:10
A. Ca ...
Series: Great Escapes
Dennis Marquardt
Jonah 1:1-4:11; Lk. 19:41
INTRO: One of the great images of childhood is the city fire department. Passing by the local fire station can be very impressive, beautiful red shiny engines sit in a housed setting. Men in handsome uniforms are busy shining and testing the equipment. The setting can be very impressive until you realize what it is all about. Like one child who asked their father after passing the station frequently, "Why do all those firemen stay at that station and all day polish and look at their engines?" The father explained that they were passing the time while waiting for a fire call ... and it was important to always keep the equipment in good condition. While this works well for fire stations it is not a good model for the church and Christians!
Too often churches and Christians take this approach to ministry and evangelism ... we have our impressive shelter or buildings and we keep polished the various ministries we offer, we even keep ourselves theologically tuned-up. We apply new coats of worship to cover the rust while we wait for sinners to call in because they finally realize the fire of hell is raging in their lives! The problem with this approach is that the world is already ablaze with sin, the call came in 2,000 years ago by Jesus for the world of sinners, and the question is: "Have we responded like the destructive fires are real?" Or, are we trying to escape the responsibility to reach the lost with other excuses: "I'm not good at talking to others"..."it's not my gift"... my job is to keep the 'fire engines' shiny ... not put out fires!" etc.
PROP. SENT: The great commission of Jesus to win the lost went out to ALL believers, not some; it is every Christian's responsibility to be reaching the lost for Christ especially realizing the finality of eternity and the uncertainty of life now!
I. THE SIN OF JONAH! Jonah 1:1-3:10
A. Ca ...
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