HEALING OUR FRACTURED WORLD

HEALING OUR FRACTURED WORLD

Jupiter’s moon Europa's Disconnected Surface

Mel Blanc (voice of Bugs, Daffy, etc) takes a humorous look at our fallen world in need of change

Main Point: The Good News Brings Healing!

Main Point: The Good News Brings Healing!

And just what is the good news?Romans 1:16 (Message Bible) It's news I'm most proud to

proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else!

And just what is the good news?Romans 1:16 (Message Bible) It's news I'm most proud to

proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else!

TAKE HOMETAKE HOME• I realize that the world is fallen.

Fractured. Hurting. Meaningful relationships have been broken.

• God has authorized and empowered only one group to bring healing and wholeness to the world –we are it.

• My power to help others is through the Holy Spirit as I share God’s Good News.

• I realize that the world is fallen. Fractured. Hurting. Meaningful relationships have been broken.

• God has authorized and empowered only one group to bring healing and wholeness to the world –we are it.

• My power to help others is through the Holy Spirit as I share God’s Good News.

THE FALLPARADISE

LOST

THE FALLTHE FALL

• The traditional name for the first sin of Adam and Eve (relationship break with God) which brought judgment upon both nature and humanity.

• Eden is the story of all of us for “all have sinned.” --We are all fallen.

• The traditional name for the first sin of Adam and Eve (relationship break with God) which brought judgment upon both nature and humanity.

• Eden is the story of all of us for “all have sinned.” --We are all fallen.

THE UPSIDE OF THE GENESIS STORY

THE UPSIDE OF THE GENESIS STORY

• People are the dominion-havers created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-28).

• Women and Men are placed on earth with a purpose and mission (Gen. 1:28).

• The biblical understanding of dominion suggests a serving stewardship rather than mere power (Matt. 20:25-28).

• People are the dominion-havers created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-28).

• Women and Men are placed on earth with a purpose and mission (Gen. 1:28).

• The biblical understanding of dominion suggests a serving stewardship rather than mere power (Matt. 20:25-28).

Genesis 1:26-28 (NLT)Genesis 1:26-28 (NLT)Then God said, “Let us make people in our

image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life —the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals.”

[27] So God created people in his own image;God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them. [28] God blessed them and told them, "Multiplyand fill the earth and subdue it. Be mastersover the fish and birds and all the animals.

Then God said, “Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life —the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals.”

[27] So God created people in his own image;God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them. [28] God blessed them and told them, "Multiplyand fill the earth and subdue it. Be mastersover the fish and birds and all the animals.

But, what kind of masters?

Jesus clarifies…

But, what kind of masters?

Jesus clarifies…

Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT)Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT)

But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them.

[26] But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, [27] and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. [28] For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them.

[26] But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, [27] and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. [28] For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

In what way are we to be servant-leaders?

How are we to “be masters” with authority to subdue the world?

Jesus clarifies…

In what way are we to be servant-leaders?

How are we to “be masters” with authority to subdue the world?

Jesus clarifies…

Matthew 28:18-19 (NLT) Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8 (NLT) But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Matthew 28:18-19 (NLT) Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8 (NLT) But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

That right! Evangelism!The very same mission of Jesus.Good News brings healing!

Matthew 11:5 (NRSV) (Jesus said to tell John) “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”

That right! Evangelism!The very same mission of Jesus.Good News brings healing!

Matthew 11:5 (NRSV) (Jesus said to tell John) “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”

JESUS’ MISSION STATEMENT

Luke 4:18-19 (Message Bible) see Is 61:1-2

God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind,To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, "This is God's year to act!"

JESUS’ MISSION STATEMENT

Luke 4:18-19 (Message Bible) see Is 61:1-2

God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind,To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, "This is God's year to act!"

The Holman Bible Dictionarydefines Evangelism:

The Holman Bible Dictionarydefines Evangelism:

Evangelism is derived from the Greek word euaggelion, meaning “gospel” or “good news.” The verbal forms of euaggelizesthai, meaning “to bring” or “to announce good news” occur some fifty-five times (Acts 8:4, 25, 35; 11:20) and are normally translated with the appropriate form of the word “preach.” Evangelism has to do with the proclamation of the message of good news.

Evangelism is derived from the Greek word euaggelion, meaning “gospel” or “good news.” The verbal forms of euaggelizesthai, meaning “to bring” or “to announce good news” occur some fifty-five times (Acts 8:4, 25, 35; 11:20) and are normally translated with the appropriate form of the word “preach.” Evangelism has to do with the proclamation of the message of good news.

“To announce good news” occurs some 55 times in Acts, But was it the plan of God in the Hebrew Scriptures?

“To announce good news” occurs some 55 times in Acts, But was it the plan of God in the Hebrew Scriptures?

Answer: Yes!…Answer: Yes!…

1 Kings 8:41 (NLT) "And when foreigners hear of you and come from distant lands to worship your great name”

Psalm 22:27-28 (NLT) The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.People from every nation will bow down before him.

1 Kings 8:41 (NLT) "And when foreigners hear of you and come from distant lands to worship your great name”

Psalm 22:27-28 (NLT) The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.People from every nation will bow down before him.

What can happen when we get comfortable and don’t evangelize?

What can happen when we get comfortable and don’t evangelize?

Answer: God allows the world to rattle our cage!

Answer: God allows the world to rattle our cage!

Acts 8:1-4 (NLT)Saul was one of the official witnesses at

the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem… [3] Saul was going everywhere to devastate the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into jail.

Saul was one of the official witnesses at the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem… [3] Saul was going everywhere to devastate the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into jail.

[4] But [4] But the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus.

[4] But the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus.

•Notice:

1. Believers did not us their authority to kill Saul.

2. They did not use their authority to take over government.

3. They used their authority to spread good news.

•Notice:

1. Believers did not us their authority to kill Saul.

2. They did not use their authority to take over government.

3. They used their authority to spread good news.

•FACTS:

1. ALL of Jesus’ miracles & healings happen in the context of sharing the Good News.

2. ALL signs and wonders in Acts happened while proclaiming the Good News.

3. Therefore, ONLY through the Good News do believers have power, dominion and authority.

•FACTS:

1. ALL of Jesus’ miracles & healings happen in the context of sharing the Good News.

2. ALL signs and wonders in Acts happened while proclaiming the Good News.

3. Therefore, ONLY through the Good News do believers have power, dominion and authority.

Paul puts it this way:

Romans 15:18-19 (NRSV) For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, [19] by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ.

Paul puts it this way:

Romans 15:18-19 (NRSV) For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, [19] by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ.

TAKE HOMETAKE HOME

• I realize that the world is fallen. Fractured. Hurting. Meaningful relationships have been broken.

• God has authorized and empowered only one group to bring healing and wholeness to the world –we are it.

• My power to help others is through the Holy Spirit as I share God’s Good News.

• I realize that the world is fallen. Fractured. Hurting. Meaningful relationships have been broken.

• God has authorized and empowered only one group to bring healing and wholeness to the world –we are it.

• My power to help others is through the Holy Spirit as I share God’s Good News.