Monday, April 16, 2007

Wow, What a Great Savior!

As I did last week, I am compelled, once again, to provide my conclusion to yesterday’s message.

For those of you who were not there, I resumed our series in the Sermon on the Mount. We studied Matthew 5:13-16. We learned three valuable lessons from the text.

First, we learned God wants to use us to influence the world.

“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.
Matthew 5:13a & 14a

Next, we learned we can lose my influence.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
Matthew 5:13

Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Matthew 5:15

Finally, we learned we must our influence to help others see Jesus.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

After explaining my tour of a privately owned, world-renown art gallery in Longview, Texas, I explained how each painting and piece of artwork had its own light to illuminate it. Not once did I look at the lights and say, “Wow, what a beautiful light!” Instead, I marveled at the painting and said, “Wow, what an incredible painting, what an incredible artist!”

Then I concluded with these words:

CrossPoint does not exist for people to say,

“Wow, what a beautiful church!”
“What great worship you have!”
“What a great praise band!”

“Your preacher is a good speaker!”
“Your pre-school and children’s ministry is so great!”
“Your student ministry is so awesome!”

“Your Sunday School class is the best one I have ever been in”
“Your new buildings are so nice!”

No, no, no, CrossPoint. We were born for a higher reason than for people to complement us. When people come to CrossPoint we want them to say, “Wow, what a great Savior!”

When they see our church, we want them to say, “Wow, what a great Savior!”
When people worship with us, we want them to say, “Wow, what a great Savior!”
When they hear our praise band, we want them to say, “Wow, what a great Savior!”
When they hear me preach, we want them to say, “Wow, what a great Savior!”
When they experience our pre-school and children’s ministry, we want them to say, “Wow, what a great Savior!”
When they experience our student ministry, we want them to say, “Wow, what a great Savior!”
When they visit your Bible study group, we want them to say, “Wow, what a great Savior!”
When they see our new buildings, we want them to say, “Wow, what a great Savior!”


Why? Why is that? Why do we want people to say that? Because CrossPoint, His church and the kingdom of God is not about us; it is not about you, it is not about me. Everything we do is about Him!

Amen…again!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

You failed to mention that the first worship was in the fellowship hall due to a power outage in the main sanctury. I loved it. It was closer to the action as they say. You don't have to be in an eloborate building or worship center to worship. It was great. The other services missed out. Where two or more are gathered......He was there. We're to be salt and light no matter the size or beauty of our facilities. Again it was great. Gay

Anonymous said...

I agree with Gay!!!
Amen to what she said.
The first service was Awesome and special.
Lynne