OUTLINE OF THE SERMON, AUGUST 9, 2009

Scripture Reading: Matthew 22: 34-40; 28:16-20

Title: GROWING OR GOING (3^rd in a Series on Paradoxes)

Pastor Peter Hogeterp

Covenant Christian Reformed Church

Winnipeg, Canada

Introduction:

After Christ’s work on earth was finished and he ascended into heaven, God has a new challenge: how to get this world redeemed, from one generation to the next?

I God’s Solution-The Church:

a) Research from various cities around the world

b) Our own experience about the role of the church in our spiritual development

c) The paradox: the saved need to grow, and the unsaved need to know

d) These are not two opposite poles, but two halves of one circle

II God gives us the Great Commandment:

a) The Great Commandment has two parts: love God, love neighbour

b) The Apostle Paul helps define love for us

c) The Ten Commandments are not optional, and not multiple choice

III The Great Commission is wrapped up in the Great Commandment:

a) Go; make disciples; baptize; teach people to obey God’s commands

b) The Great Commission is not optional

c) The Great Commission is addressed to us in our generation

d) There is no choice: believers need to grow, and part of maturing is reproducing

IV Our challenge at Covenant:

a) to grow each of us into becoming increasingly obedient citizens of the Kingdom

b) to continue to make connections with people who do not know Jesus

c) Jesus gives us two reasons to be hopeful about this: all authority has been given to him, and he will be with us until the end of the age

Conclusion:

There’s no “Plan B”.