Calling Stay or Go?

Calling

Stay or Go?

Jesus’ last command, our first concern, can put a lot of pressure on us

If your church has a mission’s week

You have felt the need for the Gospel to go into all the earth

There are times I have felt frustrated with life and

Thought maybe I should sell all I have and relocate to share the Gospel

The message to “GO” is strong and compelling and it should be

But does it mean we should all pack up and move?

You and I are called to be salt and light

No matter where you are, you are to be salt and light

There will be a cost to go and a cost to stay

But it is not the cost we are to focus on

We are to focus on making disciples where ever we are

The Call is this, “Go make disciples”

Let’s keep focused whether we go into the world

Or, stay where we live and support the work of making disciples   

Stay or Go?

Jesus’ last command, our first concern,

 can put a lot of pressure on us.

If your church has a mission’s week,

 you have felt the need for the

Gospel to go into all the earth.

There are times I have felt frustrated

with life and thought…

 Maybe I should sell all I have

and relocate to share the Gospel.

The message to “GO” is strong

and compelling and it should be.

But does it mean we

should all pack up and move?

You and I are called to be salt and light.

That is to keep God’s commandments

as it says in 1 Corinthians 7:19-20…

Keeping God's commands is what counts.

Each one should remain in the situation

which he was in when God called him.

Paul tells the believers…

Were you a slave when you were called?

Don't let it trouble you — although if you can gain your freedom, do so.

For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave.

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brothers, each man,

as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.

1 Corinthians 21-24

The place where you are…

 Is the place God has called you to.

…each man, as responsible to God,

should remain in the situation God called him to.

I was so glad when I got a job at Jeep in the 70’s.

My struggles of supporting my family were

lifted and the hope of retirement secure.

While I was at Jeep, I ministered to people every day.

I held Bible studies, counseled fellow workers,

I was making a difference for the Kingdom of God.

Outside of my 8 hours a day,

 I served as an Elder and Pastor.

 I even traveled weekly to help build another church.

Life was full and wonderful.

The demands of the church pulled me

and I was faced with a decision.

Stay at Jeep or serve full time pastoring the church.

This was not an easy decision because I

was building the Kingdom in both places.

Strong encouragement from my wife and

others made the difference in my decision to

leave Jeep and the security that came with it.

I lived a great life at Jeep and as a pastor.

Sometimes I ask myself the question…

 What if I had stayed at Jeep?

As I have gone back into the work force

because of no retirement,

 I have thought hard about my decision.

But being in the work force again gives

me the opportunity to share the Gospel

to people the church will never reach.

So what is my answer ‘to should I have

 stayed at Jeep or left’ does not matter.

Whether at Jeep or Church,

 I am to be salt and light.

Acts 17:24-28 tells us…

 The God who made heaven and earth made you and I.

…he determined the times set for them and

the exact places where they should live.

God did this so that men would seek him

and perhaps reach out for him and find him

 God determined you for such a time as this.

This time and place you live in is by God’s design.

Not only that you might find Him,

 but that you share Him with others

right where you live, right now.

You, like me, are given choices to go or stay.

Jesus said…

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations

You can stay in the nation and the place God

planted you in or you can go to other nations.

No matter where you are…

 You are to be salt and light.

There will be a cost to go and a cost to stay.

But it is not the cost we are to focus on.

We are to focus on making

disciples where ever we are.

I have made disciples at Jeep, in Africa,

Indonesia, Mexico and the United States.

Inside the church walls and outside the walls.

At the expense of the church and at my own expense.

And every one of those lives I touched

is valuable and no one more than the other.

If you are content on making disciple

where you live, than do so with all your might.

But consider going on a short term mission trip to

expand your view of making disciple in all nations.

If you stay where you are to make disciples,

remember those who are sacrificing to

go other places to make disciples.

Remember them with prayers,

words of encouragement

and monetary gifts.

You can make a difference around the world

 from the street address where you live.

The Call is this…

 “Go make disciples”

Let’s keep focused…

 Whether we go into the world

Or, stay where we live and

support the work of making disciples.   

Scripture Reading

1 Corinthians 7:19-24 NIV

Keeping God's commands is what counts. 20 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you — although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.

Acts 17:24-28 NIV

24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."