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[This is dual-audience material – first part for children, second part for adults]

Can you think of someone who’s famous and really keen on something and is always talking about it? >>> (ideas from children only)

What are they known for?

Examples

Alisha Dixon <ppt> – dancing

Patrick Moore <ppt> – astronomy

Jessica Ennis <ppt> – after a race she gets into a wheely bin full of ice – it’s how she chills out! <ppt>

Usain Bolt <ppt> – Passionate about running

he is a committed Christian and every time he races he publicly thanks God at the end of the race

It is strange that on the TV they chose to narrate in minute detail every minute of the countdown: as the clock was ticking, they filmed him on CCTV and followed his every move.

• They described Bolt’s events and focused on the man and his achievements like they have no other athlete. We were given insights into his family life, with comments by his brother, parents and coach. The focus on the personal has been intense.
• But not one mention of Bolt’s faith.
• While he was manifestly thanking God on his knees for his gold medal victory, the BBC presenter spun this spontaneous act of worship as Bolt having ‘a moment to himself’. This manifestly blurs the significance for the viewer.
• This is what Bolt tweeted: <ppt>

Here is a man who wants everyone who follows him to know that he follows Jesus Christ!

That’s how the message of Jesus spreads, one person telling another

Paper exercise: <ppt>

Whenever you get a piece of paper tear it in half and give each half away to different people who haven’t got one yet.

This is how the good news of Jesus Christ spreads today <ppt>

people being passionate about him – and talking about him.

Examples: (follow <ppt>)

John <ppt> >>>

Andrew <ppt> >>>

Simon Peter <ppt> >>>

And had Peter not done that the chances are you and I would never have heard about Jesus Christ.

Who can you tell?

Adults message

Series on Thriving Church

A church thrives when Godliness is infectious.

We talked about us being passionate / enthusiastic about knowing Jesus with the children – however … there is a more adult message here

We talked with the children in about people telling one another about Jesus Christ and how his message went viral, but that begs a question –

• Why did people listen to their friends and neighbours when they spoke about Jesus?
• Probably the most obvious reason is the changed lives they saw.

A comment that’s made repeatedly about Jesus is ‘he taught with authority’ and that authority was graphically demonstrated as people were set free and healed when he ministered to them.

It’s no wonder the message of God’s rescue for us that Jesus was preaching just went viral

Let me give you some idea about how quickly the message of Jesus went viral. <ppt>

Mark’s gospel

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry he healed a man and told him to be discrete about it – but there was no way that he going to keep this to himself

Mark 1:45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Mark 2:1-2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.

Mark 2:13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.

Mark 3:7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, but a large crowd from Galilee followed.

Mark 3:20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.

Mark 4:1-2 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered round him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables,

Mark 5:21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered round him while he was by the lake.

Jesus then multiplies food to feed the crowd …

Mark 6:44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

So total crown approx 10,000 – and the same happened with a different crowd in ch 8

Mark 8:8-9 The people ate and were satisfied. … 9 About four thousand men were present.

It’s hard for us with our city-dwelling lifestyle to grasp how enormously popular and influential Jesus had become

• I went to Wembley last week to watch the Olympic football 88,155 attendance <ppt>
• There are about 28 times as many people on the planet today as there were then, so scaling it up, Jesus crowd was the equivalent today of filling Wembley stadium three times over – and it was all done by word of mouth!
• [population then – 250 million, today 7,000 million, crowd of 10,000 then => crowd today of 280,000. Capacity of Wembley – 90,000]

So what is this infectious, compelling faith and lifestyle that Jesus brought us from God himself?

True Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship

• a relationship with God via Jesus Christ

We sometimes hear about ‘gentle Jesus meek and mild’ but let’s never forget he was arguably the greatest leader who ever walked the planet

• he ministered for 3 years, never wrote a book or started and organisation but his message has changed the world – today over 1/3 of the world’s population owe their allegiance to him in one form or another.
• As a leader He has no peer in human history. Nobody else (be it Marx, Buddha or Mohammed) even comes close!

What is it that is so infectious about true Christianity why is it so compelling?

(of course I know that things have been said and done in the name of Christianity that genuine Christians would want to distance themselves from – e.g. crusades)

True Christian faith is not a matter of rituals or trying to believe things against my better judgement.

It’s summed up in the verse that Anthony and Julia asked me to read for their dedication

Deut 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Three facets of Christianity that I hope will help you (and be a reminder for those of us for whom it’s become a little hazy!)

True Christianity <ppt>

1. to know God personally <ppt>

It’s fascinating to see in the Bible, to see how people talked about the Lord in such personal terms.

E.g. David – Psalm 23

• the Lord is my shepherd – I shall lack nothing – he makes me to lie in green pasture
• even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me.

When did you last talk to the Lord like that?

Jesus – high priestly prayer

John 17:3 <ppt> Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

This is deep, intimate knowledge

• like that of a close brothers – husband and wife
• You know the way your partner will act / react

E.g. Rosi and I sometimes think of the same idea at the same time

• nothing magical about this it’s just that we’ve grown to love, and understand each other
• our minds and hearts beat at the same speed – in the same direction
• That’s What Jesus meant by knowing God
• your heart beats in time with his
• your desires come to coincide with his

“delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalms)

Does this mean I can get what I want out of God? – NO!

• it means that as I grow as a Christian my heart is going to be more like His
• so my desires will

There is no satisfaction so deep as knowing that I’m right with God and walking with him.

2. to have Jesus as my Lord <ppt>

NT word for ‘Lord’ is one we don’t use too much today

Lord carries the idea of a manager

E.g. Shop ‘under new management’

• new direction, new concepts

There is something wonderfully new about starting the Christian life!

2Corinthians 5:17 <ppt> Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Lord => One who sets the agenda. >>>

E.g. driving seat picture. >>>

3. to be filled with the Spirit

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is normal for the Christian.

• anything less is abnormal or subnormal.

Paul talks about this both positively and negatively.

+ve Rom 5:5

Romans 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Jesus said it was essential for hi to leave in order that the Holy Spirit could come

• the HS is intended to more than make up for the lack of Jesus bodily presence.

-ve Rom 8:9

Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

What are the results of having the Holy Spirit?

• of a genuine relationship with God?
• of having Jesus as Lord?

What’s it like to be on the inside of the Christian fence?

Pray >>>

if you prayed, write your name on welcome card and give it to me or hand in and we’ll get in touch to help you to the next step.