Difference Maker: Where Do I Start?
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
2 Peter 3:9-10 (NLT)
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
Last week, we started our series, Difference Makers, talking about the God-given duty and responsibility we all have to make a difference – a positive difference – in our world today through the Gospel. We discussed the four characteristics of a difference maker:
1. They change their thinking
2. They put others first
3. They look for ways to help
4. They start from the perspective of Christ.
Where do I start?
1. Know who you are
– a Christ follower
– What is a Christ Follower
A. One who has believed and received the Gospel story of Jesus [His death, burial, resurrection], has followed Jesus in baptism, is obeying all that Jesus taught, and is helping others do the same
– The Gospel story (Good News)
1 Corinthians 15:1-4a Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures…
– Believing and Receiving
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Romans 10:9-13 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
B. One who is loving God with their heart, soul, mind, strength and loving others like Jesus
Matthew 22:37
Jesus said to him, ” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
2. Know who they are
– those whom Christ died for
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
– Look at the people with whom you live, work, and play near
– Make a prayer list of those people you know who are far from God or don’t know God and pray fervently for them
3. Know what your job is
– To Tell