Our God is a missionary God. He is building a Kingdom, restoring broken lives, and making all things new. And the Bible teaches that he accomplishes his mission through his people - the church. Our God is a sending God. Before Jesus ascended, he said to his disciples, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." So we are here on earth to partner with God in his mission of making disciples of all nations. Unfortunately, our tendency is to develop an inward focus and forget about the very people we are supposed to reach. In this series, subtitled "Living Missionally Everyday," Mike Osborne will give honest, practical wisdom from the book of Matthew on how we as a church and as individuals can become more externally focused. Our inspiration will be Jesus himself. How did he do mission? What does it look like to be a blessing to our community? How can we love people who have been turned off by Christians' evangelistic efforts? Let's learn from Jesus and "Get Out."
In this, the last message of his series "Living Missionally Everyday," Mike Osborne suggests that in the Great Commission are at least four reasons why followers of Jesus need have no fears about spreading the gospel. The resurrected Lord sends us into the world with his Spirit, his Word, his Church, and his promise to always be with us. For those who need encouragement to be about the task of evangelism, Jesus' last words in Matthew will provide it.
The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 is one of Jesus' best-known parables. In compelling fashion, Jesus offers both warning and encouragement about his future return. The parable gives comfort to those who are timid and warning to those who, like the third servant in the story, are lazy and unfaithful. Are you using the gifts and opportunities God has given you? This sermon by Pastor Mike Osborne will give you new reasons to be more faithful in your calling.
Peter asks Jesus an honest question: "We have left everything to follow you. What then will there be for us?" You might expect Jesus to deflect the question or, worse, to condemn Peter for asking it. But instead, Jesus explains that rewards come to those who serve faithfully. In this message, Mike Osborne gives three truths that clarify the Biblical teaching about rewards. Be encouraged.
One of the most dramatic episodes in the earthly life of Jesus was the Transfiguration. Peter, James, and John were given the inestimable privilege of seeing a display of God's glory that served to prepare them for the trials to come. What did the Transfiguration mean for the disciples who witnessed it, and how does it benefit believers today? Listen and learn.
This is one of the sermons in the "Get Out: Living Missionally Every Day" series. Matt Ryman calls Christians to not only live missionally, but to do so with urgency. The hope is that after hearing this message, you will feel a new or revitalized sense of urgency for preaching the gospel to your neighbors and to the nations.
It might be "trendy" to speak about social justice in the church today, but there is no doubt that the Bible calls followers of Jesus to adopt a lifestyle of justice toward the poor and marginalized. It is not something Christians can delegate to the government and secular institutions. If the kingdom of Jesus is a kingdom of justice, believers must "spend themselves" (Isaiah 58:10) on behalf of the powerless. In this message, Mike Osborne brings Old and New Testament passages together to show the biblical basis for social justice, and offers some foundational principles for creating a culture of justice in our church.
The early church faced a crisis. People's feelings were hurt. The peace and purity of the church were at stake. So the apostles quickly called for a congregational meeting, and recommended that the church elect deacons to help take care of the situation. In this message, Mike Osborne explains what the crisis was and relates it to the need today for godly, gospel-centered elders and deacons.
In this message from Matthew 9, Mike Osborne teaches on the way Jesus models compassion for hurting people. To Jesus, people were more than just a number. He saw beneath the skin to the wounded heart. Missional living requires the same of us.
In this message, Mike Osborne teaches on two of Jesus' clearest statements about the temporal nature of earthly possessions. In contrast to those who would store up treasures on earth, Jesus told his followers to store up treasures in heaven. What did Jesus mean? Is it really possible, given today's economic uncertainties, to be generous and sacrificial with money? Included in this message is an update on UPC's financial picture and an overview of the budget for fiscal year 2010-2011.
Pastor Mike Osborne begins a new sermon series from the Gospel of Matthew with an overview of what it means to live missionally. In Matthew 4, Jesus calls us to follow him and become fishers of people. What does that look like exactly? Does it mean we have to leave our jobs and homes and go across the ocean to another country? Or are there principles of missional living that apply right here where you live? What "nets" are you holding on to, and who are your "Gentiles"? All those questions are answered in this sermon entitled "The Call."