Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation

Matthew 9:35-38

04/26/2008Dr. Dane Boyles

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. (Matthew 9:35, NIV)

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36, NIV)

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38, NIV)

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation

Introduction• How many of you have seen “Lost in

Translation” with Bill Murray?• If you haven’t, it’s like trying to translate

your language into another language when you know very little about the foreign language.

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation• The spiritual climate in the US today in

the church is difficult. • Somewhere lost in translation appears

to be a rather simple yet profound question.

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation• What does it mean to be a Christian in

the year 2008? • What is the church to look like today in

authenticity and sincerity?

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation• Is the role of the church in our

community and nation to be and show Jesus?

• Could it be that sometimes in churches Jesus gets lost in translation?

• Too many churches are open for business but they’re not really sure what business they’re in.

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation

If we watch Jesus, we see how He translates God for us.• You would think something like that

would be impossible.• Jesus teaches us that our relationship

to the community is to serve it.

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation

28 The Son of man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many (Matt 20:28).

• How did Jesus accomplish such a feat?

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation

What does this tell us about Jesus?• He cares about people deeply.• Jesus touches people.• The church’s role in our community is

to be Jesus out there.• People out there need what people

always need…God in their lives!

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation• Jesus’ relational strategy.

2 “This man eats with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” (Luke 15:2)

• Jesus went around telling people the kingdom of God had already arrived (Luke 10:9), that it was in them (Luke 17:21).

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation• Religious people have always been a

problem for God!

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation

Just as Jesus translates God for us, we are to translate Jesus for our community and nation.• What was Jesus’ message?

The kingdom of God is already here!Jesus went around telling people.What has been your experience with

the Jesus?

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation

Conclusion• All of us come to Jesus one way or

another paralyzed or blind or bound in some area of our life.

• And Jesus changes that.

Our Relationship with Our Community and Nation

Matthew 9:35-38

04/26/2008Dr. Dane Boyles