moves PREACHING THAT
THREE
KEYTHEMES TOCONSIDER:
Considercraftingsermonsandmessagesaroundpredominant themesinScriptureonGod’sheartforthevulnerable.
Ourpreachingandteachingarerootedinthistruthanddrivenbytheambitiontoseethepeople ofGoddeeplycelebratingtheloveofGodandthenwidelydemonstratingthatlovetothemost vulnerablearoundus
OurdoingforothersisultimatelyrootedinwhatGodhasdoneforusthroughJesus We’re compelledbythegospel,whichremindsusthatwecarebecausewehavebeengreatlycaredfor byJesus Thisistheessenceofourpreaching:thepowerofthegospeltotransform
OURPRIMARYGOALASTHECHURCHISNOT RECRUITMENTORACTIVISM,BUTDISCIPLESHIP. WeDOinresponsetowhatGodhasDONE.
Themes
Godincarnates.
AllthroughoutScriptureweseeaGodwhomovestoward hardplacesandstrugglingpeople ThisisGod’sconsistent methodofoperation
Intheincarnation,Godsays,“Iseeyouwhere youare,andI’mcomingafteryou!”
OurmovingtowardthevulnerablethenputstheheartofGod ondisplayinvividly“pureandundefiled”ways(James1:27).
“Thevirginwillconceive andgivebirthtoason, andtheywillcallhim Immanuel(which means‘Godwithus’)”
MATTHEW1:23
“TheWordbecame fleshandmadehis dwellingamongus…”
JOHN1:14
PREACHINGTHAT Godwelcomes.
WhenGodmovestowardusinourneed,itisalwayswithinHis characterasagoodFathertowelcomeusintothesecurity andprovisionofHisfamily WearenowHisdearlylovedsons anddaughters
Whetherthroughadoption,fostercareoranotherform ofopeningourlives,ourfamiliesandevenourhomes, welcomingothersisacorrectandnecessaryresponse toGodwelcomingus.
Godprotects.
“Afathertothefatherless, adefenderofwidows,isGod inHisholydwelling.Godsets thelonelyinfamilies…”
PSALM68:5-6
“Tothosewhobelieved inHisname,Hegave therighttobecome childrenofGod”
JOHN1:12
GodguardsusinHisstrongandmightyarmsofprotection,fendingoffthatwhichseeksto destroyusanddefeatingthatwhichwearepowerlesstofightonourown.
“Hedefends thecause ofthefatherless.”
DEUTERONOMY10:18
Itiswithinthisplaceofsafetyandsecuritythatwearetheninvitedto“… seekjustice…defendtheoppressed.Takeupthecauseofthefatherless; pleadthecaseofthewidow”(Isaiah1:17).
Wehavebeenthebeneficiariesofthestrongandmightyprotectionof GodasourFather.So,weprotect.
Inourpreaching,we:
PointpeopletotheworkofJesus. ReinforceournewidentityasthosewhodoforotherswhatJesushasdoneforus. Giveclearpathwaysforourpeopletotakenextsteps.
Afewadditionalresourcesforpreachingandteaching:
[SERMON] “APureandUndefiledReflection”byJasonJohnson,CAFO Afull-lengthsermonaboutthegospel’simplicationsinourlivesanditsinvitationstomove towardsthevulnerablearoundus.
[PODCAST]“FathertotheFatherless”byDavidPlatt,PastorandAuthor Inthisepisode,Plattremindsusthatthegospelisthesolutiontothefostercrisis.Inorderto reflectHimtotheworld,wemustreflectHisheartforthevulnerable.
[WORKSHOP]“PreachingabouttheGospelandGod’sHeartfortheVulnerable” byJasonJohnson,CAFOandPastorsAlexBlakeandRenautvanderRiet ACAFOSummitworkshoponhowtoeffectively,humblyandbiblically communicateGod’sheartforthevulnerable Freedownloadcode:CAFO24-PREACH
