Our Vision: The ConvergenceOur Vision: The Convergenceof the Way of the Crossof the Way of the CrossThe Way of the Cross Series [2]The Way of the Cross Series [2]

Selected ScripturesSelected Scriptures

September 22, 2013September 22, 2013

Pastor Paul K. KimPastor Paul K. Kim

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE WORLD?

• A refreshingly truthful answer: G. K. Chesterton’s reply.

Dear Sirs,

I am.

Sincerely yours,

G. K. Chesterton

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE WORLD?

• A refreshingly truthful answer: G. K. Chesterton’s reply. “I am.” Do you want to change the world? Then, start with

yourself!

• The “frog-in-the-kettle-being-slowly-heated-up” syndrome: 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Are the local churches changing the world? Or is the world

changing the local churches? The lure of the permeating culture of MAN-CENTERED WAY is subtle but deadly (e.g., consumerism).

The gospel of Jesus Christ is still the “GOOD NEWS” to ALL (Rom. 1:17; 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 4:7).

• Restoring God-given vision and power as a local church: How? The true answer is in the gospel—the way of the the cross. Hence, we are to seek GOD-CENTEREDNESS in our

perspectives, goals, and ways in building a local church.

THE CONVERGENCE OF TWO SIDES OF CHRIST’S VISION FOR THE CHURCH

1) Christ’s Vision #1: TO BE A SANCTIFIED PEOPLE OF GOD as the bride of Christ.

25 ...as Christ loved the church and gave himself upfor her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having

cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he

might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or

wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without

blemish.Ephesians 5:25-27

The church is the bride of Christ; the purpose of our salvation is for God to sanctify us as “holy and unblemished” for the heavenly union with Christ for eternity (Rev. 19 & 21)!

7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory,

for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;8 it was granted her to clothe herselfwith fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

Revelation 19:7-8 

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the

throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm

branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud

voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the

Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10

THE CONVERGENCE OF TWO SIDES OF CHRIST’S VISION FOR THE CHURCH

1) Christ’s Vision #1: TO BE A SANCTIFIED PEOPLE OF GOD as the bride of Christ.

25 ...as Christ loved the church and gave himself upfor her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle

or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:25-27

The church is the bride of Christ; the purpose of our salvation is for God to sanctify us as “holy and unblemished” for the heavenly union with Christ for eternity (Rev. 19 & 21)!

Christ’s vision is for the church to be transformed to his image, being radically different from the world (John 17:17).

We cannot transform the world unless we ourselves are being transformed (Rom. 12:2; 1 Pet. 1:14-16).

THE CONVERGENCE OF TWO SIDES OF CHRIST’S VISION FOR THE CHURCH

2) Christ’s Vision #2: TO BE CHRIST’S WITNESSES as change-agents of Christ.

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing

them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

The other side of Christ’s vision for the church is to go into the world as his witness—it is his “Great Commission” to us.

Being Christ’s witness involves changing the world with the message of the gospel and the quality of the gospel-living.

We are to live as Christ-sent people to transform the world genuinely, humbly, yet boldly with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

THE CONVERGENCE OF TWO SIDES OF CHRIST’S VISION FOR THE CHURCH

3) CrossWay’s Vision: THE CONVERGENCE OF TWO SIDES OF CHRIST’S VISION as a local church.

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs

were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were

together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their

possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had

need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in

their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added

to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47

THE CONVERGENCE OF TWO SIDES OF CHRIST’S VISION FOR THE CHURCH

3) CrossWay’s Vision: THE CONVERGENCE OF TWO SIDES OF CHRIST’S VISION as a local church.

43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles . . .

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added

to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:43, 47

The two purposes of the church are actually one converging vision of Christ’s desire and empowerment for the church.

We, as a local church, must pursue this twofold vision as one passion—being Christ’s community for transformation and impact for the world as well as for ourselves (Matt. 5:1-16)!

For this reason, the vision of CrossWay Church is to:BE Christ’s transforming community that impacts ourselves, our neighbors, and our world for the glory of God and his kingdom.

THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRIST’S TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY

• SALTINESS: A qualitatively different life, community, and church.

• CONGRUENCE: God-centeredness in all ways (ends/means, rhetoric/practice, etc.)

 • COUNTER-CULTURE: A Kingdom-minded/missional mindset.

AN OVERVIEW OF “THE WAY OF THE CROSS” SERIES

September 15 – December 11. Why Choose the Way of the Cross?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Our Vision: The Convergence of the Way of the Cross [TODAY]

3. Saltiness: The Quality of the Way of the Cross

4. Congruence: The Integrity of the Way of the Cross

5. Counter-Culture: The Mindset of the Way of the Cross__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Scripture Guidance: The Authority of the Way of the Cross

7. Spirit Dependence: The Power of the Way of the Cross 

8. Real Transformation: The Fruit of the Way of the Cross

9. Authentic Community: The Love of the Way of the Cross__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10.Seven Core Practices: The Strategy for the Way of the Cross

A Serious and Urgent Call for the ChurchWe need to get the failures of the church on our conscience, to feel the offence to Christ and the world which these failures are, to weep over the credibility gap between the church’s talk and the church’s walk, to repent of our readiness to excuse and even condone our failures and to determine to do something about it. I wonder if anything is more urgent today, for the honour of Christ and for the spread of the gospel, than that the church should be, and should be seen to be, what by God’s purpose and Christ’s achievement it already is—a single new humanity, a model of human community, a family of reconciled brothers and sisters who love their Father and love each other, the evident dwelling place of God by his Spirit. Only then will the world believe in Christ as Peacemaker. Only then will God receive the glory due to his name.

― John R. W. Stott

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

1. In what ways can I become vigilant against the “frog-in-the-kettle-being-slowly-heated-up” syndrome? As a local church?

2. What would it mean for me to I seek my own transformation/sanctification? How can I embrace our vision and contribute more to building a transforming community at CrossWay?

3. In what ways can I seek to be a more effective witness for Christ in character/life as well as in words? How can I participate in increasing our church’s impact on ourselves, neighbors and our world for Christ?