S2T1: Challenge to Faithful Discipleship #sermon #dumcMY #fb

Pastor Dr. Daniel Ho, 08/01/2012
This is the Anniversary Gift Weekend and we are trusting God for RM4 million.

The sermon is the first in the S2T1 series or Study in Studies in 2 Timothy (S2T): Paul’s Last Words (Discipleship & Leadership Development)


2Ti 2:1-8  You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  (2)  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.  (3)  Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  (4)  No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer.  (5)  Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.  (6)  The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.  (7)  Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.  (8)  Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,

2011 has gone so fast. It’s like a toilet roll, the faster we use the faster it goes away. (There’s a new roll once the 2011 roll is gone. ~Loong.) Pastor Daniel said every year is better than the last and the best is yet to come. (I remember one camp speaker during a CBC camp said, 好戏在后头.)

Last year, we lay foundation, we built depth. In 2012, we build distance. There are 3 elements – making disciples, multiply leaders and in a certain kind of culture.

“All of us in DUMC are serious disciples of Christ.” ~Pastor Daniel.

(Continuation from the sermon last week)

Commission of Christ

• To make disciples of all nations (nations in Greek here is ethne or people groups.)

1. Status of the Great Commission

There are 16,700 people groups in the world. Considering people group less than 2% committed to Christ as unreached, then 90% of them are unreached.
The most unreached people groups are in the 10/40 window (latitude 10 to 40 degree North.)

2. The Gospel to the Ends of the Earth

The Coca-cola vision

“A bottle of Coca-cola in every hand.”

How can we do this?

1. Bible Translation – the Bible is the book translated into the most number of languages.
2. Movies – the movie translated into most languages is the Jesus movie. 6.5 million people have seen it.
3. Radio broadcasting

Is Christianity growing / declining or stagnant? Evangelical Christianity is growing 2 times faster than other religions. People are hungry for truth.

3. Dramatic Recent Progress

Philippines – 3000 churches in 1975 and 55000 in 2005. Expected 10,000 cross cultural workers in 2010.
China – less than  1 million believers in 1048. 125 million in 2010. There are more Christians in China that in North America. Over 12,000 new Chinese believers every day! There is a great need for pastoral training.
多一个基督徒在中国，多一个好人在中国！

Developing world missions initiatives

21000 in Latin America, Nigeria 15,000, China 50,000, South Korea 30,000, Philippines 10,000.

4. Challenges of the Unfinished Task

1. Spiritual Challenge
   
2. Population Challenge – so many people!
   
3. People Group Challenge – language, traditional beliefs.
   
4. Political / national Challenge – closed country, physical and spiritual starvation of 23 million in North Korea alone.
   
5. Resource Challenge – only 1 our of 10 missionaries are found in unreached people group. Of every $1 donated, only $0.01 goes to unreached people groups.
   

No one should be denied the opportunity to hear the good news. Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice when there are still some who have not heard it at all.
Rev 7:9  After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.


(I thought Pastor Daniel has finished. He has not.)

The Command to multiply leaders

• To multiple leaders effectively (2 Tim 2:2)

We must always think 2 generations of leaders, at a span of 50 to 60 years. Leadership is vital in any organizations.

Here in DUMC, we want to make sure everything is done with a spirit of excellence. The CEO of Microsoft Singapore commented that the Dream Centre is well designed even down to the most minute details, including the toilets.

Characteristics of a leader

• People with endurance (2 Tim 2:3)
• To guard against entangement (2 Tim 2:4)

What can distract us?

Relationship - if you are married, don't fool around with a colleague of the opposite sex.

Addiction - computer games or pornography. The latter is no respecter of man. Addictions can include smoking.

Greed - Watch out for get rich quick schemes. Guard against our heart. If we want a lot of money, work hard and work honestly.

• Play by the rules (v5)
• Hardworking (v6)

To make disciples and multiply leaders In a Certain Kind of Culture

A culture is

• the glue that binds the body / organizations together.
• the sum total of all behaviours, attitudes and styles of people, programmes and services.
• what people see and experience.

The culture DUMC seeks to cultivate

1. Humility. We don't throw our weight around. It is developed and grown by serving other people, especially those who are deemed lower to us in the society.
2. Holiness. We cannot live powerful lives when we don't live a holy life.
3. Authenticity. Be real. Genuine. No pretence. When there is authenticity, we have authority.
4. Generosity. It is God who enables us to give. A generous person is never grumpy and grouchy.
5. Faith. A real strong faith in God to believe in the impossible and sometimes even improbable. We want to build a faithful atmosphere.
6. Courage. Challenges are great. We are not fighting against flesh and blood but the principalities.
7. Servanthood. We seek to build up authentic servants who help others. When DUMC is made up of servants, it will be not just a good church but a great church, a fantastic church. See a need, fill it, see a hurt, heal it.