Sermon Response Guide
PRIMARY SCRIPTURE:
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (NLT)
14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Key Points
- Here at PCBC, we believe we are better together.
- We’re all about Jesus and sharing the gospel.
- PCBC exists to lead all generations to love like Jesus.
- We gather and send out, to live and love like Jesus.
- 3 collective identity statements in Christ:
1) WE ARE MINISTERS of reconciliation (v. 18)
Jesus has entrusted to us the very same ministry of reconciliation he served in himself.
2) WE ARE STORYTELLERS of the gospel (v. 19)
God created us in his image as storytellers, to share the story of Jesus, and to listen for Jesus in the stories of others.
3) WE ARE AMBASSADORS for Christ (v. 20)
We are citizens of heaven serving as resident representatives of Jesus here on earth.
- We can’t be all about Jesus without sharing the gospel.
- The gospel is good news about the rescue and relationship Jesus offers each of us.
Memory Verse
Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:
“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” -2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT)
Questions for Reflection
Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:
1: Why do you think we are better together here at PCBC, and in Christ Jesus?
2: Do you believe you can be all about Jesus and not share the gospel? Why or why not?
3: Of all three collective identity statements, which one most resonates with you, and why?
4: How are you personally encouraged to know Jesus entrusted to us as his followers the exact same ministry of reconciliation he served in himself?
5: The gospel that is the power of salvation for all who believe (Romans 1:16) is a story. How does that reality help you understand your identity as a storyteller of the gospel?
6: Review our memory verse for this week (2 Corinthians 5:20). How would believing Christ speaks through us whenever we invite others to come to Jesus affect the way you view your varied encounters with others?
7: Read 1 Corinthians 9:16-27 and answer the following questions.
- What does this passage teach us about being a minister of reconciliation?
- What does this passage teach us about being a storyteller of the gospel?
- What does this passage teach us about being an ambassador for Christ?
8: Based on what you’ve learned today, what is one way you can grow as a minister, storyteller, and ambassador in Christ this week?
Pray
Lord, we confess we often continue to live for ourselves, even though you died and were raised so we could live for you. Remind us of who you have freed and empowered us to be in you. Give us the confident hope and joy we need to live today and each day as ministers of reconciliation, storytellers of the gospel, and ambassadors for Christ in this world.
