What's the Point? - Part 4 [Notes]

Many in our society today have concluded the church is no longer relevant. They reason that they can turn to other organizations to meet their relational needs, and they can determine their own morality and values by "looking inward." So why bother with the church? Simply, Jesus is excited about building His church, and God's people continue to be the light of the world. What we do and how we are different from the world makes the church essential to a society that is slipping further away from God.

Join us for "What's the Point?"  We will be looking at the exciting ways we are able to make a positive difference in this world!

Today's Takeaway // Our mission is the Great Commission. 

He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses.
– Psalm 103:10 (HCSB)

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name underheaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.”
– Acts 4:12 (HCSB)

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher?
– Romans 10:13-14 (HCSB)

The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:16-20 (HCSB)

Four reasons we believe Jesus is the only way to God.

1. Jesus claimed to be the only way.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
– John 14:6 (HCSB)

So Jesus said again, “I assure you: I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.
– John 10:7-9 (HCSB)

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. “This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.
– John 3:16-19 (HCSB)

2. The entire Old Testament points to Jesus.

All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”
– Acts 10:43 (HCSB)

Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
– Luke 24:27 (HCSB)

3. Jesus alone is qualified to be our Savior.

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
– Romans 10:9 (HCSB)

Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.” At that, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple complex.-
– John 8:58-59 (HCSB)

He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
– 2 Corinthians 5:21 (HCSB)

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever..."
– John 11:25a (HCSB)

1. Jesus claimed to be the only way.
2. The entire Old Testament points to Jesus.
3. Jesus alone was and is qualified to be our Savior.

4. Jesus changes lives.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.
– 2 Corinthians 5:17 (HCSB)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation everyone to who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
– Romans 1:16 (HCSB)

1. Jesus claimed to be the only way.
2. The entire Old Testament points to Jesus.
3. Jesus alone was and is qualified to be our Savior.
4. Jesus changes lives.

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn’t have the Son of God does not have life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
– 1 John 5:11-13 (HCSB)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
– 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (HCSB)

1. How would you respond to people who say all religions are the same or that different religions represent different paths to the same God? (How do we know these statements aren’t true?)
2. Read John 14:6, John 10:7-9 and Acts 4:12. Why do Christians believe that only through Jesus can we receive the gift of eternal life?
3. Read Matthew 28:16-20, Romans 10:9-10, 14-15 and 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. Have you ever had an opportunity to share your faith with someone else? How did it go?
4. Why is it important we share our faith with other people? Why do you think people sometimes get angry when we share the gospel?
5. Read 1 Peter 3:15. How can we be better prepared to lovingly communicate the gospel message with others?

This is Our God // Miracle in Me // Good Grace // Hope of the Ages

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