The People Mover

March 5, 2006
Speaker: Randal Myers

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People Movers

Who is the model for the church?

We can look at how Jesus operated on the earth and learn in conceptual terms what the church is supposed to be doing today.

Christianity is spoken of as movement - progression and development

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. - 3 John 1:14

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. - 1 Corinthians 9:24

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:13-14

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. - Ephesians 4:15-16

Acts refers to the church as "The Way."

Jesus was a People Mover

Peter and Andrew (Mark 4:19-20)

The woman at the well (John 4)

Man possessed by a legion of demons (Mark 5:15)

Nicodemus (John 3)

All the Apostles

To be disciples of Jesus:

We must be moved by Jesus ourselves

As the church, we must become people movers as well.

How do we move people?

It starts with seeing the cycle of life that exists in the body of Christ
People have different needs and they need to move though the proper stages of development.

Stages of Development

Stage 1: Society

This is those who are "unchurched" or don't have a proper allegiance to Christ.

Stage 2: Seekers

These people are those whose interest is peaked by something.

They know something is out there but not what it is.

Stage 3: Saved

Those who have decided to give their lives to Jesus.

Stage 4: Searcher

These people are searching out the deeper things of God.

Philippians 3:8-11, 14

Stage 5: Servant

They are the workers in the kingdom and use their gifts for the betterment of the body.

Ephesians 4:11-13

Stage 6: Soldier

These people can carry the message to the world.

Conclusion

As the church, we have the responsibility to see that everyone who comes to us is given the opportunity to complete the life cycle.

Would you like to study this topic further?

Detailed lesson outlines, audio tapes, and compact discs of this lesson are available free of charge from the Highlands church of Christ.

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