Summary of Turn Outward
Passage – 2 Corinthians 5:13-16.
“There are five Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the Christian, but most people never read the first four.” -Rodney Smith, 19th century evangelist.
You cannot live the life God is calling you to live – if you don’t have the same orientation and perspective.
Southridge 2020:
Southride will turn out ward and live God’s purpose so our community will experience God.
God often asks that his people do seemingly “crazy” things.
Examples: the prophets, Abraham, Gideon, Paul, etc.
2 Corinthians — what did it mean for Paul to follow Christ even into doing some crazy things?
Paul’s rationale:
—Christ’s love compels and controls.
—Christ’s love is so strong that you can’t ignore it.
—The Gospel.
When we experience the freedom of salvation, our whole perspective changes from inward focus to turning outward. We see people and our response is “how do I love and help this person?”
We all have an outward
This is an orientation that God wants us to be looking towards to reach out to.
There are 3 Circles of Outward in the life of everyone:
1. No choice circle — people who are in your life whether you like it or not — family, neighbours, coworkers, classmates.
2. Choice circle — people you like and choose to have in your life — your friends.
3. Coincidental circle — the people who are brought by God into your live for brief moments; your cashier, hairdresser, etc.
What is your outward?
No one else’s outward will look exactly like yours (not even your spouse’s.) God has uniquely positioned you.
Who in your outward does not know Christ?
The two responses:
1. Identify your outward (who they are).
2. Impact your outward (step out in faith and act).
What stops us?
What prevents us from risking to impact our outward? Why are we apathetic, scared, insecure? We have not been compelled by the love of Christ.
If the love of Christ compels you, you will see people the way God sees them and you will be controlled by God’s love in such a way that you act to impact your outward.
About this Message Series
This is a message in the message series This is who we are. You belong here. The goal of this series is to discuss and explain SouthRidge’s mission statement — Love God, change the World, one life at time — and introduce the new 2020 vision statement. This series was started in September 2015.
About the speaker
Brent is the lead pastor here at SouthRidge. He and his wife Pam were part of the original church plant.