BCA-Online Homepage | Back to BCA page for AvantGo 

"Operation: Rescue" 
Pastor Rob Carlson
Sunday, February 20, 2005

Matthew 28:18-20--…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Acts 1:8--But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and will be my witnesses in Jerusalem; and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

Jerusalem—Personally reach your neighborhood
Judea & Samaria—Together reaching our community/county
Ends of the earth—Together reaching our world

1. THERE IS BUT ONE HOPE: JESUS!

I Thess. 1:10--…Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath



2. THERE IS ONE MESSAGE: GOOD NEWS!!

1. GOD BECAME A MAN SO THAT I CAN RELATE TO HIM.
Romans 1:3,4(LB)—The good news about God’s Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord who came as a human baby born into King David’s royal family line. By being raised from the dead He proved to be the might Son of God with the holy nature of God Himself.

2. JESUS DIED FOR MY SINS SO I DON’T HAVE TO.
I Corinthians 15:2-4(NLT)—It is the good news that saves you if you firmly believe it, that Christ died for our sins. He was buried and He was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said.

2 Cor. 5:19(LB)—For God was in Christ, restoring the world to himself, no longer counting men’s sins against them but blotting them out. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others.

3. JESUS DESTROYED DEATH SO I CAN HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
2 Timothy 1:10(NCV)—Jesus destroyed death and through the good news He showed us the way to have life that cannot be destroyed.

4. SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT SO I DON’T HAVE TO EARN IT. Romans 3:24-25(ICB)—People are made right with God by His grace, which is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ. God gave Jesus as a way to forgive sin through faith.

5. SALVATION IS BASED ON FAITH SO ALL I DO IS REPENT AND BELIEVE. 
Mark 1:15(NIV)—Jesus said, Repent and believe the good news!
Romans 1:17(NCV)—The good news shows how God makes people right with Himself, that it begins and ends with faith. As the scripture says, Those who are right with God will live by trusting Him.



3. THERE IS ONE ARMY: US!

1 Corinthians 5:17-21--Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins again them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.



4. THERE IS ONE RESPONSE: ACTIVE OBEDIENCE!

I Cor 9:22 (NASB)—To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.


PRAY - GIVE - GO

Small Group Discussion Questions

1. Who do you know that needs to be “set free?”

2. Review the points and Bible verses from this lesson. 
What personal application can you make from this week's teaching? 

3. How do you plan to fulfill Acts 1:8?

4. Take some time right now to pray for the needs of those in your small group.

*Scripture is quoted from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
www.bca-online.com