Our Role as Christian Professionals in the Market

Place and the Church

Who was in the Centre of Jesus’ life while he lived on earth?

Who is the centre of your life

What is the purpose of your life

Holy Spirit: To bring everyone in the World to Jesus

Our Challenge: To bring Jesus to everyone in the world

Church work (adminstrators, officers who work either full or part time to get the church organization going)

Work of the Church. Our call to evangelize the world. In Eph 4 we have calling into different office, In Rom 12 we have received different giftings. In Gal 5 we have freedom to pool our gifts together to build an effective local church.

Call to His service

It is not permissible for anyone to be idle We are called by Jesus

◦ To work in his vineyard◦ To take an active, conscientious and responsible

part in the Great Commission (Matt 28: 18-20)

The World, not the church becomes the place and the means for each of us to fulfill our Christian vocation, because the world itself is destined to glorify God the Father in Christ

Is 2:2-5, And it will come about in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord will be placed on the top of the mountains, and be lifted up over the hills; and all nations will come to it.

Ps 27:1a, ¶ <Of David.> The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Is 60:19 The sun will not be your light by day, and the moon will no longer be bright for you by night: but the Lord will be to you an eternal light, and your God your glory.

John 8:12-I am the light of world

I am the light of the world

Matt 5:14 You are the light of the world. A town put on a hill may be seen by all.

Light is meant to be seen- it is also to enable people around to see

Our good deeds/works must be seen (agathos-good in quality)

Light may differ in intensity-what is your wattage. 40-60-100

You are the light of the world

The candle does not light itself- We are lit by Jesus

The candle does not position itself-We are positioned by Jesus. Immediately you consider that you determine your position by yourself you are bound to fail

On what basis do you change jobs” professions. What determines the choices you make

God has a plan and a purpose for your life You have a significant role in God’s

masterplan (1Pet2:9) You can’t keep quiet (Es4:14) Moses made a choice that required faith The slave girl in Naaman House intervention

brings healing to a great man

Isaiah 53   Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the

LORD been revealed?   Acts 26: 1-3   Paul before King Agrippa 1…so Paul motioned with his hand and

began his defense:   2”King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you

today as I make my defense..   3…because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs

and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

Acts 26: Paul before King Agrippa  27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know

you do.”  28…Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in

such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

  29…Paul replied, “Short time or long – I prayed God

that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Acts 24: Paul’s trial before Felix   10When the governor motioned for him to

speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.

  25As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-

control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave.

Acts 26: Paul before King Agrippa   19”So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from

heaven.   25”I am not insane, most excellent Festus, “Paul replied. “What I am

saying is true and reasonable     Acts 17: Paul in Athens   16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed

to see that the city was full of idols. 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing

Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.

Acts 17: Paul in Athens   22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of

Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.   23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I

even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

    Acts 17: Paul In Athens   32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them

sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject. 34A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was

Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

Acts 14: Paul & Barnabas in Lystra   12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was

the chief speaker.   13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls

and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

    Acts 17: Paul In Athens   30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all

people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the

man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

1 Corinthians 9:19 – 23  All things to all persons  9Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to

everyone, to win as many as possible.  20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the

law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.

  1 Peter 3:15 Be ready to give an answer….  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give

an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Why do you find yourself in the market place

By chance or by purpose Daniel 6:1-6 Excellence is a key to make

people ask Have you identified the unknown GOD in

the area of your operation. I mean what is it that you can use to break the ice in the market place, your professional groupings where ever you find yourself…….

Why are people challenging the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ in market place?

His Uniqueness. Create the condition where people will ask

Mastery of content is a necessary foundation Our image of the audience and understanding

of the context shape the form of the message Cultural patterns of a society influence

communication The credibility of the messenger is important for

effective communication The messenger’s personality and life

expieriences modify the form of the message

Some communication principles

What one thing can I do to make the world a better place

Ps 85:10-13