Series: MetaVision
Sermon: Captive Audience
Scripture: Romans 10:14-15
REVIEW:
This week, we continued our MetaVision series. We started in the Old Testament book of Isaiah and looked at Israel's constant captivity. Isaiah 52 prophesied a time when heralds of good news would come to the mountains and proclaim the salvation of the people! This eventually came to pass, and Israel was once again freed!
However, that freedom never lasted too long. By the time Jesus came to earth, Israel was once again occupied by another empire - this time Rome. The people dreamed of a coming Messiah who could once and for all save them, but it seemed the promised savior would never show up.
Israel's pattern of captivity is a model for how our individual lives often work. We deeply desire freedom but find ourselves falling captive to all sorts of things!
Captive to anxiety
Greed
Lust
Enslaved by our inner monologue that convinces us we aren’t good enough, smart enough, or worth anything
Held hostage by toxic relationships
Drowning in debt
Chained by our desperate need to please people or be accepted
Eventually, Jesus died to free us from the penalty and the power of our sins! He rose again and started a movement with these precious instructions:
Acts 1
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
We are now called to be witnesses of Jesus. This is our new identity. Last week, we learned what that means:
WITNESSES
Spreading The Message Of Jesus
Even At Great Cost To Ourself
The Apostles took this to heart and began spreading the gospel as far and wide as possible. The Apostle Paul received some pushback in Rome and explained the need for the church to continue moving in simple terms.
Romans 10
14 How, then, 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?
15a And how can they preach unless they are sent?…
This airtight logic shows that we must take up our assignment as the ones sent by Jesus in order to present the gospel to others. Then, he concludes verse 15 by quoting from the prophet Isaiah!
Romans 10
15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”
APPLY:
By quoting Isaiah, Paul is placing us in the ancient lineage of God's heralds of salvation! He is signaling that it is now our job to present salvation to a CAPTIVE AUDIENCE - people held in bondage by their sin.
This incredible lineage motivates us to continue pushing the gospel forward. We must be willing to take ground for the Kingdom of God and spread the gospel as far and as wide as possible!
Next Sunday, we are once again calling for people to step up and help support the Helotes and Richland Hills MetaChurch venues. On a personal level, we also must be willing to live as a witness in our everyday lives! We say it all the time at MetaChurch - YOU ARE THE MOVEMENT! Our mission is to do whatever it takes to get people to Jesus.
What things have held you captive throughout your life? (sin, habits, relationships, fears, etc.)
In what ways have you begun to see yourself as a WITNESS?
What is ONE WAY you will share the good news of Jesus this week?
PRAY:
Ask God to continue moving in the hearts of MetaChurch as we prepare to move into a multi-venue model.
