Text: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Every Christian is a m________________________.

2 Corinthians 3:6
2 Corinthians 5:16-21

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 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 against 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.

Principle One: We share a sense of o______________________ for our ministry together.

2 Cor. 3:9, 2 Cor. 4:1, 2 Cor. 4:18, 2 Cor. 6:1

Romans 12:2: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Romans 12:4-6a: “Just as each of us has one body with many members and these members do not have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us.”

Implications:

1. Every member has a spiritual purpose in the body.

2. Every member has divine capacities to accomplish Christ’s mission.

3. Every member has a sacred responsibility to do their part.

Principle Two: We have an o_______________ orientation in all we do as we exercise a p_______________ to reach others.

2 Cor.5:16 “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.”

Col. 4:5 “Be wise in the way we act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”

Implications:

1. We consider outsiders in all we do and say.

2. We are an inviting, welcoming, accepting, elevating family.

3. We understand the importance of relationships.

4. Our days of isolation from our community are over.

Principle Three: We make Christ a_________ in our community by l__________ out our ultimate mandate.

2 Cor.12:27: “You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it.”

2 Cor. 5:18: “God…gave us this ministry of reconciliation”

2 Cor. 5:20 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

Implications for Dedication: Are you willing…

• To be a minister…

• To exercise ownership…

• To put others before yourself…

• To live His mission?

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