We are running a BIG IDEA* series at church and so I am interrupting the Proverbs series to reflect on our Big Idea for the next three weeks.
Our Big Idea is a concept I was exposed to at the "Right Now Campaign" (www.rightnow.org) and involves being a TRADER.
Here's a working definition:
A Trader is a new kind of Missionary
- not defined by Geography -
but willing to apply the parable of the Good Samaritan
and to go and do likewise.
A Trader is intentional with their
time, talent and skills.
They trade-in their pursuits for His pursuits.
They trade in time, money and comfort for a world that needs Christ.
Hope you are stimulated by the series!
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For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again...
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2Corinthians5:14-21
Why should I be a TRADER?
Why should I trade my time, talent and skills for His purpose rather than my own?
BECAUSE God did an even bigger trade!
- The Sinless One - the Son of God - took on our sin and gave us His righteousness.
- One Person - God's own Son - died (effectively again and again and again) for each of us.
- He died our death so that we could live for Him. He made a life that we did not have before available for us!
Before this trade, we were only able to live for ourselves: Selfish, Materialistic, Temporary.
Now, because of the trade He made, we can TRADE the things that will not last for things that will last forever.
I want to be a TRADER!
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* The Big Idea is a when we as a congregation focus in on one key and critical focus in our sermons, Bible Studies and Daily Devs for a period of three weeks...
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
