Bulletins - Sunnyside Church of the Nazarene

Open your Bibles to . The last several Sundays have been about the Gospel. The main purpose has been to create an awareness that we as a church need to embrace the gospel, to saturate our prayers with the gospel, to encourage one another to proclaim the gospel - that we must be a church that takes the gospel message outside of these walls. This past week sent a text to my sister … trying to practice what I preach.
Discover the Gospel IV
Open your Bibles to . The last several Sundays have been about the Gospel. The main purpose has been to create an awareness that we as a church need to embrace the gospel, to saturate our prayers with the gospel, to encourage one another to proclaim the gospel - that we must be a church that takes the gospel message outside of these walls. This past week sent a text to my sister … trying to practice what I preach.
Now, how we share the gospel will look a little different for each person. There are different methods, different ministries and different people groups we’re drawn to - we have different personalities, and strengths, different spheres of influence …. We’ll hear more about that from Kerry in a moment. But there is an essential ingredient in sharing the gospel we often miss. It’s in . Before we get there, I want to do a quick summary of chapters 2-6. In these chapters, there are some essentials about the Gospel the Apostle Paul makes us aware of.
Chapter 2 - Troas. Titus. Left for Macedonia.
2 Corinthians 2:14–15 ESV
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,

No matter where we go, we need to trust Jesus is leading us and through us He wants to spread His fragrance - His love, His truth, His grace ….
Chapter 3 - Paul speaks of a veil that prevents people from believing in Jesus as the Messiah. But, as we spread the aroma of Christ, and hopefully some get a good whiff, and if …
2 Corinthians 3:16–17 ESV
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
… when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

As we spread the gospel, as we spread the aroma of Christ, we leave a trail of freedom. This aroma is not just loving with words, but with action ….
Chapter 4 - he continues the conversation - the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers. He states, “If the Gospel is hidden, it is not because of my ministry.” He said,
2 Corinthians 6:3 ESV
We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry ….

We’re doing all we can, morally, ethically, lovingly to not hinder the gospel. Even in facing incredible persecution because of the Gospel, we don’t lose heart because we have eternity to look forward to.
Chapter 5 - Paul writes as one who is homesick. He says, “While we are in this body, we groan, and we are burdened and we’re away from the Lord. My friends, we would much rather be with Christ than be here. We long for Heaven. But we know a day of judgment is coming, therefore,
2 Corinthians 5:11 ESV
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
… knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.

All this [everything we’ve talked about - eternal life, new life …] is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself [so Christ made the first step, and then] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation [the Gospel]. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. [Our message to you …] We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:18–20 ESV
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

The Christian / Church has a responsibility to follow Christ and to spread the aroma of Christ. The Christian / Church has a responsibility to help lift the veil, to help the blind see. The Christian / Church has a responsibility to help connect people with God. We are the only ambassadors! We are the only priests. We are the only proclaimers of the gospel!
So what is the essential ingredient to sharing the Gospel? Is it better methods? More training? More biblical knowledge? Less fear? More prayer? Yes, all of that, but … all of that can easily overshadow the most important piece about the Gospel.
We often make the gospel about how sinful, how evil, how rotten we are … there’s truth in that, but the Gospel is not about how sinful we are! The Gospel is predominantly about God’s love for you, for me, for everyone!
Look at verse.
2 Corinthians 5:13 ESV
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
Paul is saying, “You may think we’re nuts, but there is a motivation deep inside that compels us to do what we do.”
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

Paul is saying, “You may think we’re nuts, but there is a motivation deep inside that compels us to do what we do.”
2 Corinthians 5:14 ESV
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
For the love of Christ controls us ….
For - what I do and don’t do is because … the love - this unconditional agape love, this love that has nothing to do with my behavior, or how good or bad I am, this love … of Christ - Christ’s love for me. Not my love for Him … controls us - the word controls has a variety of nuances in the Greek. Listen closely …
For - what I do and don’t do is because … the love - this unconditional agape love, this love that has nothing to do with my behavior, or how good or bad I am, this love … of Christ - Christ’s love for me. Not my love for Him … controls us - the word controls has a variety of nuances in the Greek. Listen closely …
His love holds us together; His love seizes us; His love sustains us; His love preoccupies us; His love presses in upon us; His love restrains us; His love controls us; His love compels us; His love grips us ….
For the love of Christ …

Communion
Communion

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Come and receive the elements
Now that you have received the elements and you hold them in your hands - the bread representing the Body of Christ and the juice representing the Blood of Christ - receive His love!
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- - 2 Corinthians 2:14–15ESV
- - 2 Corinthians 3:16–17ESV
- - 2 Corinthians 6:3ESV
- - 2 Corinthians 5:11NLT
- - 2 Corinthians 5:18–20ESV
- - 2 Corinthians 5:13ESV
- - 2 Corinthians 5:14ESV
At The Cross (Love Ran Red)
You Are My King (Amazing Love)
Jesus Loves Me
Forever Reign
Because Of Your Love
Great Are You Lord

2 Corinthians 2:14–15ESV

2 Corinthians 3:16–17ESV

2 Corinthians 6:3ESV

2 Corinthians 5:11NLT

2 Corinthians 5:18–20ESV

2 Corinthians 5:13ESV

2 Corinthians 5:14ESV