1. Motivation & Power 2 Cor. 5:14-21 How our ‘heavenly hope’ becomes a here- and-now revolution!

2. The Biblical Motivation 14 Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live The Motivation & Power of Ministry

3. The Biblical Motivation 14 Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live The Motivation & Power of Ministry 1 Jn. 4:8ff Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

4. The Biblical Motivation 14 Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live The Motivation & Power of Ministry 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another...

5. The Biblical Motivation 2 Cor. 5:14-15 “…He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.” The Motivation & Power of Ministry and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

6. The Biblical Motivation 2 Cor. 5:14-15 “He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.” The Motivation & Power of Ministry Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word…” John 14:23 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. Mark 10:29-30

7. The Biblical Motivation The Biblical Power 14 …Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live The Motivation & Power of Ministry

8. The Biblical Motivation The Biblical Power 14 …Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live The Motivation & Power of Ministry

9. The Biblical Motivation The Biblical Power 16 So from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! The Motivation & Power of Ministry 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

10. The Biblical Motivation The Biblical Power “…a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Yet still possible to live a selfish life Yet still possible to live a selfish life Very inconsistent with how God views you… Very inconsistent with how God views you… The Motivation & Power of Ministry

11. The Biblical Motivation The Biblical Power The Impact: a Purpose-Driven Life Identified with Jesus Christ! Identified with Jesus Christ! The purpose of the church! The purpose of the church! The Motivation & Power of Ministry 18 All this newness of life is from God, who reconciled us to himself through what Christ did, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them… 19 …and he has committed to us the word of reconciliation. But you are A CHOSEN RACE…so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9

12. 20 Therefore we are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making an appeal through us. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, “Be reconciled to God!” The Life of an Ambassador For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21

13. 1. Not my power… 2. A Foreigner… 3. Represent the King (not me)… 4. Know & Speak Their Way… 5. Diplomatically… 6. Pleading & Persuading… The Life of an Ambassador Imagine a Majority of the Church living as ambassadors!

14. The Awesome Love of Christ! Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation 2 Corinthians 5:18