Building The Kingdom: Living as Ambassadors for Christ

Solid Rock Church 

Pastor Hunter Bingham  

September 15, 2024

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Main Topics Discussed

Introduction

• Definition of a brand ambassador: someone who endorses a company and its products to their community.

• Story: Pastor Hunter's personal experience as a sunflower seed ambassador.

• Relating this to how ambassadors use influence to spread the message and represent a brand.

• Connection to the Christian calling: Every believer is an ambassador for Jesus, tasked with representing Him to the world.

Scriptural Foundation: 2 Corinthians 5:15-21

• Key verse: "We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us."

• Read 2 Corinthians 5:15-21 (ESV), explaining that Jesus died so we might live for Him and help others come into relationship with God.

• Brief explanation of key theological terms: reconciliation, ambassadorship.

Defining Reconciliation

• Reconciliation: restoring friendly relationship between two estranged parties.

• Christ’s act of reconciliation: restoring humanity’s relationship with God through His death and resurrection.

• Every believer is reconciled with God through Jesus.

• This reconciliation not only transforms individual lives but extends through believers to others.

• Emphasis on how God has made us new creations and given us the ministry of reconciliation.

Ambassadorship: Representing Jesus

• Ambassador: A representative of a kingdom, sent to another land with the authority to represent their leader.

• Just as ambassadors represent nations, Christians represent Christ’s Kingdom here on earth.

• Jesus, after His resurrection, entrusted the mission of building His Kingdom to His followers.

• Through us, God makes His appeal to others.

• Importance of recognizing our role as ambassadors: partnering with God in expanding His Kingdom.

How Does Jesus' Kingdom Grow?

• Jesus’ Kingdom grows through reconciliation and ambassadorship.

• Christians participate in this growth by:

1. Living as reconciled people—transformed by Christ’s love and grace.

2. Taking up the mantle of ambassadors—representing Christ through our words, actions, and relationships.

Overcoming Barriers to Ambassadorship

• Confronting Baggage and Barriers:

1. Fear and Shame in Evangelism: Many feel pressure or fear around evangelism, but the task is not to convert, but to faithfully represent Jesus.

2. Awkwardness: Evangelism does not have to be awkward—encouraging relational evangelism rather than transactional approaches.

3. False Responsibility: It’s God who changes hearts, not us. We plant seeds; God makes them grow.

Practical Steps to Live as Ambassadors

• Bearing Witness:

• Identify as a follower of Jesus openly in your life.

• Let your actions reflect your faith, being visible to others in your community.

• Serving the City:

• Engage in service and acts of kindness within the community.

• Hospitality:

• Welcome people into your life—through meals, gatherings, or simple acts of inclusion.

• Building Relationships:

• Invest in relationships with non-Christians, showing them the love of Jesus through genuine friendship.

• Living Locally:

• Be present in your community—whether it’s at work, at the park, or at local businesses—cultivating relationships and opportunities to share your faith.

Testifying About Jesus

• Be willing to talk about your faith, not just live it.

1. Sharing your story and how Jesus has transformed your life.

• Two approaches:

1. Planned Evangelism: Using a specific method to share the gospel.

2. Organic Conversations: Asking questions about others’ experiences and beliefs, then sharing your own story and faith in a natural, relational way.

Renewing Our Love for Jesus

• Ambassadorship flows from a renewed love and relationship with Christ.

• Paul's reminder: "Be reconciled to God."

• Renew your own sense of wonder at the grace and love of God in your life.

• Encourage the congregation to reflect on their relationship with Jesus and how it can overflow into their interactions with others.

Conclusion: An Invitation to Step into Ambassadorship

• Jesus has promised to build His church, and we are invited to partner with Him.

• Challenge the congregation to take one step in living as an ambassador this week:

• Whether it’s identifying openly as a Christian, engaging with someone in your community, or sharing your story.

• Close with prayer, asking God for boldness and joy in representing Christ to the world.

Biblical References

• 2 Corinthians 5:15-21 (ESV)

• This passage serves as the core scripture for the message, focusing on the themes of reconciliation and ambassadorship.

• Key Verses:

• Verse 15: "And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."

• Verse 17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

• Verse 20: "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."

• Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission)

• Implied as part of the idea that Christians are sent by Jesus to make disciples: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

• John 20:21

• "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.'" This is connected to the theme of Christians being sent as ambassadors of Christ.

• Luke 24:46-48

• "Thus it is written, that Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."

• Romans 12:1

• "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

• This verse supports the idea that believers’ lives are to be lived in service and sacrifice for God's purposes.

Reflection Questions

1. How does the concept of being a brand ambassador help you better understand your role as an ambassador for Christ in your community? In what ways can you use your influence to represent Jesus to others?

2. Reflecting on 2 Corinthians 5:17, what does it mean to you personally to be a “new creation” in Christ? How has your life changed since you were reconciled with God through Jesus?

3. What are some barriers or fears you have experienced when it comes to evangelism or sharing your faith? How can recognizing that God is responsible for changing hearts help ease those fears?

4. In what areas of your life—such as your workplace, neighborhood, or social circles—can you more openly identify as a follower of Jesus? How can your actions and words better reflect your ambassadorship for Christ?

5. How can renewing your love and relationship with Jesus deepen your effectiveness as His ambassador? What steps can you take this week to rekindle that love and let it overflow into your interactions with others?

Daily Activities 

1. Identify as a Follower of Jesus in a Natural Conversation

• Activity: In your daily life, find an opportunity to casually mention your faith to someone. This could be a co-worker, a neighbor, or a friend. For example, if someone asks what you did over the weekend, mention attending church and briefly share what you learned.

• Application: This activity helps normalize talking about Jesus in your everyday life and opens the door to future conversations about faith.

2. Serve Your Community

• Activity: Find a local volunteer opportunity, such as helping at a food bank, tutoring, or participating in a community clean-up. Make it a regular practice, showing Christ’s love through service.

• Application: By being active in your community, you demonstrate the love of Jesus in a practical way, reflecting your ambassadorship through actions.

3. Host a Meal or Gathering for Non-Christian Friends

• Activity: Invite friends, neighbors, or co-workers who may not know Christ to a simple meal or casual gathering at your home. Use this time to build relationships and engage in meaningful conversations.

• Application: Hospitality is a powerful way to show people the love of Christ. It creates space for genuine conversations and builds trust, making it easier to share your faith when the time is right.

4. Share Your Testimony with One Person

• Activity: Pray and ask God to show you one person with whom you can share your personal story of how Jesus has impacted your life. Find a moment to share how your faith has transformed you, in a natural and conversational way.

• Application: Sharing your testimony makes the gospel personal and relatable, helping others see how God’s work in your life could apply to them as well.

5. Renew Your Love for Jesus through Daily Devotion

• Activity: Set aside a dedicated time each day to read the Bible and pray, focusing on rekindling your love for Jesus. Reflect on the reconciliation you’ve received and how it impacts your life.

• Application: Strengthening your relationship with Jesus will naturally overflow into your interactions with others. As you grow in love for Him, you’ll be more inspired and effective in representing Him as an ambassador.