PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL

Philippians 1:3-5

Introduction

This morning our text is found in Philippians 1:3-5 and the topic of my message is "Partners In The Gospel."

This Friday I am going to Bogota, Colombia to visit with our missionaries Brother Noe Jimenez and Brother Jaime Pardo.

Because of this I would like to take this opportunity to focus our attention on the importance of missions.

Have you ever asked yourself why there is a need for missions?

Missions make sense when they are viewed in light of man's need for forgiveness of sin.  There would be no need for missions if sin was not a reality.  Neither would there be a need for salvation if it were not for sin.  Sin therefore makes salvation necessary and it also makes missions necessary.

This past week we were once again made so very aware of how prevalent sin is within our society.

On February 10th the Riverside Coroner announced that the famed entertainer Liberace died as a result of aids.

This is only one example of how sin is affecting mankind.

Sin is disruptive, defiling, degrading, and destructive in nature.

Because of man's need for forgiveness of sin, God sent his only begotten Son on a mission to save mankind.

Luke 19:10  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."  (NIV)

God also sent the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin.

John 16:7-11  But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.  (NIV)

As a Church, God has sent us into the world to do mission work in order that man might hear, know and believe the Good News of the Gospel.

While each of us may not be able to be missionaries to foreign countries, we can nonetheless be missionaries in the strictest sense of the word and be partners in spreading the Gospel throughout the world.

This morning I would like us to examine four ways that each of us can become partners with our missionaries in spreading the Gospel throughout the world.