Preaching at Providence Baptist Church, Bucharest (2009)

It was so good to be at Providence last Sunday night. A bit like coming home in Romania! See here and here from when I was there last.  Again, I was really encouraged by all the young people, the heartfelt prayers and the numbers of people leading and sharing through the Service. What I also loved was the sense of community and belonging. This was so evident before, during and after the Service. People knew they belonged. This was family. It expressed what church is all about.

Here’s an outline of my Sunday message.

Jesus said “Come, follow me!” This means we are to be like him. To do what he does. That’s what following a rabbi means.

Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

Then I shared three verses that help us think about different aspects of what it means to be like Jesus.

Are we seeking the lost? Jesus did.

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

Are we serving the lost? Jesus served those who were far from God.

Mark 10:45 (NIV)
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Are we relating to the lost? Jesus put huge emphasis on building relationships

Matthew 11:19 (NIV)
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”‘ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

We need God’s help for all this. And he provides it: the Holy Spirit.

John 20:21-22 (NIV)
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.