Who Will Be in Heaven Because of You?

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES The Hope of Easter

Who Will Be in Heaven Because of You? By Rick Warren — Apr 3, 2015 “The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me — to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.”(Acts 20:24b NCV) The Bible says in Acts 20:24, “The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me — to tell people the Good News about God’s grace” (NCV). Notice it doesn’t say the most important thing in life is to get married, fund your retirement, travel a lot, become famous, or pay off the house. It says the most important thing in life is to fulfill your mission. If Jesus died on the cross for you so that you can fulfill your mission and you don’t do it, then that is a massive, eternal waste. God put you on Earth for a purpose. He has a mission that only you can fulfill. Part of that mission is to tell other people the Good News of God’s grace. You know Christ because somebody told you about him. Now, who are you going to tell? If somebody died for you, wouldn’t you want to know about it? Jesus died for every single person in the world. This weekend, the typical American will sit at home watching TV, with a soda or beer, maybe reading the newspaper, kicked back and relaxed — and totally unaware that Jesus Christ died for him and unaware of the grace that is available to him. The Bible tells us in 2 Peter that the Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. God wants everybody in his family, and because God cares, we must care. Easter is this weekend. At this time of year, people are more open to an invitation to come to church than at any other time of the year. Don’t waste that opportunity! Do not go to an Easter service to hear the best news in the world without bringing someone with you who needs to hear it for the first time. If you can’t think of anyone, start praying that God would open up your heart to see people around you who are desperate for the Good News. They are running from fad to therapy to books, trying to find fulfillment in an affair, work, a sport, or a hobby. There’s this gaping hole in their lives that only the grace of God can fill. The way we show our gratitude for the grace of God is by making our own lives count, by living a life of extravagant generosity, and by telling as many people as we can about the Good News. Is anybody going to be in Heaven because of you? PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over Who can you invite to attend an Easter service with you? How will you approach that person? What keeps you from sharing the Good News with people around you? Take some time to write out your testimony so that you are better prepared to share it when God provides the opportunity.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I

Rise Up Today TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Romans 9:17, NIV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria Easter is a wonderful time to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ — that glorious event that changed history over 2,000 years ago. But, did you know that God is still in the resurrection business today? When you receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you become born again. Your spirit is resurrected so you that you can have a personal relationship with God. Not only does He want to resurrect your spirit, He wants to resurrect your dreams, your hopes, your relationships and every area of your life! Today, call on Him and allow Him to display His resurrection power through you! We love you and rejoice with you as we celebrate the resurrected life of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! A PRAYER FOR TODAY God, today I surrender every area of my life to Your resurrection power. I want to be born again into a new life with You! Help me to let go of my old ways and embrace the life You have for me! Thank You for sending Your Son so that I might have life in You! In Jesus’ name. Amen.