Live Lives Worthy of the Gospel

Isaiah 56:1–8 (ESV)

1      Thus says the Lord:

        “Keep justice, and do righteousness,

        for soon my salvation will come,

and my righteousness be revealed.

• “Keep justice” refers to living rightly with
• To ”do righteousness” is to behave rightly toward

Matthew 22:37–40 (NLT)

37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Examples:

Ugandan Clergy/Spouse Conference 

• What does “do righteousness” look like among such people?

Philippians 1:27a (NIV84)

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Ugandan Youth Leaders Conference

• Background of the people: Civil War 20 years ago
• Showed a picture of a monument commemorating 8th of June 2006 when the Rebel Army in Uganda surrounded one village in the Diocese and killed 28 people. Some of our youth were forced to be involved in the killing of their own parents or relatives, and other youths were forcefully taken to the bush – most to never return.

• What does it mean for these young adults to “do righteousness”?

• What does it mean for the Ministry Team I lead to “do righteousness” where they are concerned?

There’s an underlying “aggressiveness” meant to characterize the Kingdom of God – not mean, not overbearing, not obnoxious, but inclined to take initiative.

• “All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”

Matthew 28:16–20 (NLT)

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…”  

Matthew 16:18b (ESV)

“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Matthew 10:5–8 (NLT)

5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. 7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!”

• What did it mean to the Disciples to “do righteousness”?
  • To live lives worthy of the Gospel they received

• What do you think God means when he tells YOU to “do righteousness’?

Live lives worthy of the Gospel we have received.

• From what shall I repent, either because of what I’ve DONE, or either because of what I HAVEN’T?