Vision for Mission: Nurturing an Apostolic Heart

Sess ion 5: The Lordship of Chr i st over the Harvest and the Upcoming Accountabi l i ty 57

will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

1. As those sent by Christ, we must expect the same treatment as he received.

2. If they hated Christ, they will hate us as well.

John 15.18-25 – “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, there fore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘ They hated me without a cause .’"

3. However someone would have responded to Christ, so will they respond to us.

B. He appoints his messengers to endure suffering for his sake.

Acts 9.15-16 – But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

Phil. 1.29-30 – For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also