Our name | Mission | Vision | Leaders Ministries | Schedule | Directions | Contact Home   Gateway Church gathers for worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd. (Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia. For directions, click here. Ministry of the Word: Recent sermons Our quarterly e-magazine Gateway Today For the Gateway family Pastor Jerry's Weekly E-Mail A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY AUDIO Doing church God's way Jerry Varnado, pastor Gateway Church, Athens GA September 3, 2006 Main Scripture text: Matthew 28:18-20 Last week we talked about changing the spiritual climate of a city. Today want to talk about "paradigms." A paradigm is defined as " first form from which imitations or varieties derive." It's prototype, a mold, a model. If our paradigms aren't in line with God's purposes, we will not be doing things God's way. Before we get to the paradigms that need changing we should look at what it is that needs fixing. We live in a fallen world -- a world severely damaged by sin. Sin has three central consequences. 1) Damaged relationship with God. 2) Damaged human relationships. 3) A cursed marketplace. This last one refers to the economic interactions of society: commerce, agriculture, education. All are affected by the curse of sin. Holding those thoughts in mind let's turn to the subject of paradigms. Ed Silvoso points out "Five Pivotal Paradigm Shifts" required for national or community transformation. Please note that these are changes required of the church, not the community. 1) We are called to disciple nations, not just individuals. In the Great Commission given by Jesus, which we read in today's text, we are not told to go and make disciples of a few people but of "all nations." That means we seek to lead our government to create an environment conducive to the coming of God's Kingdom on this earth. 2) The marketplace has been redeemed by Christ and now it must be reclaimed for Him. Everything we lost by Adam's sin, we regained by Jesus' death and resurrection. The curse has been broken, but we still must take back what the devil stole from us. 3) Every Christian is a minister; no exceptions. When you received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, you were appointed by Him as an ambassador, representing Him in your sphere of influence. You are a marketplace minister. 4) To disciple a nation, the Kingdom of God must be taken to where the gates of hell are: the marketplace -- the heart of the nation. Instead of "going," the church, for the most part, has retreated into itself. Jesus did not say put a sign on the door that's says, "Fish Wanted." He said get your net and go fishing. 5) Transformation must be tangible and visible. For example, the alleviation of systemic poverty is a key indicator. We must deal with those societal systems that encourage and tend to trap people in poverty. Doing church God's way is taking the gospel into the marketplace -- the heart of the community. We are to "go and make disciples." Is transformation in America possible? There are several locations in our nation right now that answer that question with a resounding, Yes!" Can it happen in Athens, Georgia? Only if we -- the church -- are willing to change, to shift our paradigms, and start Doing church God's way. Supporting texts: Genesis 3:8 | Isaiah 59:1-2 | 1 John 4:18 | Hebrews 4:5 | Genesis 3:16 | Genesis 4:8 | Genesis 3:17-19 | Revelation 12:5 | Revelation 15:4 | Psalm 33:12 | Galatians 3:13 | 2 Corinthians 5:20 | Ephesians 4:4 A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here (33 min.). (Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.) An audio tape of the sermon summarized above is available free of charge (U.S. requests only). Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office. Please specify tape number 060903a: Doing Church God's Way. © 2006 Gerald R. Varnado To the Gateway Church home page How to contact us