Key Points from Carole Ward’s Guest Teaching at Christ Methodist
Guest speaker Carol Ward shares her experiences as a missionary in dangerous areas. She highlights the power of the Holy Spirit in transforming lives and the urgent need for Christians to be active in spreading the Gospel. She challenges us to move beyond comfort and fully commit to God's mission, even in the face of potential sacrifice and suffering.
Key Points
The importance of being fully possessed by God and the Holy Spirit.
The call to fulfill the Great Commission in our generation and the urgency of reaching the unreached with the message of salvation.
The need for surrender, sacrifice, and willingness to suffer for the Gospel, and the transformative power of the Gospel in changing lives.
The eternal value of investing in souls rather than temporal things by living with eternity in mind.
Embracing the Call: A Journey of Surrender, Sacrifice, and Service
In a world that often prioritizes comfort and self-preservation, believers are challenged to consider a radical alternative—a life fully surrendered to God's purpose. This isn't just about attending church or doing good deeds; it's about allowing ourselves to be completely gripped by the gospel, transformed by its power, and propelled into action.
The heart of Carole’s message to Christ Methodist lies in three key words: surrender, sacrifice, and suffer. These aren't popular concepts in our modern culture, but they’re central to the Christian walk and the fulfillment of The Great Commission.
1) Surrender
JESUS: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34
This isn't a partial commitment or a casual agreement—it's a total relinquishing of control. It means recognizing that we’re not our own but have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). When we truly surrender, we hand over the reins of our lives to God, allowing Him to lead us wherever He wills, even if it's uncomfortable or challenging.
2) Sacrifice
"I will not offer to God that which costs me nothing.” 2 Samuel 24:24
As King David shared, our service to God should involve genuine cost. That can come from a multitude of sources, including our time, resources, and comfort. It's easy to give God our leftovers, but He deserves our best. This might mean sacrificing career advancement for ministry opportunities or giving beyond what feels comfortable to support missions work.
The Apostle Paul embodied this spirit of sacrifice when he wrote, "Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:7-8). Paul gave up status, comfort, and security to spread the gospel. Are we willing to do the same?
3) Suffer
Finally, we must be willing to suffer. This doesn't necessarily mean martyrdom (though for some, it might), but it does mean enduring hardship for the gospel's sake. It could be as simple as fasting a meal to pray for the lost or as demanding as moving to a challenging mission field.
Peter reminds us, "But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:13). There's a profound connection between suffering for Christ and sharing in His glory. When we're willing to endure difficulty for the gospel's sake, we participate in Christ's own mission in a deeper way.
Called to Radical Devotion
These principles aren't just theoretical—they’re being lived out dramatically in some of the most challenging places on earth.
Carole shared a story of two rebels who jumped into a car with AK-47s, intending harm. Instead of cowering in fear, the Christian passengers boldly shared the gospel for hours. By the journey's end, both men had given their lives to Christ. One of them, named Jacob, went from being a murderer to a missionary in his own village.
This transformation is possible when we fully surrender to God and allow Him to work through us. It's not about our own strength or courage but about making room for God to move in miraculous ways.
The challenge before us is clear: Are we willing to be as radical for the gospel as others are for worldly pursuits? Are we willing to take risks, step out in faith, and trust God even when the path seems dangerous or uncertain?
JESUS: "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest." John 4:35
The time for action is now. People are dying without knowing Christ, and we have been entrusted with the message of salvation.
This call to action isn't just for overseas missionaries. It starts right where we are—in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and cities. Every believer is called to be a missionary, sharing the love of Christ and making disciples. Are we willing to pay the price to see our communities transformed by the gospel?
Ultimately, our lives will be measured not by our accomplishments but by our obedience to God's call. What matters is our faithfulness to what God has asked of us.
The invitation is clear: to surrender fully, to sacrifice willingly, and to suffer gladly for the sake of Christ and His kingdom. As we do, we'll discover the truth of Jesus' paradoxical promise: "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39).
May we be found faithful, making the most of every opportunity to share the gospel's transforming power. The harvest is ripe – will we answer the call?
Questions
Consider the three key words mentioned in the sermon: surrender, sacrifice, and suffer. How do these concepts relate to our Christian walk?
How can we cultivate a deeper sense of surrender in our daily lives, and what areas of our lives might God be calling us to surrender more fully?
How does the idea of "living with eternity in our hearts" (Ecclesiastes 3:11) impact the way we prioritize our time, resources, and energy?
The speaker shares stories of radical obedience and faith in dangerous situations. How can we apply that same level of commitment to our daily lives and local mission field?
In what ways might God be calling us to sacrifice comfort or security for the sake of the Gospel, and how can we prepare ourselves for such sacrifices?