Habakkuk 1:1-11
cf. 2 Kings 23

1. When we turn to the Lord with honest questions in faith, He will hear us and respond according to His good will and purpose (vv 2-3a).

• The key to our questions of God is to let them push us toward Him, not away. 

2. To step away from God's guidance is to willfully step toward destruction, (v 4).

• cf. Deut. 7
• To step toward God’s guidance is to willfully step toward knowing and walking in God’s love.

3. The ways of the Lord are surely higher than my ways, (v 5).

• cf. Isaiah 55:8-9
• The difference between God and man is revealed, not to discourage us from seeking Him, but to keep us humble in light of His goodness.

When I see the brokenness around me, do I move toward people with the heart of Christ, or do I pull away in judgment?

Unfortunately, the recording of this message was cut short, so here is the outline:

God can take the smallest seeds of gospel truth and grow them into great stories of gospel salvation.

Steps to Advancing God's Kingdom

• Know and Understand the Gospel
  • Method 1: The Gospel message answers four big questions. (1) Who is God? (2) Why are we in such a mess? (3) What did Christ do? (4) How can we get back to God? 
  • Method 2: The Romans Road - Romans 3:23; 6:23a; 6:23b and 5:8; 10:9; 5:1 and 8:1
• Pray
  • “We should never talk to people about God until we talk to God about people.”
  • Don’t overestimate your role in advancing GOD’S Kingdom.
• Just Do It
  • Give yourself grace when you share your faith. 
  • Focus on people’s separation from God, not on being morally upright. 
  • Be compassionate and maintain a tender heart toward others. You are a sinner in need of grace too.
  • Ask lots of questions and be a good listener. 
  • The goal is to win a soul, not an argument. 
  • Trust Christ for the response. 

This is a mini-series we did through the 3 aspects of our mission statement: following Jesus, embracing true fellowship, and advancing His Kingdom. 

John 10:11-14