SERMON OUTLINE FOR DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

Pastor Al Parker

Lesson Title: Release: I’m Out of Control

Date: April 6th, 2025

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:13-21 NLT

13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us.

We are in the 3rd part of a 3-part series entitled RETURN, RESTORE, RELEASE.

We’ve learned about the RETURN of the scattered.

We’ve learned about the RESTORATION of the scattered.

And the foundation for understanding RELEASE has already begun by Apostle

John 20:21 Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you

Acts 1:8 You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you

Mark 16:20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

Some keys characteristics and components of the RELEASED LIFE from 2 Corinthians 5

I. Vs. 14 Christ’s Love Controls Us – Released people are Controlled by Christ’s Love

Greek: élenchos (el-en-kos)

Translation: to adjust, to manage, To Sway

Application: We can no longer allow ourselves to be swayed, managed, or adjusted by any ungodly influence. Our Mission to offer Salvation & Transformation is too critical. We can only be swayed by the Love of God!

II. Vs. 17 Anyone who belongs to Christ is a New Creature

Greek: néo plásma

Translation: Fresh Formation

Application: When we give ourselves to Christ, everything that is old has passed away and behold we are now FRESH FORMATIONS that have received new identities.

We also find this terminology neo plasma in modern medicine. It is described as an ABNORMAL GROWTH THAT SPREADS! 1 Peter 2:9 calls us a peculiar people. Peculiar means strange or unusual. WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE DIFFERENT!

III. Vs. 18-21 Summarized: God brought us back to Himself and has given us the task of RECONCILING people unto Him. We are now deputized as AMBASSADORS of Christ.

Greek: presveftís (Prez-ve-tis)

Translation: a person who represents, speaks for, or advertises a particular organization

Application: God made Christ who never sinned become the offering for our sins so that we could return to right standing with God through Christ and we have now been mobilized on a mission as representatives who speak and advertise an organization!

Let’s put this together.

We can no longer allow ourselves to be swayed, managed, or adjusted by any ungodly influence. Our Mission to offer Salvation & Transformation is too critical and we cannot abort the mission being concerned about the opinions of others. We can only be swayed by the Love of God! And when we give ourselves to Christ, everything that is old has passed away and behold we are now fresh formations that have received new identities. We are unusual, strange, abnormal growths that spread because we’re supposed to be different! Why? Because God made Christ who never sinned become the offering for our sins so that we could return to right standing with God through Christ and we have now been mobilized on a mission as representatives who speak and advertise an organization!

In Acts 3:1-7 NIV a Post-Pentecost Peter and John demonstrate how PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT OF CONTROL ARE SUPPOSED TO ACTS. RELEASED PEOPLE RELEASE PEOPLE!!!

3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

A. They Were Open to Being Encountered – They Looked straight at him vs.4

They encountered this lame, crippled, paralyzed man. The Greek calls it HALT which in modern day language means stuck!

B. They Offered Empowerment – What I do have I give you vs.6

A lot of wounded people already have their preconceived notion of what they need.