Radical Christianity: Rescued People Reach People

Mark Batterson: “Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.”

“¹¹Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. ¹³Everything exposed by the light is made visible, ¹⁴for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. ¹⁵Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—¹⁶making the most of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:11-17 (CSB)

The world doesn’t need a church that looks more like the world. It needs a church that looks more like Jesus.

Radical Christianity is an uncompromising commitment to biblical truth and an unrelenting love for the lost.

“In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 (CSB)

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (CSB)

“⁵Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” ⁶Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:5-6 (CSB)

We cannot compromise the truth of God or abandon the people Jesus came to save.

Rescued people reach people. 

#1 - Know the Word - Uncompromising Commitment to Biblical Truth

• Only 54% of surveyed adult Christian churchgoers believed the Bible was God’s actual or inspired Word without error. (George Barna, November 2025)
   
• 50% Of self-identified Christians read the Bible less than weekly. (Barna, 2025)
  Based on the finding that 50% reported weekly reading.

Our problem is that we are resource rich but commitment poor.

“¹²In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. ¹³Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, ¹⁵and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:12-17 (CSB)

“For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.” Romans 15:4 (CSB) 

“¹I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom: ²Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and teaching. ³For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. ⁴They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. ⁵But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:1-5 (CSB)

Biblical knowledge isn’t the end of our assignment. We don’t study Scripture simply to win arguments. We study it to know Jesus, become like Jesus, and make Jesus known.

#2 - Love the Lost - Unrelenting Commitment to Christlike Love

Barna Research:

• 47% of practicing Christian millennials agreed at least somewhat that it was wrong to share their faith with someone of another religion in hopes they would come to share it. - Barna, 2019.
   
• 31% of self-identified Christians strongly agreed that they had a personal responsibility to share their faith. - Barna, 2025.

Four Radical Ways Jesus Loves us

1. Jesus loves us at our worst, when we have nothing to offer Him. (Romans 5:8)

2. Jesus loves us enough to tell us the truth, even when it’s not what we want to hear. (Mark 10:21)

3. Jesus loved us so much that He laid down His life so we could have eternal life. (John 3:16; 15:13)

4. Jesus loves the rebellious who run from Him and the religious who think they don’t need Him. (Luke 15:11-32)

“¹⁵Then He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16 (CSB)

If we love Jesus, why wouldn’t we talk about Him?

If we love people, why wouldn’t we tell them about Him?

The moment you are rescued by Jesus, you become a part of the rescue team. 

Three Calls to Action 

1. Get in the Word.

• Pick a time, a place, a plan 

2. Give the love of Jesus to as many people as possible. 

3. Go light up the dark world.

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