We Are Christ’s Ambassadors

Written By Philip Van Steenburgh

Sermon: We Are Christ’s Ambassadors

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Preacher: Mack Stiles (Guest)

2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (ESV)

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Philip Van Steenburgh

Philip serves our church as a staff pastor. He grew up in Albany, NY, and then Greenville, SC. After college, he moved to Washington, D.C. to work in congressional politics. During that time, he began attending Capitol Hill Baptist Church where he grew more and more excited about the Gospel, the church, and helping others know and understand God’s Word. After leaving politics, Philip began pursuing pastoral ministry by participating in a pastoral internship program and work on staff at that church. In 2010, he married his wife, Katherine, and moved to Louisville, KY where he earned a Masters degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. They then moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where Philip took an Associate Pastor position for the Redeemer Church of Dubai. From 2017 to 2021 Philip served as Senior Pastor of Grace Harbor Church in Cape Cod, MA. In August of 2021, WRBC called Philip as a staff pastor. In February of 2023, he became the 17th Lead Pastor of WRBC. Philip and Katherine have three children and are happy to be part of the life and ministry of Wornall Road Baptist Church.

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