HOW MUCH I COULD HAVE DONE

Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them.

2 Corinthians 8:5 (NLT)

Before the judgment seat of Christ my service will be judged not by how much I have done but by how much I could have done. In God's sight my giving is measured not by how much I have given but by how much I could have given and how much I had left after my gift. The needs of the world and my total ability to minister to those needs decide the worth of my service.

Not by its size is my gift judged, but by how much of me there is in it. No man gives all until he has given all. No man gives anything acceptable to God until he has first given himself in love and sacrifice....

In the work of the church the amount one man must do to accomplish a given task is determined by how much or how little the rest of the company is willing to do. It is a rare church whose members all put their shoulder to the wheel. The typical church is composed of the few whose shoulders are bruised by their faithful labors and the many who are unwilling to raise a blister in the service of God and their fellowmen. There may be a bit of wry humor in all this, but it is quite certain that there will be no laughter when each of us gives account to God of the deeds done in the body.

A.W. Tozer That Incredible Christian

SPECTATORS OR PARTICIPATORS

How would you say our spiritual maturity, godliness and commitment as a church compares to other churches? Paul compared the Macedonia church’s commitment to Corinth and challenged them to MATCH it. Corinthians 8:1-8. 2 Corinthians 8:8 says I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. (NIV) Rick Warren says that he challenges any church in America to match the spiritual maturity, godliness and commitment of any 500 members of Saddleback Church. How do you think we would match up? Whatever excuse we could use comes back on us. I personally don’t know about their spiritual maturity, godliness and commitment but I do know that they have had over 10,000 Saddleback members serve on missions overseas. How have they done this and how have they grown like they have? They have turned spectators into participators, consumers into contributors and an audience into an army. All too often we think that if we come to church it is enough, or if we serve on a committee or teach a class, don’t get me wrong, those are good, but can we do more? Are we spectators or participators, consumers or contributors; are we an audience or an army? One way for you to get to the point of being participators, contributors and an army is for me to turn more things over to those who are willing to take responsibility for them and then do something with them. I have turned our outreach, Connect, over to Jimmy, Jerry H. and Tommy and I am expecting great things from them in our outreach department. But the only way that this can happen is when God leads them into areas of outreach; we must get behind them and be part of it. I want our W.M.U. and Brotherhood to be active, not inside the church but outside, I want our teachers on Sunday morning and Wednesday night to decide what they want out of their class, how much they want it to grow and then get out and work it and make it grow. It’s time that we the people of Carey Baptist took the responsibility for the growth of our church and not just leave it up to the paid staff. It’s time that we stepped out into the community and made a difference, it’s time that you stopped just reading and listening to my words and started asking God what He wants us as a church to be doing; and then do it!!

ONE DAY

“One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches. I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin. 11 All sunshine and sovereign is God, generous in gifts and glory. He doesn't scrimp with his traveling companions. 12 It's smooth sailing all the way with God of the Angel Armies.” Psalms 84:10-12 (MSG)
Dr. J. Vernon McGee says, “He says, "A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand days anywhere else. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness,'' and that's what the sons of Korah were -- doorkeepers. He says, "I would rather have my job than to be a rich man living far from God.'' There are some folk who look at their watches on Sunday morning to see if the preacher is going overtime. The psalmist says, "I'd rather spend one day in God's house than a thousand anywhere else.'' What a glorious psalm this is, and what a rebuke it is to many of us.”
How often do we come to church and then think about being somewhere else? Or, how often do we just go somewhere else instead of coming to church, but the psalmist is saying that one day in God’s house is better than a thousand days anywhere else, wow, what a way to look at being in God’s house. Oh that we would have that same attitude, just one day in your house in your presence is better than a thousand days at the lake, or race track, or park or game or anywhere else you can think of. When we learn to worship God that way it will enhance every area of our life. When we choose to really put God first, when we choose to serve God with our whole heart not holding anything back, the when the enemy attacks, when the enemy does us harm, God can turn it around and use it for good. What Satan meant for harm God means for good means that God is still on His throne and no one can remove Him. God may not do it the way that we want it done, but then, He is God and we aren’t. We may not understand it all, but we must trust Him and have faith. When we can come to this point in our life, then we will truly understand why one day in His house is better than a thousand anywhere else.

Master Mechanic

I was walking through the park one day, in the merry merry month of May, looking at all of the flowers brought on by April showers...no wait, those are weeds, and they are all in my yard. Can you believe the way everything is growing? On Monday I worked in my yard, I ran the edger, cut tree limbs, ran the trimmer, and then worked on my riding mower, and worked and worked, and it did not want to start. I had to put the jumper cables on my truck and it still would not start. Finally I broke down and went and bought a new fuel filter, air filters and a new spark plug. Put all of this on and guess what. It started and ran better than it has in a while. The old spark plug was so gummed up that it couldn’t fire if it wanted to. I think that sometimes that’s the way we get, we go and go until we get so gummed up that we have to get a new spark plug or a fresh fire from the Lord. In our daily walk with the Lord we need that fire from the Holy Spirit everyday, but sometimes we get bogged down and need that boost. Ask God to give you that boost today, we don’t need to be just going through the motions; we need that fire that only God can give. Ask Him and He will give it to you.

P.S. The mower had to go to the hospital (shop), do you need to be in the hospital (church)? We all need to visit with the Master Mechanic, do we as often as we need to?

BLESSING OR CURSE?

What is the responsibility of a church member?
We all know that the church has certain responsibilities to her members, like praying for you, providing spiritual leadership and guidance, biblical teaching and preaching, fellowship, friendship and love. But what are the responsibilities of the members of the church? Well Sunday morning Bible Study and Worship Attendance, a Public Testimony, to be involved in the ministries of the church and giving. Why do we give our time and money to the church? It is real easy to say, “This is my money, I worked for it and I will keep it.” Robert Morris said in his book, The Blessed Life, “There are over 500 verses in the Bible concerning prayer; nearly 500 verses concerning faith; but more than 2,000 verses on the subject of money and possessions.
Jesus talked about money in 16 of his 38 parables. Clearly, from the Bible’s standpoint, we need to understand money and how to handle it. Why? Because money is actually a test from God.
How you handle money reveals volumes about your priorities, loyalties and affections. In fact, it directly dictates many of the blessings you will (or won’t) experience in life.”
Did you know that the Bible says that we are not to test God, except when it comes to money. God tells us to give our tithes (10% of our income) and offering to the church. He says that if we will, we’ll be blessed, and if not we won’t be. God says in Malachi 3:10, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the LORD Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!” (NLT) There it is, a challenge from God Himself! He’s not only saying, “I dare you.” He’s saying “I triple dog dare you, go ahead and do it and see if I am not a God of my word.” Did you know that God takes pleasure in blessing you? Let me ask you a question, if you are a giver and you miss a week, say we have an ice storm and don’t have church, or you are gone or sick; do you still give for that week or do you feel like it’s yours to keep? If we do not give all of the tithe to God, He says that we are robbing Him in Malachi 3:8-9, He also says that because of this we are under a curse. Now let me think, Blessing or Curse, I choose Blessing, how about you?

“MONDAY MORNING CHURCH”

Acts 2:41-47
“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (ESV)

Bruce Larson wrote a book about missions in his church, and the first person that he mentioned was a woman who sacked items in the grocery store. She said that she prayed for everybody who walked through the line and whose groceries she sacked. She took this as a ministry for God and an extension of the kingdom of God. Too many times when we think about ministry, we think about the people we pay at church, or the person who hands out bulletins, or teaches a class; in a sense, that is ministry, but it is in-house. What we need is to get people to say and be, in reality, God’s people out in the marketplace. Every Christian needs to feel that he or she is a missionary and has a calling to the place where they work or live or spend their leisure time.
As we begin tonight to adjust our aim for visitation, we are joining in with FBC and Calvary to reach every home in Childress by Easter 2010. We will start our part on March 8, when we will do a blitz with as many people as we can going from door to door. But we need everyone who can to meet at Donny and Trica’s tonight so that we can all know what we are doing and how. All too often we have the attitude that it isn’t our job; that it belongs to someone else, but if you read the pastor’s pen this morning, you know different.

Lloyd Ogilvie tells of going to the First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood, California, and finding that inwardly the church was strong with lots of people coming, but no real vitality. He took his leaders on a retreat to answer his four questions:

1. WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE THE WORLD?
Verse 42, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

1 Timothy 4:6-8
“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (ESV)

Romans 8:1
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (NKJV)

Romans 8:2
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (NKJV)

Romans 8:3-4
“For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (ESV)

Romans 8:5-6
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (ESV)

Romans 8:7-8
“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (ESV)

Romans 12:1-2
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (ESV)

2. WHAT KIND OF CHURCH DOES IT TAKE TO PRODUCE THOSE KINDS OF PEOPLE?
Verse 46-47, “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people.”

1 Corinthians 1:10
“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” (ESV)


3. WHAT KIND OF LEADERS DOES IT TAKE TO PRODUCE THAT KIND OF CHURCH?
Verse 43, “And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.”

Who are the leaders? The leaders are the deacons, and those who are in a possession of leadership.
It takes leaders who are not afraid to make the tough decisions, to do the things that may not be popular.

4. WHAT KIND OF STAFF DOES IT TAKE TO PRODUCE THOSE KINDS OF LEADERS?
1 Timothy 6:11-12
“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (ESV)


These four questions changed Lloyd Ogilvie’s church, answering these four questions can change our lives and our church.
One of the problems with American Christianity is that we have come to think too much of the church as an institution. That is, it is something I go to with a leader to listen to. But the church needs to be seen as a mission. It is a body of Christ working out in the world.
The question is, “Where is the church on Monday?” It is down on the car lot, it is at school, it at the store, it is wherever you are, wherever you are working.
“And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Sermon outline on 2/24/2009

SPECTATOR SPORT

Did you realize that Christianity is not a spectator sport? If you call yourself a Christian, you are expected to be in the game doing your best. If you ever played a sport then you know that you must do your best or you could cause the team to lose. I was on the wrestling team in high school, the only way that the team could win was if more people on your team won their matches than the other team. Wrestling is a one on one sport, if you win you get the credit, if you lose, you get the blame. That is the way that Christianity is, while we are part of the Church, we must be ready to go one on one. When I look at our church, I see those who are in the trenches working for the Kingdom, and then I see those who seem not to care. If you expect Carey Baptist to still be around in 10, 15 or 20 years, then you need to decide to become more active in church. More active in church attendance, church ministries and church activities. If you are not sure how to do that, just watch our older saints in the church. Without them Carey Baptist would have closed the doors many years ago.
If this has offended you, ask yourself why. Could it be because you saw yourself in a way you didn’t like? Do something positive about it...see you in church!!