Making A Difference Series

Maybe you don’t think you have much to give but let me assure you that God can turn the smallest deed, just a token of your time, whatever you have into life changing actions.

I read a story World War II that shows how the smallest deed can make all the difference in the world to someone.

During the last months of the War, the British conducted daily bombing raids over Berlin and one night the bombers were attacked by a large group of German fighter planes.

During the dogfight one of the Bomber Planes got separated from the protection of British Fighter Planes. They watched helplessly as a German Fighter Plane came within range. Bullets whizzed by over and over until Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Five bullets slammed into the fuselage of the bomber near the fuel tank.

The crew braced for the explosion, but it never came. Fuel poured from the bullet holes, but there was no explosion. After landing, a mechanic handed the pilot 5 bullets he had pulled from the plane.

The pilot carefully opened the explosive tip and found that They were empty --- except for a tiny wad of paper with a note that read: “We are Polish POWS forced to make bullets. When guards do not look, we do not fill with explosive. Is not much, but is best we can do.”

Those five small bullets were made by a few weak and lowly prisoners. But because of the small effort of those prisoners every member of that British bomber crew made it home alive. It didn’t seem like much to those POW’s BUT for the Crew of that British Bomber it made all the difference in the world.

God often chooses insignificant people and events to bring about His great purposes.

[1 Corinthians 12:27-28] says, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are…”

WHAT IF GOD SAID “I can’t”? Let’s say that you’re praying & God stops you mid-sentence…

WHAT IF YOU SAID “I CAN”

It may not seem like much in the big picture but if God can take a handful of nothing and create all we can see and beyond just think what He could do with your/my little handful of something.

Making a difference in the lives of people requires a Strong Aggressive Strategy.

Many times people in churches have the desire to make a difference but they aren’t sure how to get it done. Like those POWs who developed a strategy, which ultimately made a difference in the lives of those British soldiers; we must develop a strategy to make a difference in the lives of people around us.

My goal this morning is to lay out a strategic plan that I pray will get us on track.

I want to show you several strategies, necessary for becoming the people/church God desires us to be.

Strategy #1- We Must Have a GENUINE Love for People That is Recognizable:

Did know that most people can tell that you don’t like them? Oh yea! You make REAL obvious. The problem is that others can see it as well.

I read about a young boy who attended Moody’s Sunday School.

When the little boy had to move to another part of the city he decided to take the long walk to church rather than change churches.

One day one of his friends commented that there were plenty of others just as good nearer his home.

“They may be as good for others, but not for me,” was his reply.

“Why not,” the friend asked.

“Because they love a fellow over there,” he replied.

I think our church members do this pretty well, but as a whole have we done this for our community.

We need to develop a reputation that tells people we love not only each other, but anyone at all.

In marketing they call this product positioning.

Chocolate milk wasn’t selling well because the product was positioned in the minds of adults as a sweet children’s drink. The chocolate milk manufacturers began advertising the healthy side of chocolate milk and their product was positioned in the minds of adults a little differently. As a result, sales went way up.

We need to do a little product positioning for our church in our community.

What kind of love do we need in order to accomplish this?

a. Love Regardless of Repayment…

b. Love Regardless of Differences…

c. Love Regardless of Actions…

d. Love Regardless of Preference…

James 2:1-4 says, “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here’s a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”