Breakfast With Pastor

Breakfast

with Pastor

Great Bend, Kansas

July 30, 2006

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:18-20; Leviticus 25:10

INTRODUCTION:

Several years ago Bruce Wilkerson wrote a book that took Christendom by storm. Everyone had to have it, read it and many implemented its powerful words into there daily prayer routine. What was the book? The Prayer of Jabez. [Show book] What was everyone praying? The Prayer of Jabez, which states, “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.”

The premise of the book was based upon the concept that ordinary Christians desiring an extraordinary life…and reaching it.

I thought the books’ premise was brilliant, not to say inviting and invigorating to the postmodern church.

However, I’m wondering what happened to the fervor and invigoration that, that book brought to the church a few years ago. Where’s the vibrancy and expectancy of God taking everything entrusted to our care and enlarging it? (31).

How about you? Has God blessed you and enlarged your territory?

TRANSITION:

I’m sure many on you are wondering why I would be sitting at a table delivering a sermon instead of standing at the pulpit. I felt today we needed to have a breakfast table conversation about God’s vision for His Church.

I want to invite you to join me at the table [figuratively] this morning as we sit and chat about God’s vision for his Church.

I need to ask you a question: DOES GOD REALLY WANT TO BLESS THIS CHURCH, and ENLARGE THIS TERRITORY? If so, then how must we respond to the call of God upon this Church? And, what are YOU willing to do to ensure the vision is accomplished?

The First Church of the Nazarene has claimed Leviticus 25:10 as its public statement of vision. It reads, “PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL ITS INHABITANTS.”

We believe we will accomplish this by meeting people, meeting needs, meeting Jesus and meeting purpose.

LAST FISCAL YEAR Reports ex.:

During the District Assembly each pastor is required to give an annual report of there church’s previous years involvement in ministry. This is part of my report:

Dear Dr. Jerry Porter, Dr. Edmond Nash, Fellow Colleagues and Delegates:

What does a new vision and mission statement, the Daniel Trickey New Life Center, the Jesus Film, two cars, over $4300, the Angel Tree, Michael and Rachel, Kevin and Tanya, Lynn and Peggy, Joel and Jewel, Roger, Robert and Merlyn, Jim and Lucille, Kaylie, Bailey, and Macy, 35 plus Heartland Share and Angel food baskets, Uncle Phil’s Diner dinner drama, The Quest, the Eight Basis Bible Studies, Caraway Street, Vacation Bible School, and others, all have in common? In 2005-2006 a tremendous year of outreach and evangelism to those living in Great Bend and Barton County, Kansas. All budgets have been paid in full.

We had a tremendous year of new beginnings and firsts last year: Caraway Street, Uncle Phil’s Diner, eight new converts for the Kingdom, The QUEST small group encounter with an average of 106 during the Lent; eleven new members joined our church and we gave away over $4300.00 in benevolence monies to needy families in Barton County, and other things. I want to give God praise for what he did for us last year.

Wasn’t last year great? BUT, that was last year. The old has gone, the new has come and we have a new year ahead of us with wonderful possibilities and opportunities.

Someone once said, “Never look back unless you want to go that way." (unknown)

So what do we want to accomplish this New Year?

What are your personal goals for your church?

Does God want to bless and enlarge our territory?

{PAUSE}

TRANSITION:

Breakfast, oh how I enjoy breakfast. Breakfast is one of those meal times that I love and enjoy because of the variety of breakfasts items available to eat. Wouldn’t breakfast be boring if you ate the same bacon, eggs, grits, hashbrowns and toast every morning? I think adding a little variety to your breakfast menu makes the standard breakfast taste even better when you have it again.

I love donuts, especially chocolate donuts. There isn’t anything any better than a chocolate donut to start off your morning – AMEN?!! (TAKE BITE OF DONUT)

But, donuts get a little stale when you eat them day in and day out. Even I get sick of the same old thing, so I have to change the breakfast menu now and then. But remember: Breakfast is still remains breakfast; it’s only the menu that changes.

It is the same with the church. Every once in a while we have to change the menu options in order to attract new people to come to our church. Sometimes you have to change to a whole new menu in order to attract new would-be attendees.