Equipping Of The Saints

Here’s what I believe:

Because as Christians, God’s not done with you yet.

Now, if you haven’t accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, we’ll visit about that a bit later.

Maybe you’ve asked yourself that question in a different form-

Do I have a calling?

Am I fulfilling my calling?

What are my gifts?

Am I using my God given gifts for His glory?

One last question…maybe!

Why are you here today? @ CPC

Ok, now the usual questions:

Did you read something new in God’s Word today?

Did you see a familiar passage with new eyes?

I hope you did!

Today our key verses are found in:

• Matthew 13:8

• Ephesians 4:11-13

Parable of the sower:

Sower went out to sow.

On some seeds:

• Birds devoured them

• Sun scorched and withered away

• Thorns choked them

• Fell on good soil

Matthew 13:8:

But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundred fold, some sixty and some thirty.

Since a vast majority of my career has been in sales, I can’t help but to look at those four groups of seeds, and think “Jesus was telling us “It’s a numbers game”.

• I’m thinking only 25% of the soil yielded a group!

• We must also realize that Jesus spoke these words before the crucifixion.

• Disciples ask: why do you speak to them in parables?

o Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Here’s what I believe:

• Jesus is telling them before the crucifixion that not everyone you witness to, is going to receive me!

• But don’t be discouraged, because some will!

I’m completely convicted by the Holy Spirit, that our Childrens Ministry is about to swell up into an explosion!

• A good kind of explosion, you know like when you make popcorn: We can’t have popcorn if that seed don’t explode!

I want to take a few minutes to talk about our church logo.

It doesn’t matter if this is your first time to CPC or your hundredth time, that message applies.

Purpose of the logo is:

• Branding- I know that is a buzzword that may be a turn-off for some.

• Tell people about CPC

Begin with Branding:

• Think of these logos:

o Golden Arches

o Jeep Grill

o Swoosh

o Curved Arrow- use hand motion

Part of the purpose of Branding is to promote consistency.

• Conversations with Garry about restaurants-Consistency

• As a church, we need to be consistent in our message, and telling people what we are about.

o We can’t be one week, talking about the Trinity, and the next week preaching Buddhism. It won’t work!

So, the second purpose of the logo, is to give an opportunity to explain our logo.

When wearing our shirts for example is might cause people to ask:

• Where is CPC?

• What does the logo mean?

• Church tenets or core beliefs

We need to be ready to answer these questions, and be consist from person to person.

On the shirts, there isn’t an address or phone number. We need to be prepared to provide both.

You don’t need to answer this out loud, but do you know the actual address?

Do you know what phone number we use?

We need to get the word out.

Someone took the initiative to make a business card to hand out to people to tell them about CPC

Years ago, Fred Henson called a meeting for all the managers at all three dealerships.

There were 15-20 people there.

He started the meeting like this:

• I want each of you to pull out your business card. ( side note: Henson paid for the cards for each manager)

• Only two managers were able to pull out their business card. No, I wasn’t one of them!

• He then pulled out 100 bill and gave to each of them.

• Needless to say, since then; I always carry a business card with me!

We need to be ready in season and out of season to tell people about Jesus!

Matthew 13:8 is before the crucifixion, but Matthew 28:19-20 is after the resurrection.

Matthew 28:19-20 (read from my bible)

Acts 1:8

M28: Go forth and make disciples

Acts: Be my witness

Rhetorical questions for you, no need to answer out loud:

Can we make disciples without witnessing?

Can we witness without making disciples?

Chew on that for a bit!

I believe Jesus told the story of the sower, specifically for the disciples’ benefit, because He knew we would get discouraged whenever we began spreading the Good News.

I also believe He sent the Holy Spirit to give us courage to spread the Good News.