Fix In 06

“A Fix in 06!”

On the Lighter side of Life:

This is an alleged New Year’s letter written from a church member to the pastor.

Dear Pastor;

You often stress attendance at worship as being very important for a Christian, but I think a person has a right to miss now and then. I think every person ought to be excused for the following reasons and the number of times indicated.

Christmas Holidays (the Sunday before & after) 2

New Years (the party lasted too long) 1

Easter (get away for the holidays) 2

July 4th (national holidays) 1

Labor Day (need to get away) 2

Memorial Day (visit hometown folk) 1

School closing (kids need a break) 1

School reopens (one last fling) 1

Family reunions (mine & wife’s) 3

Sleep late (stayed up too long Saturday night) 9

Deaths in family 2

Anniversary (second honeymoon) 1

Sickness (one per family member) 5

Business trip (a must) 1

Vacation (three to four weeks) 6

Bad weather (ice, snow, rain, clouds) 2

Ball games 2

Races 2

Unexpected company (can’t walk out) 2

Time changes (spring & fall) 2

Special on TV (Superbowl, etc) 3

Pastor, that leaves two Sundays per year. So, you can count on us to be in church on the 4th Sunday in February and the 3rd Sunday in August unless we are providentially hindered.

Sincerely,

A Faithful Member

Contributed to Sermon Central by: Tony Fox

Video Illustration from Sunday Morning Live #8 – Pastor General

Thesis: New Life Community Church needs to do a “Fix in 06” and it will require a sacrifice on our part for the fixes to take place.

Scripture Text: Romans 12:1-11

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Scripture points out some key servant-hood principles for today’s Christian:

1. Your spiritual act of worship is to present yourself as living sacrifices to God and to His work.

a. This command battles our self-centered mindset which is conformed to the pattern of thinking and acting in this world.

b. Out natural inclination is to say no way! I am not committing to sacrificing my life for God. This is my life and I want to live it my way.

2. For your mindset to be able to think and do point one there has to be a renewed mindset with the Word of God.

a. If you renew your mind to think and act like God desires then you will be able to discern what God’s will is for your life.

i. Renewing of the mind only happens by filling it with God’s Word and God’s teachings.

ii. This takes time and commitment.

b. A renewed mind is able to discern the will of God for our lives and it enables us to be what God wants us to be.

i. If your mind is not renewed then your blow off this passage of scripture as irrelevant and not possible.

3. Paul warns the Christian to not think more highly of there way over God’s way. This is the sin of pride and it is not a part of the renewed mind.

a. God has called every one of us to be living sacrifices for him and no one is exempt from this command.

b. Paul tells us we must have sober judgment when we look at our lives and live by the faith that we have in accordance with the will of God.