Keeping Our Focus

Introduction:

A. We just finished a long and I hope wonderful series about Jesus our King from the Gospel of Mark.

1. Before we start a new sermon series in January, I want to explore a few things before the Sunday of Christmas eve when we will focus on the birth of Jesus.

2. Today, I thought it would be good to remind us about our focus on loving God, loving people, and loving truth.

B. All of us have likely marveled over the years at the feats of the great Wallenda family and their daredevil highwire stunts.

1. Nik Wallenda holds 11 Guinness World Records for various acrobatic feats.

2. He is best known for doing his high-wire performances without a safety net.

3. In 2012, he was the first person to walk a tightrope stretched directly over Niagara Falls and his last feat was walking across a volcano in Nicaragua in 2020.

4. Let me share an insight from Tino Wallenda, Nik’s uncle.

5. Tino said, “When I was 7 years old, my grandfather, Karl Wallenda, put me on a wire 2 feet off the ground. He taught me all the elementary skills: how to hold my body so that I remained stiff and rigid; how to place my feet on the wire with my big toe on the wire and my heel to the inside; how to hold the pole with my elbows close to my body.

But the most important thing my grandfather taught me was that I needed to focus my attention on a point at the other end of the wire, a point that was unmoving and wouldn’t shift. That is how we maintain our balance on the wire. We need a point to concentrate on to keep us balanced.”

C. That technique of focusing is essential for tightrope walking but it is also important for churches and Christians trying to accomplish God’s mission.

1. Having the right vision and a shared vision is critically important for disciples of Jesus.

2. Without a vision, we have no idea what our target is.

3. Without a shared target or direction, then we have no hope of getting anywhere together.

D. Many times over the years, I have asked you this question: What would you say is the mission of the Wetzel Road Church of Christ?

1. Can each of us state clearly and concisely what we are about?

2. What is our business? What are we trying to accomplish?

3. See, until we have a handle on what we are trying to do, then we can’t begin to determine how to do it.

4. Ultimately, in the church, we don’t want just activity…we want productivity.

5. If efficiency is doing things right and effectiveness is doing the right things, then excellence is efficiency and effectiveness - doing the right things, right.

E. But it all must begin with a vision; a shared vision.

1. When we talk about vision with regard to the church, we have to realize that the vision originates with God - He is the one who inspires and determines the vision.

2. God’s vision for the church has been clearly communicated in the New Testament.

3. There, in the New Testament, by command and example, we discover God’s purposes, goals and tasks for the church.

F. As your elders and ministers, it is our responsibility to teach God’s Word, and to clearly define what is God’s Will for us.

1. The Great Commission states that our goal and focus should be on making disciples who make disciples, who make disciples and so on down through the succeeding spiritual generations.

2. One of the ways to carry out the great commission is to carry out the greatest commandment.

3. The Greatest Commandment states that we should love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

4. Based on the Greatest commandment, we created this image and focus statement for our congregation: The Wetzel Road Church of Christ is striving to be a group of Christians who are loving God, loving people, and loving truth.

5. Today, I want to remind us of that vision and how we can put it into practice.

G. When Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment this is how He answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” (Mt. 22:37-40)

1. How helpful it is for us to know what matters most to God.

2. In answering that question, Jesus tells us that the bedrock of Christian discipleship consists of LOVE.