Our Spiritual Checklist for 2008
On July 1, 2007, as we celebrated our 51st anniversary of Thomas Road Baptist Church, we shared an important vision for the next five years of our church. We talked about some of the goals that we want to see accomplished and why we should try to accomplish them. These goals are important because they are centered on what a church should be doing. They center on reaching this world for Christ.
Let me review these goals for you:
1. 5000 salvation decisions out of TRBC
2. 500 baptisms each year
3. 500 church members going on short term missions trips
4. 500 new churches planted
5. 500 missionaries sent
6. 5000 added to our attendance
7. 5000 added to our Sunday School/ABC ministries
8. 5000 of our members serving as lay ministers in our community
Over these past six months since we shared that vision, we have seen some amazing things happening within these walls. Also on that day in July, we unveiled the words that you now see on the back wall of this church, NOT I, BUT CHRIST! Those are powerful words that have guided our steps, focused us in our ministry endeavors, strengthened us when we felt like we couldn’t go on, and gave us hope when things seemed impossible.
Those four simple words, from Galatians 2:20, are the words that will serve as our church motto. They will serve as rally cry as we seek to reach this community and the world with the Gospel.
On May 15, we were all faced with a daunting reality. In an instant, we were all reminded of the frailty of life. We knew, at that moment, that we had a choice to make as a church.
In all honesty, it would have been easy for us to sit back and enjoy the sweet memories of what has happened here through the years. To reminisce of the many victories that God has delivered over the past 51 years. It would have been simple for us all to live in the past, to focus on our history and take great pride in all that’s been done. That certainly would have been the easy way out, the easy choice.
However, the difficult route, the difficult choice, would have been to strengthen our resolve and decide that God is not done with us yet. To stand up, shoulder to shoulder, claiming the promises of Scripture and the protection of the Savior and march forward. That was the difficult choice, but it was the right choice, and it’s the one we all chose.
Not I, But Christ! Four words that have galvanized our spirits and have helped us to see the impact that each of us could make when we put our total dependence in Christ. That’s who TRBC is, that’s who we are, and that’s who we will continue to be in the years to come.
Today, as we bring this year to a close and we begin to think about 2008 and where this new year will take us, I thought it would be wise for us to take a look back at where we’ve been as a springboard for where we are going. To recall those goals, that vision, that we shared six months ago and see how we are doing. And also, to see where we need to do a little bit better in order to achieve those goals.
Hab. 2:1 I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected. 2 Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Hab. 2:1 (NLT) I will climb up into my watchtower now and wait to see what the LORD will say to me and how he will answer my complaint. Hab. 2:2 Then the LORD said to me, “Write my answer in large, clear letters on a tablet, so that a runner can read it and tell everyone else. 3 But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
This is a familiar passage. One that my dad shared so many times over the years, one that I’ve shared several times in these past 7-1/2 months. Why? Because it gives us a clear picture of what God expects out of us with regards to the vision He places on our hearts.
Over these past 6 months since July 1, we have shared a number of different sermons that have been designed to help us all prepare ourselves to fulfill the vision. During this time, we’ve studied:
1. Not I, But Christ – Joshua
2. Preparing To Build – Seeing The Vision – Living The Dream
Col. 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
1Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
3. Satan’s Battle Lines
4. iTruths
John 6:67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
5. Live Different – James
6. A Blockbuster Christmas – Imagine A World Without Christ
All of these sermons were prepared for the purpose of giving us clear direction in how to put our complete trust in Christ, knowing that He will bring us through in victory. We have discussed important truths that we must cling to in order to be who God wants us to be and to accomplish what God wants us to accomplish.
Today, I want us to take time out for a checkup. To see how we are doing as a church…and how we are doing individually, as we attempt to follow through on the vision.
Let’s take a quick look at what has happened over these past six months:
3,726 Local Visitors
1,198 New Members
716 Baptisms (actual; 818 came forward for baptism, but the other 102 will be baptized next year)
2,688 Salvation Decisions
Knowing where we are with regards to the vision is vitally important to ensure that we will stay on track in the years to come. And, over the days to come, we will give regular updates on where we are on our goals.
However, in order to stay on mission, to stay on track as a church, we must stay on track individually. We must ensure that we are close to God in our own walk if we have any chance of seeing that vision accomplished. Today, I want to share with you a few quick thoughts on what we can do to stay on mission personally in order to stay on mission corporately.
1. Are you walking in God’s will?
I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
This was the theme verse for our “Preparing to Build…Seeing the Vision…Living the Dream” Series. We noted that you are to be “steadfast” & “immovable” – in other words, “seated, anchored in God’s Will.” But as you are in God’s will, you ought to be working like crazy.
But notice –
It is a choice. It doesn’t claim that you will always be steadfast/immovable – you must make the daily choice to stay close to God. On July 22, 2007, in my sermon, “Preparing to Build: Before you build up…you have to dig down,” I stated that:
“Satan knows that he can never move the hand of God, so he will always attempt to change the heart of man!
But you stick close to God…and he will draw near to you!
During 2008, let’s make it our goal to draw near to Him. To avoid gossip, to avoid lying, to avoid conflict, to avoid sin of any kind. To see the positive in everyone. To stay away from negativity. To stay away from cynical thinking. To do everything in our power to focus on personal holiness!
2. Are you dwelling in God’s Word?
Luke 10:38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Three quick thoughts on dwelling in God’s word.
1. Dwelling on God’s Word is not simply a nice thing to do, it is a necessary thing to do!
a. Verse 42 – One Thing Is Needed!
2. Dwelling on God’s Word is not just a good choice, it’s the only choice!
a. Verse 42 – Chosen That Good Part
3. Dwelling on God’s Word will not just make a temporary impact on your life, it will make an eternal impact!
a. Verse 42 – Which Will Not Be Taken Away
We as a church should make it our personal and corporate goal to read through the entire Bible this year. It’s not really that difficult. You can purchase a one year Bible which makes it really easy or you can simply read through the Bible you already have with reading plans that are readily available. In fact, on our bulletin each week, we have a full reading plan that you can take home with you to stay on schedule. Let’s make it a church-wide focus this year.
3. Are You Doing God’s Work?
James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
To simply know what is right but not do it has no eternal value. We must be about the Father’s business. Those goals I shared with you on July 1 and again today are not slick marketing slogans, they are the Father’s Business. Our mission as a church is, to put it simply, WIN THEM TO CHRIST…GROW THEM IN CHRIST…SEND THEM IN CHRIST! That’s the vision. That’s where we are headed and that’s where I need you to be focused.
Those words…NOT I, BUT CHRIST…are powerful words but only when we claim them in our lives. And it can’t just be my goal or a few of our members’ goals, it must be all of our goals if we are to truly reach this world. We can’t leave the heavy lifting to someone else. We must be DOING not just HEARING!
This coming year, let’s make it our personal goal to share our faith with as many as we possibly can. Some of you are strong soul winners who share your faith often. Why not make it a goal to double your efforts this coming year? If you witness to 10 people a month, make it a goal to witness to 20.
Some of you aren’t comfortable sharing your faith. You feel as if you aren’t brave enough. We are going to take a couple of Sunday nights this coming year and focus on personal evangelism. To help you become more comfortable in sharing your faith.
Knowing how to share the message that comes from the cross of Christ is an important part of seeing our vision come to fruition. We want you to know how to share the redemptive power of Jesus Christ with others. Let us all be doers, not just hearers.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
