TEXT: SELECTED
TITLE: “MEETING THE CHALLENGE: PART TWO”
OPEN: A. Laurence J. Peter: “If you don’t know where you’re going, you will probably end up somewhere
else.”
1. Goals are important
--they help us establish:
a. Where we’re going
b. Why we’re going there
c. How we’re getting there
2. Last week, we said that the goal of a Christian is to become more like Christ!
a. Rom. 8:28-29 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love
him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brothers.”
--God’s plan has always been to make you like Jesus Christ.
1). His intention from the very beginning has been to make human beings like Himself.
2). God is not promising that you, too, will become a god
b. Eph. 4:15 – “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is
the Head, that is, Christ.”
--“God wants us to grow up…like Christ in everything”.
C. Growing to be like Christ is certainly not an easy thing
--It is definitely a challenge
1. Starting today, we begin our 10 Week Spiritual Challenge
--ends on March 15th 2008 (the day before we begin revival services)
2. Our goal in this 10 Week Spiritual Challenge is to provide opportunities for everyone of us to
grow to become more like Christ
--nothing more can be accomplished but nothing less is expected
3. (Briefly cover the 10 Week Spiritual Challenge sheet and covenant)
4. Last Sunday morning, we looked at the first four areas where we challenge ourselves to be more
like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
--this morning, I want us to look at the last four areas
V. SERVICE
A. Do you know the answers to these questions?
1. Q. What do you call a chicken crossing the road?
A. Poultry in motion.
2. Q. What do you call a boomerang that doesn’t work?
A. A stick.
3. Q. What do you call cheese that isn’t yours?
A. Nacho cheese.
4. Q. What do you call a man who falls into an upholstery machine?
A. Fully recovered.
5. Q. What do you call a Christian who isn’t serving?
A. A contradiction.
B. Jesus clearly sets the example in this area
1. Phil. 2:5-8 – “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the
very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he
humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!”
2. John Chapt. 13 – The night before Jesus goes to the cross. Jesus and the disciples are preparing to
share the Passover meal together. Instead of being focused on this important and holy night, the
disciples are arguing over who is going to be top dog. Jesus simply wraps a towel around His waist
and becomes a humble servant by washing their feet
-- Jn. 13:12-17 – “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his
place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me ’Teacher’ and
’Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your
feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I
have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger
greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do
them.”
C. Jesus said that the greatest commandments were to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and
strength and to love your neighbor as yourself.
1. How do we show love to God and to others
--by serving them
2. Gal. 5:13-15 – “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the
sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you
will be destroyed by each other.”
D. The Levels:
1. Determine your spiritual gifts and commit to joining a ministry team
2. Commit to leading or assisting a team leader in the ministry area
3. Start a new service ministry either serving the church or the community
E. Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, who died recently, once appeared on the cover of their annual
report dressed in a knee-length work apron holding a mop and a plastic bucket. Here’s how he described
that picture: “I got my M.B.A. long before my G.E.D. At Wendy’s M.B.A. does not mean Master of
Business Administration. It means Mop Bucket Attitude.”
--As Christians, we’re to have a mop bucket attitude as well
VI. COMMUNITY
A. “Community” can be defined as a group of people sharing the same basic interests and concerns
1. As the church, we are a community
--we share the same Lord, the same faith, the same baptism, the same God and Father over all
2. We cannot grow and thrive without the help of community
B. What do we get in community with each other?
1. Share in the body of Christ
-- Mt. 18:20 – “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
2. Grow in concert with each other
-- Acts 2:46-47 – “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread
in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor
of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
3. Receive encouragement, help, and instruction in walking with Christ
--Heb. 10:24-25 – “2And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good
deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage
one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
4. We practice the “one another” passages:
o build each other up ( 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13);
o look out for each others’ best interest ( Philippians 2:4);
o bear one another’s burdens ( Galatians 6:2);
o are kind to each other ( 1 Peter 4:9)
(this is often linked to the traditional Jewish virtue of hospitality);
o honor and respect one another ( Romans 12:10);
o serve each other ( Galatians 5:13);
o admonish each other ( Colossians 3:16; Romans 15:14);
o confess your sins to each other ( James 5:16);
o forgive each other ( Ephesians 4:32);
o think of one another ( Hebrews 10:24);
o do not judge each other ( Romans 15:13);
o accept each other ( Romans 14:1, 15:7);
o do not stand in each other’s way ( Romans 15:13);
o regard each other as more important than oneself (Philippians 2:3);
C. The Levels:
1. Attend church for the next 10 weeks
2. Attend a Sunday School class for the next 10 weeks
3. Form a small group to share life with other believers
VII. STEWARDSHIP
A. The main principle of stewardship is that we’re don’t really own what we think we own
--In fact, everything ultimately belongs to God and He allows us to use it for a brief period of time
1. 1 Chron. 28-29, David is commending Solomon to the people as the next king of Israel. He also
provides that a permanent temple be built to house the ark of the covenant. Giving of his wealth, he
asks the leaders and people of the nation to do the same. David gives this offeratory prayer at this
time
--1 Chron. 29:14-16 – “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as
generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from
your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on
earth are like a shadow, without hope. O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have
provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it
belongs to you.”
2. Ps. 24:1 – “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it…”
B. Stewards were servants whom the master trusted with managing part of his estate
1. Joseph was a steward for Potiphar
2. Jesus told several parables about the master leaving part of his estate in control of servants who
were expected to be diligent in managing the master’s property
--Those parables also include descriptions of punishment for unfaithful servants
C. The Bible clearly teaches that we are simply stewards – money, possessions, land, investments, time,
talents – all are expected to be given and used for God and by Him
--the “firstfruits” of all that we have belong to God
1. Prov. 3:9 – “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops…”
2. Mal. 3:8-10 – “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ’How do we rob you?’
In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing
me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,
says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so
much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
C. The Levels:
1. Give 5% of your income to the local church
2. Give 10% of your income to the local church
3. Find a missionary or mission organization to support above and beyond your tithes and offerings to
the local church
VIII. EVANGELISM
A. Jesus was sent by the Father for the purpose of bringing the lost to the Father
--Lk. 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
B. He’s commanded us to do the same
--Mt. 28:19-20 – “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
1. Jn. 20:21 – “As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”
2. Acts 1:8 – “You shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end
of the earth.”
C. The Great Commission has become the “great omission” with many Christians
--they’re like arctic rivers – frozen at the mouth
D. Samuel Wilberforce: Christianity can be condensed into four words: admit, submit, commit, and
transmit.
1. Admit – we recognize that we’re sinners and lost eternally.
2. Submit – we surrender ourselves to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
3. Commit – we entrust leadership of our lives to follow Him.
4. Transmit – we communicate the gospel message to others who are lost.
--It’s been said that evangelism is simply one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread
D. The Levels:
1. Identify two people that you know who do not know Christ and commit to pray for them
2. Invite your two people to attend church with you
3. Verbally share what Christ has done in your life with your two friends
CLOSE: A. In 1983, John Scully quit his post at Pepsico (Pepsi Corporation) to become the president of
Apple Computer. He took a big risk leaving his prestigious job with a well-established firm to
join ranks with an unproven little outfit that offered no guarantees, only the excitement of one
man’s transforming vision.
Scully said that he made the move after Apple co-founder Steve Jobs goaded him with the
following question: “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you
want a change to change the world?”
1. That was Jesus’ challenge to those who would follow Him
2. He’s called us to not be contented with trivial things but to find our contentment with the
message that can change the world!
B. How will you respond to the challenge?
1. Over the next 10 weeks, you have the opportunity to do the greatest thing ever: become more
like Christ
--will you be faithful in your commitment?
2. Today, you have the opportunity to take the first step in becoming like Christ: making Him
your personal Lord and Savior
