INTRO:
* 2007 has been an event-filled year
* Technology continues to improve -- with the iphone
* Home foreclosures are at an all time high
* Global warming has gotten more attention
o As Al Gore got his place in the spotlight again
* Problems in the middle east continue to cause stress & unrest
* Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton prove fame and fortune don't equal peace and happiness
* Gas prices hit an all-time high
* Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's all time home run record
* While we've heard more about steroids than we would ever want to know
* We've seen referees, coaches and athletes caught cheating
* Again, we've witnessed shootings in malls and campuses.
* Some high profile Christians died - like
o James Kennedy
o Rex Humbard
o Jerry Falwell
o Ruth Bell Graham
o Tammy Faye Bakker
* And the Hubbard's moved to Washington
* But that was then and this is now
As we enter the year 2008
-I want it to be the "BEST ONE EVER"
-If it's going to be
* We must Get Into The Zone
-When you are in the Zone
...you're hitting on all cylinders
...The zone is where you're at your best
Sports
Business
Ministry
Etc.
-Being IN The Zone generates positive momentum
-It happens on the:
Golf Course
Board Room
Money
Marriage
Relationships
Spiritually
-The Zone is what you're focused in
-You're scoring points
-Life is at its BEST!
-The opposite is also true
When you are NOT In The Zone
It seems everything goes wrong.
Relationships struggle
Vision is blurred
Life is a chore
No fruit -- No success
-I want us as a church to Get In The Zone!
-2 Primary ways:
1) Be a Culture Carrier
1. Forward Thinking
2. Supernatural Without Weirdness
3. Promptness
4. Acceptance/Not Always Agreement
5. Participation
6. Order
7. Increase With Integrity
8. Generationally Minded
9. Identifiable Leadership
10. Generosity
11. The Method Isn't Sacred/The Message Is
12. Grace
2) Throw away ALL excuses
TEXT: Luke 14:16-22
16. Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, `Come, for everything is now ready.' 18. "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, `I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' 19. "Another said, `I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' 20. "Still another said, `I just got married, so I can't come.' 21. "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, `Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' 22. "`Sir,' the servant said, `what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'
An Insurance company published a list of the most abused excuses used in reporting auto accidents...
1. An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car, and vanished.
2. The other car collided with mine without warning me of its intention.
3. I had been driving my car for 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had the accident.
4. As I reached an intersection, a hedge sprang up, obscuring my vision.
5. I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment.
6. The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran over him.
7. The telephone pole was approaching fast. I attempted to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end.
8. The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.
9. The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.
-I'm tempted to have a -- NO EXCUSE SUNDAY -- to invite everybody to have our biggest attendance -- No Excuse Sunday
-We'll send out a mailing -- a no excuse Sunday mail-out
-To make it possible for everyone to attend church next Sunday
-Beds will be placed in the fellowship hall for those who say -- Sunday is my only day to sleep
-Eye drops will be provided for those with tired eyes from watching TV too late on Saturday night
-Steel helmets will be available for those who say -- the roof will cave in if I ever go to church
-Blankets will be furnished for those who think the church is too cold
-Air conditioners will be provided for those who say it's too hot
-We'll reserve the front pews for those who like the Pastor's sermons and we'll save the back pews with ear-plugs for those who say they dislike his sermons
-Score cards will be available for those who would like to list the hypocrites present
-TV dinners will be available for those who can't go to church and cook the noon meal for the family
-We will have a selection of trees and shrubbery for those who say they like to see God in nature -- as well as putting greens on the church grounds for those who say Sunday is my only day to golf.
-The sanctuary will be decorated with Christmas poinsettias and with Easter lilies for those who have never seen the church without them
-I'm just having a little fun!
-However I believe the church can help you Get In The Zone
-No more excuses about why we miss church or other ministry opportunities.
Like the husband and his wife who woke up one Sunday morning and his wife was dressed for church.
It was just about time for the service when she noticed her husband hadn't moved a finger toward getting dressed.
Perplexed, she asked, "Why aren't you getting dressed for church?"
He said, "'Cause I don't want to go."
She asked, "Do you have any reasons?"
He said, "Yes, I have three good reasons."
"First, the congregation is cold.
Second, no one likes me.
And third, I just don't want to go."
The wife replied, wisely, "Well honey, I have three reasons why you should go.
"First, the congregation is warm.
Second, there are a few people there who like you.
And third, you're the pastor!"
"So get dressed!"
-In the past there have been plenty of excuses why you're not in the zone.
-Why the church isn't
* Reaching
* Building
* Helping
* Producing
-There will always be obstacles
-But now we have no excuses
New Culture
New Vision
New Reputation
New Music
New Preaching
Will have New Ministries
New approach
New Staff
-Philosophy of starting ministries
-Not because we've always done them
-But for the health...vision...purpose
Some General Areas:
1. Forward Thinking
1. Web Page
2. Bookstore -- ministry catalog
3. Pod cast
4. T.V.
5. Update technology
2. Supernatural
Institute:
6. Intercessory prayer
7. Pastor's prayer partners
8. Corporate Prayer
Altar
3. Promptness
Everything
4. Acceptance
9. Membership
10. Visitor friendly
11. Hispanic service
12. K-nex groups
5. Participation
13. Enlarge leadership base
14. Build program management team
15. Bring understanding & accountability to CPO's
6. Order
16. Clean-up building
17. New nursery
18. Paint outside
19. Café
20. Building excellence
21. Draw definite ministry lines
22. Mind your own ministry
7. Increase with integrity
23. Kingdom Builders
24. Explain Leadership Live -- Aaron Jayne
8. Generationally Minded
25. Youth ministry -- explain
26. Children's Outreach
27. Rebuild Nursery
28. Growth engines for the school
9. Identifiable Leadership
29. Deacons to a more spiritual role
30. Empower
31. Qualifying people for ministry
32. Those involved support & present
10. Generosity
33. District appreciation
34. Everywhere -- to -- everyone
- love down
- love side-to-side
- love up
11. Method Not Sacred
35. Big Events
February -- Superbowl Weekend
March -- Easter -- Dash
April -- No Absentee Sunday
May -- Mother's Day
June -- Father's Day
July -- Outdoor Patriotic Service
August -- Back-to-School Service
September -- Biker Sunday
October -- To Hell & Back
November -- Feed The Multitude
December -- Bike Giveaway
12. Grace
36. Dream Again
37. P.C.
CONCLUSION:
-Every enemy has a place of termination
-And a set date of expiration
-When you're enemy's place of termination and date of expiration cross
-All you have to do is show up!
