Intent on One Purpose
August 5, 2012 Morning Service
Pastor’s 5th Anniversary
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We must be intent on living a holy life characterized by serving others.
Focus Passage: Philippians 2:1-8
Supplemental Passage: "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12 NASB)
Introduction: During World War II, England needed to increase its production of coal. Winston Churchill called together labor leaders to enlist their support. At the end of his presentation he asked them to picture in their minds a parade which he knew would be held in Picadilly Circus after the war.
First, he said, would come the sailors who had kept the vital sea lanes open. Then would come the soldiers who had come home from Dunkirk and then gone on to defeat Rommel in Africa. Then would come the pilots who had driven the Luftwaffe from the sky.
Last of all, he said, would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miner's caps. Someone would cry from the crowd, 'And where were you during the critical days of our struggle?' And from ten thousand throats would come the answer, 'We were deep in the earth with our faces to the coal.'"
Not all the jobs in a church are prominent and glamorous. But it is often the people with their "faces to the coal" who help the church accomplish its mission.
Don McCullough, Waking from the American Dream. http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/s/service.htm
I. Intent on Being United
a. United in Christ
i. We are encouraged by Him
ii. We are consoled by His love
iii. We have fellowship in the Spirit
iv. We have affection and compassion
b. United in Purpose
i. We should have the same goal: to glorify God in all that we do
ii. We should have the same mindset: to live in holiness
iii. We should have the same love: to show others God’s love by our love for one another
1. We may have differences of opinion, but we don’t let those differences separate us
iv. We should be united by the same spirit: to work together for God’s Kingdom; not ours
II. Intent on Being Selfless
a. Do not promote your own agenda thinking “My way is better”
b. Humbly regard others:
i. How will what I say, make the other person feel?
ii. How will what I do, make the other person feel?
c. Realize your words are the strongest attribute anyone has:
i. a weapon of destruction
ii. a tool of edification
III. Intent on Being Christ-like
a. Have the same servant attitude of Jesus
b. He was God, but emptied Himself of the royal privileges and majestic environment to serve the Father and to die for us.
c. He was obedient in all things, to the point of a gruesome, humiliating public execution.
Invitation:
