Video- We Are the Church
Slide #1
Welcome…
Prayer
I would like to begin today by asking you a simple question…
What is the greatest challenge each of you will face in 2013?
Before I even asked this question…I knew how the majority of people would answer…
Most people when asked this question… answer… Just Trying to Survive Life!
And with the condition that our country is in today…who can blame anyone for responding that way?
The majority of people in America…are forced to live their lives paycheck to paycheck.
Both husband and wife are working to support the life style they have created…and as a result…God is completely being left out of the picture
And honestly it doesn’t matter if you’re a Christian or a non-believer……life is going to hold challenges for you.
Just look at the challenges of living here in Hobbs…
The oil field market is booming…daily people are arriving here from all over the country looking for work.
It reminds me of the gold rush days from the 1800’s.
People packing up everything…loaded up their wagons…and heading to the west …
They did this with the intention of living the American dream by staking their claim.
But once these people arrive in Hobbs…they quickly find out a few things about life.
1) There’s nowhere to live
2) If they can find housing…Rent is expensive
3) When/if they can pass the drug screening process (employed).
4) They should plan on kissing their wife, kids and lives goodbye…because you’re working 40-120 hrs. a week.
5) And if you think that’s as hard as it gets…it gets extremely hot in the summer and cold in the winter.
Slide #2
Hobbs’s is great place to live…you just have to be willing to adjust to the lifestyle change of living here.
When people are forced into adjusting to lifestyle changes…I become concerned…let me explain.
How many people actually ended up working their childhood dream job?
I believe one of the most difficult things about life in general…is being willing to accept change while adapting to it.
By America’s standards…when an 18 yr. old turns 19…they are no longer considered a child.
From that moment on…they are considered an adult…thus personal accountability and responsibility begins.
This is truthfully when life in the worlds eyes begins…these young adults are expected to either go on to college.
Or like many that have done before…get a job and begin working for the next 40-60 years of their lives.
At that moment…our young adults (children) have a very important decision to make about their lives.
(We’ve all been their haven’t we)
Do I go my own way…or do I follow in the footsteps of my...
Parents…grandparents…guardian…aunt…
uncle…Brother…sister…ect
Whoever it is that raised them?
They are either going to live their lives by how they have been raised or go out on their own starting a new direction.
This is why the decisions you make yesterday… today…and tomorrow…
Are so important in the eyes of your children…grandchildren…foster kids…adopted children…ect
Slide #3
How many of you have just taken the time to think about what life…is really all about?
Should our daily focus be…
1) Working the dream Job…
2) Raising the picture perfect family…
3) Making more $ than we ever dreamed possible…
4) Building our dream homes…
5) Thinking only about retirement…
Matter of fact… (When you think about it)…
These are the exact reasons why Jesus came to the earth…
He was working the dream job
He was raising the perfect family
He always spoke about money
He was building His dream Home
He was working for retirement.
The difference between Him and us is…
His reason for life was spiritually driven…where the world’s reason is for personal gain.
Slide #4
This is why I believe that Life’s Toughest Challenge in 2013 is going to be for the Church itself. (The continued existence of God)
In the world we live in today…God is dying…He is becoming less and less important to this Generation.
He is being removed from congress…our school system…our homes…and even in some of our churches.
The church is daily fading away…and we find ourselves standing here looking at empty chairs… and wonder why?
And as I shared last week…It’s our fault…
We are the ones that have been passing the blame from generation to generation instead of assuming the responsibility ourselves.
Whether or not…people are willing to admit it or not…very soon there is a time coming when all people will be calling out for His help.
I believe the saddest thing about life and the challenges we face while living it is…
Most people could care less about God and the church.
I understand that there is only so much each of us can do…our nation didn’t get to be the way it is over night.
But I also know that each of us is responsible for the choices we make.
Plain and simple…the world around us is a mess…and its time that we make a stand.
The Apostle Paul shares with his co-worker Timothy about this very matter in…
Slide #5
II Timothy 3:1-5 when he says…
“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.
2 For people will love only themselves and their money.
They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.
3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control.
They will be cruel and hate what is good.
4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.
5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.
Stay away from people like that!,”
Slide #6
In II Timothy chapter three…Paul warns not only Timothy but each of us about the upcoming tragedy of people falling away from God.
In the last days just as the scriptures tell us… “People will love only themselves and their money…they will act religious…but they will reject Godly direction”
Thursday night…after Pastor Chuck left the office for the evening….
God was working overtime on me…
I was confused…hurting…angry…sad and concerned.
Then I started thinking about the last 2 years just here in Hobbs.
I began asking God questions like.
… How can people…treat you the way they do.
…How can people be so self-centered with their time?
…How can people threat people the way they do…
…How can people who know the truth about the sacrifice you sent not want to give more back?
…How can people who know about the truth…leave a church because the message was personal on any given Sunday?
God you went through more than we ever will…and You never gave up on us?????????????
I thought to myself…what makes sense of this thing we call life.
And God reminded me of one of my favorite past times I have in this life.
God said…Pastor Bret…you need to go fishing in your mind.
When I’m fishing my mind focus on God’s creation because in nature it’s all around and you cannot help and notice His presence.
Slide #7
How many of you know… what the most challenging thing a Salmon has to do during its lifetime?
Each year in the spring…Millions of Salmon begin the exhausting journey of swimming in rivers upstream to arrive in the area where each one of their lives began.
This is not an easy trip for these fish…
First of all they are consistently swimming upstream against the ragging current.
Second…their greatest enemy the grizzly bear… knows that every year at the same time… dinner is conveniently swimming close by.
Third if the bear doesn’t get’em…the pastor will.
Each year thousands of sport fishermen show up on rivers like the grizzlies to catch their trophy fish.
The old wise tale says that … “safety comes in numbers”…but like the salmon in the river…the Christian numbers are daily dropping.
Every day…you and I find ourselves swimming up river against the current trying to lead our families and friends to the safe water… back to the place where their lives began. (God)
And as research has revealed…fewer and fewer people care about making the trip up river anymore.
God’s main intention for man and woman was to spend eternity with them in the beauty…and safety of the Garden of Eden.
But we all know how that turned out…Because of the craftiness of a snake named Satan…Life itself became unsafe and challenging.
Just like the salmon that on occasion get eaten by a bear or caught by the sportsman…?
Our Friends and family members fall prey (get eaten up by) the treasures of this life…separating them from the intended fellowship with God in the garden.
I don’t know about you but…I’m not ok with that…and for those of us here today who claim to be Christians…neither should you be!
Slide #8
If we do not do something about it…the church as we know it will cease to exist.
Studies have revealed that 3600 churches will close their doors for the final time this year.
If you divide 3600 by our 50 states…72 churches in each state will close their doors this year…Never again to preach the word of God.
Who knows what today is?
Today is January 6th 2013…this is the first Sunday in a new year!
People all around the world are making New Year’s resolutions.
Many resolutions are to lose weight…quit smoking…quit drinking…get out of debt…
These are all legit resolutions.
But how many of you know what the number one resolution mentioned this year is?
Spend More Time with Family & Friends
I like that don’t you?
I also believe that each of us needs to make the most important New Year’s resolution that we have ever made.
You need to make a commitment today…between you and God that this year…during 2013.
You will become more faithful and obedient by serving Him.
You need to make the promise to Him that you will sit down with strangers…friends…and family members and share Jesus with them.
Because if you don’t VP could very well become one of the churches that research talks about!
Please Stand
Slide # 9
