The Big Picture
July 2, 2017 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We must not become distracted with little things that do not matter; we must keep our eye on the big picture.
Focus Passage: Matthew 24:1-3
Supplemental Passage: "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:40 NASB)
Introduction: On Easter Sunday, 1991, I was eating with my extended family at my parents’ house. Dad had caught several large messes of crappie and mom fried them up for lunch. As I was eating, I accidently swallowed a bone and it got caught in my throat. I got up from the table and went to the bathroom to try to dislodge it. Mom got upset and started looking for bread (the local “cure” for a stuck bone in the throat). She exclaimed that we didn’t have any bread, but she had some jalapeño cornbread. She didn’t want to give me that. She knew there were several restaurants around that served fish, so she began calling them to see if they had a better remedy. One by one, I heard her tell them that, no, we didn’t have any bread, only jalapeno cornbread. Then, to my unbelief, I heard her give each restaurant the recipe for jalapeno cornbread while I was choking to death on a fish bone in the bathroom. I can laugh about it now…
I. Making Disciples
a. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 NASB)
b. but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8 NASB)
c. VBS, Falls Creek youth camp, KBA children’s camp, Food Pantry Ministry, Fall Harvest Festival, Sunday School, children’s groups and youth group are all good for making disciples
II. Doing Good
a. As long as it doesn’t distract from making disciples!
b. Each of the above activities can become the main thing instead of a tool to the main thing.
c. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. (2 Thessalonians 3:13 NASB)
d. Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42 NASB)
e. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)
f. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NASB)
III. Glorifying God
a. It is very possible to go through the motions of Sunday School, Children’s ministry, youth ministry, Food Pantry ministry, VBS, etc, without glorifying God, when we allow bad attitudes or egos to get in the way
i. Just this morning, Bro Ted said, “Well I have to go upstairs to Sunday School. Wait! I shouldn’t say it like that. I GET to go upstairs to Sunday School!”
b. Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
c. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NASB)
Application/Invitation: What things are you concerned about or that have distracted you from the Big Picture? Sometimes a simple attitude adjustment is all we need to get back on track. Sometimes, we may need to completely reevaluate what we are doing to make sure it is in sync with what is important to God.
