Sermon for 8/29/99
The Great Mount McKinely
Introduction:
A. Mount McKinley Recliner. Under the right armrest. Lift up the heavy pad and there it is, a sleek, black console equipped with telephone, answering maching, push-button controls for the recliner’s massaging vibrators and a place to plug in your modem, even a remote for the TV and VCR.
B. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Christian life was that easy?
C. Wouldn’t it be great if nothing was expected of us and we could just sit at home and relax. Or would it be great?
WBTU:
A. When Wallace and I went to go visit the Keel’s. What is expected? Nothing, oh really?!
B. KiWanis club, Rotary Club, Lion’s Club, all civic organizations expect certain things of their members, if they don’t do those things eventually they are no longer considered part of the organization.
C. The Rotary Club expects you to attend a meeting every week no matter where you are or what you are doing. They expect you to pay dues. From time to time, as a member you will be asked to serve on a committee to help the organization. If you do not do these things you are no longer considered a member.
D. The Lion’s Club expects you to attend the regular meetings. They expect you to pay dues. They even have a code of ethics. To show my faith in the worthiness of my vocation, to seek success through ethical means, to remember that in building up my buisness it is not necessary to tear down another’s, whenever doubt arises as to the ethics of a situation to be true to my convictions and beliefs, to hold friendship as an end and not a means, always bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state and my community, to aid my fellow men, to be careful with my criticism and liberal with my praise. This is what the Lion’s Club expects of their members.
E. When I was on the Children’s Home Board.
F. Campus Christian Fellowship
G. Chaplain of Rescue Squad.
H. ARC committee.
I. Little League games.
J. My ideas in Bible Bowl.
K. The things I have really sunk my teeth into are groups and organizations that expected certain things of me. If they did not want me to do anything or if they did not expect me to do anything, a lot of time I would not do anything and after a time I would no longer be involved.
L. Most of the time we get what we ask for and expect.
M. Not so when it comes to the church.
N. One church has written up a membership covenant.
1. I will protect the unity of my church by acting in love toward other members, by refusing to gossip, by following the leaders.
2. I will share the responsibility of my church by praying for its growth, by inviting the unchurched to attend, by warmly welcoming those who visit.
3. I will serve the ministry of my church by discovering my gifts and talents by discovering my gifts and talents, by being equipped to serve by my ministers, by developing a servant’s heart.
4. I will support the testimony of my church by attending faithfully, by living a godly life, by giving regularly.
O. Oh, that will never work. This is the fastest growing church in North America.
P. We can’t ask for these things. People have great time constraints today. The question isn’t whether or not people are going to be committed, but rather who is going to get their commitment. If our church doesn’t ask for and expect commitment from our people, people will conclude that what the church is doing is not as important as their other activities.
Q. A problem is that people are over-committed. Spread so thin cannot do good at anything. This is a problem for me as a preacher.
R. Must determine what is important and then do the things that are important. Major in the majors, don’t major in the minors.
S. People want to be committed to something that gives significance to their lives. They respond to responsibilities that give life meaning and are attracted by a challenging vision.
T. What is our vision?
U. This is all nice, Davon, but what would Jesus say about all of this. What does Jesus expect out of church members, out of Christians?
Thesis: What does Jesus expect of us as Christians?
For instances:
Luke 14:25-33
Vs. 25
Jesus was always followed by large crowds. Some of them were committed, some just wanted to see what was going on.
Vs. 26
A. What is Jesus saying? We should hate our family. Doesn’t this break the Commandment about Honoring Father and Mother?
B. Wife and children? We should love our wives and husbands. We should love our children.
C. Hate- neglecting social customs pertaining to family loyalties.
D. Do not hold to these people above holding to me. I am the most important things.
E. So if family doesn’t love Jesus, you are not to appease them, but to continue to follow Jesus which will end in hatred many times.
F. Muslims and Jewish faiths.
G. Own life? Not to put our own pursuits and goals and objectives above Jesus. Self-denial.
H. Worst sin of mankind is pride and loving themselves above all else.
I. I’m going to look out for #1.
J. Jesus first, others second, ourselves last. JOY
Vs. 27
A. Cross, symbol of death.
B. Die to ourselves and lose our lives to Jesus so we can gain them in the end.
C. Braveheart- All men die, but not all men truely live.
D. Should not fear death. What is the greatest fear that you have? Take up your cross and follow Jesus.
Vs. 28-30
A. There are members of my own family who do similar things.
B. How many of us have started something that we did not finish?
Vs. 31-32
A. In ancient times the numbers were so important. Hand to hand combat.
B. Is is worth it to attack an army that is larger? May not be destroyed if ask for peace. Cowardly but smart.
Vs. 33
A. Christ wants us to be willing to give up anything or anyone for him.
B. We own nothing as Christians. God owns all.
C. All things are dedicated to Christ.
D. Many strongholds in our lives.
** From what I see here I would rather do what the membership covenent of that church expected. This is much too hard. This is what Jesus expects.
C. Harsh and hard.
1. What Christ’s wants is complete self-surrender.
2. Go through verses and emphasize how difficult this is. How much we fall short.
3. Does Jesus want to bring us to a point of despair and make us quit?
4. No, he wants us to know the truth and be serious about the cost.
5. Christ will help us if we let Him.
6. Without Christ, we can do nothing. This is what he is trying to tell us.
7. Something that costs us nothing means little to us. Cheap grace. Greesy grace.
8. Jesus was serious, "Cannot be my disciple."
9. We are all committed to something, may our commitments be to Christ.
Conclusion:
A. A Great Commitment will grow a Great Church.
B. The cults of our day.
C. Many people just want to use the church. Don’t love the church!
D. Many articles have been written in our day about how people will not commit to anything. This simply isn’t true! What they do expect is to receive value equal to their commitment. They are more particular in their commitments because there are so many more options available now. Today’s generations are desperately seeking something worth committing their lives to.
E. What is the value of commiting to Christ and the church?
1. Giving our all to Christ frees us to love our family more. Vs. 26
2. Put Christ above all other relationships, all other vocations (bear the cross), and all other possessions and you will choose the best over the good. There is a good, better, best.
3. Giving Our all to Christ frees us from the fear of defeat. On winning side, don’t have to worry about unfinished business, overcome mockery.
F. Is our discipleship genuine and growing?
G. How much are you putting into it? You get out what you put in.
H. One evening Fritz Kreisler, the famous violinist, was being entertained in the home of a wealthy family. After dinner everyone gathered in the living room. The mother of the home sat at the piano. Her husband brought out a beautiful Cremona violin and handed it to Kreisler. The violinist turned the instrument and began to play. For over an hour he filled the room with beautiful music. When Kreisler handed the violin back to the owner, he refused to take it, saying: "From now on the instrument belongs to you. You are the one who can bring out the best in it." Christ is the only one who can bring out the best in us. If we wish to live in our highest, we need to surrender ourselves to him as our personal Savior and serve him by working through His church.
