Our Purpose
3/2/2002 Numbers 13:36-14-4 Philippians 3:10-16
Rick
Today we celebrate the reality that some fourteen years ago, God intervened in the life of this congregation in a definite manner with a specific purpose in mind. With God, nothing happens simply by chance, for even things which may seem insignificant can be life changing events in our lives. When Moses took time out to look at a burning bush, he did not know he was entering a journey that would lead millions of people out of slavery.
Toby
God looked at his people in Egypt and he had a purpose in mind. God’s desire was to bring His people out of Eygpt, but his purpose was to bring them into the promised land so that they could be blessed and truly get to know Him. He sent Moses and Aaron, to bring the people out of Egypt.
God had to do all kinds of miracles to get the Egyptians to set free the Hebrew slaves. He turned the Nile River into blood, he sent plagues of frogs gnats, flies and locusts. God sent sickness and sores, hail storms and darkness. It wasn’t until the first born son in every Egyptian family died that the Egyptians obeyed God and let the people go.
RICK
After they left, the Egyptians had a change of heart and took the whole army to go after them to bring them back as slaves. The people of God had the Red Sea blocking them on one side and the Egyptian army with chariots and whips coming from the other side. Before the Egyptians could attack, God sent a wall of fire between the groups so that the Egyptians could not cross.
In the meantime, God had Moses lift up a rod which led to the Red Sea splitting down the middle so that the people could cross the sea on dry land. There was water to the right and to the left, but they crossed on dry land. The Lord removed the wall of fire and instead of the Egyptians realizing they were fighting a losing battle, they still ran after the Israelites trying to follow the same path through the sea, but the waters on the left and right collapsed on top of them, and the whole army was destroyed.
TOBY
The people shouted and danced at God’s work. They were glad to have left Egypt. When they got to the border of the promised land, they sent in 12 spies to see if all God had said about the land was true. All 12 came back saying “everything good about the land that God said is true”.
But 10 of the 12 said, “there’s no way we can take the land, the people are too strong and the problems are too many.” But two of them said, “don’t you remember what God did for us in Egypt? Don’t you remember what God did at the Red Sea? Don’t you remember how the Egyptian army was destroyed? The same God who did that to the Egyptians will do it to the new enemies that we face. After all, it was God who promised to give us this land.”
RICK
But the “voice of faith” was silenced by the voice of “what we can do.” The 10 spies kept emphasizing the size of the problem, to the point where they actually started lying, claiming the giants were so big they looked like grasshoppers in their sight. The people chose to believe the lies that they could not do, what God had told them to do.
They believed God’s purpose for them was to bring them out of Egypt so that He could wipe them out. They decided to go choose a new leader in order to go back to Egypt. They would not believe God had a positive purpose for their lives.
About eighteen years ago, after getting off to a good start in the 60’s, our church found itself in a place like Egypt. Glenville was struggling to survive in a changing community with many members who were simply names on the rolls, but had left the call to work. Our giving was poor. We were dependent on the presbytery for our financial needs. The presbytery had decided to end the funding it had been giving for the operational expenses of the church.
TOBY
Pressures were coming in from different sides to get the church to consider merging with another church. The alternative was to consider closing the church. At times collapsing seemed imminent. God had used Glenville in the past to touch many lives of people. It was a church known for its involvement in the civil rights struggles. It had a reputation for feeding and educating youth. Some of you had come to know Christ in this place. The church was committed to being in Glenville when others were leaving.
Yet at the same time it was facing it’s struggle to survive. But God always has a plan and a purpose. God’s plan began unfolding in sending a couple known as Pastor Bob and Pastor Camille. It was under their leadership in the late 80’s that the church began to send out spies to see if the land in the 90’s held promise of a congregation that could be revived and rebuilt.
RICK
Through the rough times of the 80’s God was positioning the church, to move forward toward His purposes. Although some of the spies from the committees came back and said, “there was no hope for the church and that it should close.” There were some who said, “We do no know how it will happen, but we do know that God has a purpose for our church.”
Some of the saints who made this declaration have gone on to be with the Lord, but some of you are still here today and you have experienced God’s faithfulness. As your pastors, we realize there would have been no 14th anniversary without your willingness to believe God for the future.
TOBY
Glenville was already on a course of change in it’s worship as it began to establish it’s first black contemporary gospel choir in the form of the Gospel Gems. Little did anyone know how prophetic, that musical group would be in what would become of the worship services of the Glenville of the future. Unlike the people of Moses’s day who were on the verge of receiving the promise, but chose to look back at Egypt, this congregation decided to look forward to what God could do.
Like the apostle Paul in Philip. 3:13-14 the leadership of Glenville decided. Brothers & Sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
RICK
A pastor’s nominating committee was elected which against all odds believed they would find a pastor for a very small salary to come to a church that on paper was saying, “you’ve got to be NUTS to consider this church.” Thankfully for the committee, God knew exactly where to find two nuts in Boston, Ma.
Now this committee was led under the skillful leadership of Elder Gail H. Banes. Gail had to be a woman of faith, because she knew with the amount of money she and the committee had to locate a pastor, if she blew it on the first try, she would not have any money to bring in another candidate.
TOBY
When we first read about the church and contacted Gail, we were hoping that there had been a misprint about the salary because it was low. Unfortunately for us there was no misprint. We could not have imagined that one phone call from Gail, would be the burning bush in changing the course of our lives.
We were in a wonderful growing church in Boston that had come from the point of being closed to the point of spiritual renewal. We were happy as the pastors and had been there for six years. Our church as the most talked about turn around for the presbytery of Boston.
RICK
When we were considering coming to Glenville, it really was a matter of being willing to be NUTS for Christ. The only way we could come to a seemingly dying church and do it with a tremendous cut in pay was to Never Underestimate the Spirit. We believed God that there was a promise land somewhere in Glenville, but having spied out the land, we could see some giants of disunity in the church, strong tradition in the church, poor giving in the church, and lack of participation in bible study. Not to mention our own personal giants of how were we going to pay our bills on the salary.
Yet some 14 years ago, the same God who had purposed to bring the children of Israel into the promised land, spoke to our hearts and to your hearts to accept the challenge to move forward together into the promised land of the 90’s and discover the goodness and the love of God. We entered into a covenant to love and support each other as pastors and church with both agreeing to make sacrifices on behalf of the other for the good of the Kingdom of God.
TOBY
For 14 years, together we have been discovering the goodness and the love of God as we have seen lives changed and families transformed. We have been blessed to be a part of leadership teams in session that year after year wants to know God and want to do God’s will for this church and community. God brought us and you together for us to enjoy being in a right relationship with Him.
When we look at our purpose statement, it begins, our purpose is to bring people into a right relationship with God. All the things we did in this building from painting, to carpeting, to building handicap access ramps, to putting in pew cushions and ceilings have been done with the ultimate purpose of bringing people into a right relationship with God. This building is going to past away, but the lives that we change through the use of it will endure forever.
RICK
The financial gifts and sacrifices you have made and are still making have been done to touch lives for Jesus Christ. We are not seeking to give people religion. Our goal is to give them Jesus Christ. Like the apostle Paul said, “ I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him his death and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Paul is saying, “I want to know what it’s like to have power over the things that would frighten me in life. I want to know the power God has to set me free from anything that would make me its slave through some kind of addiction. I want to know what it’s like to be able to say yes to the will and plans and purposes God has for my life even when it hurts, because I know that God has something better in store for my life.
TOBY
For 14 years, we have been sharing a vision of reaching people for Christ. Many of you are here serving God today, not because of Pastor Rick Or Pastor Toby, but because somebody else in this congregation loved you enough to invite you to come to this church and when you came the Spirit of God spoke to your heart.
You may have come because of a newspaper, a radio broadcast or a TV program, but what brought you back was the love and acceptance of the people you found when you got here. The Spirit God spoke to your heart and said, “here’s a place I want you to get to know me.”
RICK
For 14 years we have been trying to live out the next part of our statement which is to equip them for the ministry of Jesus Christ. It’s not enough to simply say, “now that I know God, I can do as I please.” God had a purpose when He called us into a right relationship with Him. Jesus put it this way in John You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
TOBY
We bear fruit by doing the ministry of Jesus Christ. Everybody who knows the Lord has been called into a ministry. What is the purpose of asking you to be in the choir, to be an elder, to be a usher, to be a greeter, to be a counter, to be a dancer , a teacher, a deacon, a lay pastor, or coffee hour worker? It is to equip you for ministry. Why do we have the various organizations in the church? It is to equip you for ministry. Jesus said, “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.
RICK
When it comes to the end of our lives, only those things that’s done for Christ will last. God did not choose us simply to go to heaven. He chose us to put us to too work. The people who become bored with church are the ones who have no ministry in church because they will not accept any ministry God offers to them. People who are on fire for the Lord are the ones who are eager to be involved as servants for Christ.
When you come to church, determined to do something for God, you don’t have time to be bored. You’re too busing looking for opportunities. We say thank you to all of you who have eased our burden by being committed to work for the cause of Christ.
TOBY
Now ministry does not take place just in church, but outside of the church as well. Every natural talent God gives us, should bear fruit for the kingdom. When you score a touchdown, simply falling on your knees and saying a short prayer is not bearing fruit for the kingdom, unless the other players on the team will testify that you life is an example of somebody living for God. God only accepts our trophies and accomplishments as honoring His name, when we live lives for Christ in the situation where the honor was given.
RICK
The promotion you got on your job will past, But the love you showed to that unloving and ungrateful co-worker when it was needed will last forever. Why, because you did it out of the love you have for Jesus Christ. That’s why God chose you. Being captain of the squad was great, but reaching out and accepting that person at school that nobody else will speak to is something that will last.
TOBY
The next part of our purpose states by teaching the Word. For 14 years we have tried to preach and teach the Word of God to you. Applying it first to our own lives and then passing it on to you. We teach the word of God in so many ways at Glenville. We have the pulpit ministry on Sundays. We have Pioneers and Life-Sharing. That’s how Youth Worship fits in. That’s why Sisters in the Lord, Woman to Woman, Singles, Men Who Excel and Marriage Sensation exist. They all have an element of teaching the Word of God present in them for particular situations in life.
RICK
Submitting ourselves to the teachings of Scripture is one of the giants in the promise land that some of us are still unwilling to fight. Yet we expect to grow in our walk with God. We have to make time to come to study the word of God. Everyone of us will give an account for the hours we spend wasted on silly tv programs when we could have been engaging others in the word of God. Some of us call ourselves Christians, yet we have never been in a Bible Study on a regular basis? Why?
There was a man in our church a number of years ago who had been coming for about 5 years. I kept asking him, why don’t you come to Bible Study. He left that Sunday, saying “I’ve made up my mind to come to Bible Study this week. He didn’t show up on Tuesday afternoon. He had died that Tuesday morning. In 5 years, he never had time for one Bible study class. How busy can you be?
TOBY
The spiritual strength in this church is found in those of you who know the word of God and can discern between what’s of God and what is not. We thank God for all of you who not only know the word, but submit yourselves to it. For it is in the submission to the word of God that we found the promised land and the life that Jesus wants us to have. So many people are trying to find life in doing their own thing, thinking it will lead to life.
Jesus says, “no you’ve got it all wrong. Just kicking it in whatever way you want to is not going to get you the joy you hope to find . Mark 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” It’s not enough to simply know the word of God, to enter into the promised land, WE must be willing to put it into action to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.
For 14 years, we have been trying to get us all to be willing to die daily for Jesus Christ in order to live. The purpose in coming to Jesus is to understand how important it is to die in order to be right with God on a daily basis.
RICK
The last part of our purpose statement is to provide opportunities to worship, fellowship, and serve God in a loving and caring community. As a church each Sunday we have worship service. Worship is not about how we feel. Worship is honoring God for who God is and a demonstration of our love for Him.
Worship involves focusing in on the words to the songs we sing to the point of them becoming reality in our praise and in our lives. You do not get anything out of worship, if you do not put yourself into your worship. It’s possible to come to church, but never come to worship.
Can you imagine God saying, “all those years you came to church, why on so many Sundays did you refuse to worship me.” Well God I was mad because of so and so. God I didn’t feel like it, cause I was too tired. God I was too embarrassed to be clapping and lifting my hands. Wouldn’t it be far better to hear the words, “My child I was pleased with your worship of Me.” No one, not even God will make us worship, but every child of God will consider it a blessing to be able to do it.
TOBY
We provide opportunities to fellowship. Do you like being around other Christians. If not, why does your spirit not bear witness with them. The special activities we do are not only a chance to have fun with one another, but to appreciate each other in ways that we cannot do on Sundays. God made us the body of Christ to communicate and to exchange dreams with one another.
There is a time to spend with those who are not saved, but there is also a time to spend with believers. Both are necessary for a healthy Christian experience. Does the Jesus in you really love the Jesus in me, and does the Jesus in me really love the Jesus in you.
RICK
We provide opportunities to serve. What kind of servant are you today. Are you eager to do what’s needed for the cause of Christ or do you look at the quickest exit you can find. When was the last time you did something because it needed doing, and not because you were asked?
If you knew you were going to die this evening and I told you to list your current service to the body of Christ at Glenville, what would you write on the paper beyond coming to church and giving an offering. What is it about you that helps make the church stronger.
TOBY
Our goal is to provide a loving and caring community. An asset is something that gives you more value. It adds worth to you. A liability is something that costs you and hurts you. When it comes to being loving and caring, are you an asset or a liability to our church.
Did you know that most people have decided whether or not they will come back to a church long before the pastor gets a chance to speak. They will judge the sermon based on the treatment they have already received from the members of the congregation from the time they got out of the car until the moment one of us stands to preach.
RICK
After 14 years of ministry we recognize, one of the most powerful groups in affecting our church growth is our youth from our teenagers on down. If this group in our church is not loving and caring, we will not grow. If a parent brings children to the church and they are rejected by our own youth by being laughed at, made fun of or just ignored, that family will not become a part of our church. No parent brings their children into a situation of where they will be continually abused.
Young people, God has given you a tremendous opportunity to be a blessing to the church and to us as pastors simply be being kind to other youth. You are helping to determine what our next 14 years of ministry will be like.
TOBY
Even at church we have the popular people and the not so popular. How loving and caring are we toward those who are the least popular? I’m pretty sure I can smile because God loves me, but am I being honest when I say, come to think of it I love you too. Wouldn’t it be great if our singing “Lord I want to be more like You Jesus, could be a continuously reality right here in the church.”
Making fun of people hurts people, whether it is at school or at the church. It hurts the church because all the work that was done to bring people into a right relationship with God can be quickly undone by a hurtful comment. Each time we go home on Sundays, can we look back and ask the question, was I an asset or a liability for the cause of Christ during my time at church today?
Somehow we mistakenly get the notion that our church is for our comfort. No, the purpose of the church is to bring people into a right relationship with God. We are to be willing to die to ourselves, that Jesus might be shown to the world. We have a vision for a New Life Center, but that’s not what God has called us to give to this community. God has called us to give them Jesus because that’s why he brought us together 14 years ago.
RICK
For the next 14 years, we want to continue to give this community good kid programs, teen programs and adult programs. We want to give food, shelter and clothing to those in need. We want to give tools to strengthen single parents, build stronger families, equip men and women to be leaders.
We want to give worship services that are filled with great music, wonderful dancing, encouraging testimonies and strong biblical and Spirit filled preaching. We want to give hope to everyone in need. But through all our activities, we cannot forget that what we need to give everybody whether they come through our doors or not. is Jesus! Without Jesus, all of our lives will end in darkness. But Jesus brings eternal hope.
As Mike sings this song, let’s all reflect on our own need for Jesus.
4. Who Is The Most Powerful Group In The Church
5. Just Being Loving Makes All The Difference
6. What About The Unpopular
7. Is It True “Come To Think Of It I Love You Too”
8. The Painful Power Of Words
L. Remember The Church Belongs To Jesus
1. God Has Something He Wants Us To Give
2. New Life Center—Programs- Worship
3. Hope
4. Jesus
Sermon Outline Pastor Toby & Pastor Rick 3/2/2003
Our Purpose Numbers 13:36-14:4 Philippians 3:10-16
A. Celebration Of God’s Intervention 14 Years Ago
1. A Burning Bush Changes Your Life Forever
2. God Uses Aaron & Moses To Lead People
3. From Slavery, To Plagues, To Freedom
4. The Red Sea, The Fire, The Victory
B. The Promised Land In Sight
1. We All 12 Agree That It Is Good
2. 10 Say No Way—2 Say It’s Ours
3. Voice Of Reason—Voice Of We Can’t Do
4. Complaining Leads To Lies, To Defeat
C. A Church That God Had Called To Be
1. Struggling After A Good Start
2. Little Money, Where Do We Go From Here
3. Pressures To Fold
4. Great Ministry In The Past, But Now What
D. A Turn Around In The Making
1. A Couple Provides Leadership To Decide
2. Spies Sent Out From Glenville
3. A Remnant Declares—God Has A Purpose
4. The Winds Of Change—Gospel Gems
Philip. 3:13-14 Brothers & Sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
E. A Challenge To The Nominating Committee
1. Go Out And Find Some NUTS—God Had UTS
2. The Wisdom Of Gail H Banes & Committee
3. Pastors With Questions—But Willing To Be NUTS
F. A New Covenant In The Making
1. Discovering The Love Of God 14 Years
2. A Blessing To Work Together
G. Purpose-To Bring People Into A Right Relationship
1. Changing A Building For A Purpose
2. The Goal Is To Give Them Jesus Christ
3. The Reason That We Give
Philip. 3:10-11 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
4. The Power That God Offers To Set Free
5. You Came Because Somebody Loved
H. Equip Them For The Ministry Of Jesus Christ
1. God Always Call With A Purpose In Mind
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
2. All Have Been Called Into Ministry
3. Purpose For Groups—Jesus’ Appointment
4. Only The Lazy Are Bored
5. Coming Determined To Be A Blessing
6. How To Score A Touchdown For Jesus
7. Why May Not God Accepts Our Achievements
8. Doing What You Do For Christ To Make It Last
9. Just Being Accepting Of Others
I. By Teaching The Word
1. The Pulpit, The Teaching Ministries
2. Submitting Ourselves To Scripture
3. Giving An Account For Silly TV
4. The Man Who Almost Came To Bible Study
5. Being The Strength Of The Church
Mark 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
6. Being Willing To Die Daily For Jesus
H. To Provide Opportunities To Worship,
1. Worship—Not All About Me- About God
2. Worship—Honor & Privilege
3. Get Out What You Put In
4. What Will God Ask You About Your Worship
5. Coming To Church, But Never Coming To
Worship
I. To Fellowship
1. Who Wants To Be With The Saints
2. Special Activities Have A Purpose
3. To Be With The Saved Or The Unsaved
4. Being Healthy & Balanced
5. Does The Jesus In Me Really Love The …..
J. To Serve
1. What Kind Of Servant Am I
2. Let Me Help You With My Obituary
K. Loving And Caring Community
1. Asset—It Adds Value
2. Liability—Ouch It Hurts
3. Who Decides On Whether Visitors Come Back
As Pastors, We Thank You For The Role You Have Played In Our Lives Some, Or All Of These Past 14 Years. If You Are Willing, Could You Please Let Us Know How You Have Been Blessed By Some Ministry At The Church In The Past 14 Years Or How We May Have Touched Your Life In A Positive Way. Please Leave This Sheet In The Box ON The Table In The Back Of The Church. Thanks
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