BETTER BODY BUILDING Part 5
all my illustrations come from Sermon Central unless otherwse noted scripture is NIV unless noted
ROWING THE GROWING MACHINE
I hope that you have enjoyed this series of sermons as much as I have enjoyed writing them. Building a Better Body is the theme of this series and we have seen that we, the church, are the Body of Christ. We are many members, we all have different tasks, but we are one body. We have looked at the importance of “Listening to our Trainer” - Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, we have looked at the importance of dining on the solid food of God’s infallible Word, we have seen the need to become a Prayer Master and today we look at, “Rowing the Growing Machine” -
Bringing people to the Lord is every Christian’s main objective! We need to be a church on fire. It is easy to determine when something is aflame. It ignites other material. Any fire that does not spread will eventually go out. A church without outreach is a contradiction of terms, just as a fire that does not burn is a contradiction.
This morning let’s take a look at one of the most well known passages of scripture in the Bible, MATTHEW 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
The first thing I must bring to your attention is the word GO. So many churches think that as long as things are going well inside their walls, the church will grow. BUT, nothing could be further from the truth. So many people in this world know they are lost, BUT, they really don’t want to be saved. They would prefer to stay in the dark and that is WHY Jesus tells us to GO.
The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers. He dialed the employees home telephone number and was greeted with a child’s whispered, "Hello?" Feeling put out at the inconvenience of having to talk to a youngster, the boss asked, "Is your Daddy home?" "Yes," whispered the small voice. "May I talk with him?" the man asked. To the surprise of the boss, the small voice whispered, "No." Wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, "Is your Mommy there?" "Yes," came the answer. "May I talk with her?" Again, the small voice whispered, "No." Knowing that it was not likely that a young child would be left home alone, the boss decided he would just leave a message with the person who should be there watching over the child. "Is there any one there besides you?" the boss asked the child. "Yes," whispered the child, "a policeman." Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, "May I speak with the policeman?" "No, he is busy," whispered the child. "Busy doing what?" asked the boss. "Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman," came the whispered answer. Growing concerned and even worried as he heard what sounded like a helicopter through the ear piece on the phone, the boss asked, "What is that noise?" "A hello-copper," answered the whispering voice. "What is going on there?" asked the boss, now alarmed. In an awed whispering voice, the child answered, "The search team just landed the hello-copper!" Alarmed, concerned and more than just a little frustrated, the boss asked, "Why are they there?" Still whispering, the young voice replied (along with a muffled giggle), "They are looking for me!"
It can be a real task to grow the church, it will take each and every person working together, in prayer and with a plan to see the lost come to Christ. Bill Hybels has such a plan and this morning I would like to use his plan to see what we can do to get our church to grow.
HP + CP + CC = MI
HP stands for High Potency! Folks, it is a fact that the lost of this world do not care what you know, until they know that you care. It is easy to dazzle people with words from the scripture, put the truth is that the world is looking for authenticity. They want our walk to match our talk. They want to see Christ in our actions and not just in our words.
There is a Peanuts cartoon that shows Snoopy sitting outside in the middle of a snowstorm. He is shivering from the cold. Linus and Charlie Brown happen by and see Snoopy and his condition. They say, “There is Snoopy, let’s go cheer him up.” They go up to Snoopy and say, “Be of good cheer, Snoopy!” The next panel shows them walking off, leaving Snoopy in the same condition they found him, satisfied that they have “cheered” him up. Somehow, we have gotten the idea that evangelism is only about teaching and preaching. But Jesus shows us that evangelism is much more than that. By healing people, Jesus reached out and demonstrated his compassion by actual works. He had actions that backed up His words.
All of us have heard that portion of scripture where Jesus says that many will say that they did things for the kingdom on the day of judgement, and Jesus will reply that He never KNEW them. That word KNEW means so much more than know, it really suggests a intimate relationship. If we know Jesus it shows in what we do, it shows in our actions and we don’t have to tell people that we are a Christian.
Back in the day, when we had television in our home, I watched COPS, I really liked the show, because back then it was as close to “real” TV as you could get. One time I tuned in to COPS in the middle of the show and they had this little old, blue haired lady in hand cuffs, she was jumping about and yelling that she was a Christian and this was unfair. I wondered to myself WHY? Why would they have this little old lady in hand cuffs, she was a Christian and all, then as the show continued I found out that this 77 year old woman had just beat the snot out of her 81 year old sister over what television show they were going to watch. This is the opposite of High Potency. If we show the world Jesus the world will come. I have always wondered why the churches in our country are not full, I have come to the conclusion that we are, or at least we act as if we are ashamed of following Christ. We are worried that if we stand up for the one we love, we will be ridiculed for our faith. What is wrong with standing up for Christ and telling people the truth? What is it that keeps us from being a assertive, shining light in a world full of darkness? Why can we not be a Christian church on FIRE for Jesus? How strong is your faith today? Strong enough to stand for Jesus even in the face of death. Do you remember the tragic school shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton CO.? There was a young lady faced with the question, “Do you believe in God?” and she answered yes before they shot her dead. Do you have that kind of High Potency?
CP stands for close proximity. We can do NO good for a lost world if we stay in our own little world and hope that some how we rub off on those that need Jesus. The truth is that Jesus said GO - not sit where you are and hope that they come to you. NOW, I am not one to promote knocking on doors to share the Gospel message, I guess that there is some limited success with this style of outreach, but frankly, most people do not want to hear what you have to say anymore than they want what people are selling. BUT, we all have neighbors, people we work with, people we deal with, people we see each and every day. God opens doors for us, to build trusting relationships with them. YET, so many of us, myself included are put out, by the way they speak, and the way they relate to the rest of the world; that we do not even attempt to build any kind of relationship with them. BUT, these are the folks that need Jesus more than anyone. As this Revival comes up, who do you have on your list? Are you prepared to befriend someone that needs Jesus and get them to come to the Revival in a few weeks? How many people in the world feel all alone, how many don’t come to church simply because we do not take the time to get close enough to them to even invite them to church? AND, how many people do we know that we really don’t show we care about them? When things get tough it is easier to walk away from our neighbor than it is to stand and fight, and this happens even among Christians. We read where Elijah stood by himself thinking he was the only prophet of God, the Psalmist says Ps 38:11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.
Three mischievous boys went to the zoo one day for an outing, since they had been at school all week. They decided to visit the elephant cage, but soon enough, they were picked up by a cop for causing a commotion. The officer hauled them off to security for questioning. The supervisor in charge asked them to give their names and tell what they were doing at the elephant cage. The first boy innocently said, "My name is Gary, and I was just throwing peanuts into the elephant cage." The second added, "My name is Larry, and all I was doing was throwing peanuts into the elephant cage." The third boy was a little shaken up and said, "Well, my name is Peter, but my friends call me Peanuts." Elijah must have felt like Peanuts. His friends, his own people, the people of Israel, did not side with him at all. The fact is no one made a move. So he stood there alone, saying "I’m the only prophet of GOD left in Israel.”
People need the Lord and we are the one that must be in close proximity to them to lead them in that direction, not throw them to the wolves when their lives get turned upside down.
CC Stands for Clear Communication. The Gospel message is simple. We ARE sinners in need of a Savior for the price for our sin is eternal death, torture and torment in Hell. Jesus paid the price for our sins, ALL of them past, present and future, big ones and little ones and everyone’s, not just ours. If you believe on Him, if you confess Him as Savior, if you turn from your sins and accept Him in the waters of Baptism, YOU WILL BE SAVED.
Simple message, sometimes made complex by those that think we must speak with learned tongue’s. After “justification” and “sanctification” along with the “ordination” and the “confirmation” comes a LOT OF FRUSTRATION. People do not want to hear the big words, they just want to KNOW that they are headed in the right direction. AMEN??
In his book "Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life", the author Charles Swindoll tells a story about the 19th Century agnostic Thomas Huxley (some of you might know that it was Huxley who promoted Darwinism and Humanism in his attacks on Christianity). Huxley was in Dublin and was rushing to catch a train. He climbed aboard one of Dublin’s famous horse drawn taxis and said to the driver -"Hurry, I’m almost late ... drive fast". Off they went at a furious pace and Huxley sat back in his seat and closed his eyes. After a while Huxley opened his eyes and glanced out the window to notice that they were going in the wrong direction. Realizing that he hadn’t told the driver where to take him he called out ‘do you know where you’re going?’ The driver replied "No, your honour, but I am driving very fast’.
This is where the world is right now, running fast with NO IDEA where they are going. It becomes our task, our responsibility to have a powerful witness of the right direction, get close to these people and then very clearly communicate to them the way they need to go. We need to coax them into making the change in there flight plan so that they might end up in the right place. AND, I know that many of you are saying, I can’t lead anyone to Christ! I just don’t have it in me, BUT YOU ARE WRONG.
There was a family with one little daughter. Mother and daughter were very faithful in church and Sunday School attendance…The father wasn’t interested and he made it plain it was okay for his wife and daughter, but not for him. He worked in a steel mill, a huge hulk of a man who had been a football player at Ohio University. The daughter, Susie, became ill and was taken for diagnosis to the family doctor. She had leukemia and as it was in an advanced stage it was too late to save her. The family was to take her home, care for her as comfortably as possible before she died. Each night on coming home from work, Susie’s bedroom was her father’s first stop. He would visit and spend some time with her. Daily her condition worsened and she lost weight, her cheeks were sunken and her color looked very bad. One night in particular, Susie had obviously been doing some serious thinking, and she asked her father, "Daddy, I know I will die soon and go to be with Jesus. My Sunday School teacher told me that. But, Daddy, when I get to heaven I will be given a crown to wear. And my crown will have no stars because I have not led anybody to know Jesus. So, Daddy, will you give your life to Jesus so I can have a star in my crown?" The father, through the tears, nodded his head and right there prayed a sinner’s prayer of commitment. It made Susie’s eyes light up with joy! She called for her mother and told her what Daddy had just done. A few days later she passed away. On the next Sunday morning came Susie’s daddy with her mother walking together into church. Time was taken for a "testimony" in the service and this man stood and said, "May I say a few words?" The preacher assured him, "Yes, go ahead." The man went on, "I was resistant to the Gospel and had rejected pastors and evangelists who had tried to lead me. I could reject anyone but my little daughter." He paused to wipe the tears away and went on, "Because she asked me and because she loved me, I gave my life to Jesus. She reached me when no one else could." Then, just before he sat down he looked upward and finished with this, "And now Susie is in heaven, wearing the crown promised to her and a single star in her crown – that’s me!"
It is an easy message and when we combine Bill Hybels formula of living a life that is Highly Potent, and getting close to those that need Christ the most, and then very clearly communicating the message of the Gospel it equals MI Maximum Impact!
If we are going to build a Better Body, it will start right here! Each and every member of this church knows or could get to know someone that needs Jesus in their life. If we are willing to live the life, that is walk the walk, and we are willing to get to know some of these people and befriend them, then we can clearly communicate the message of the Gospel and many will be saved. We will make a Maximum Impact for Christ.
I can honestly say that when you put it out there, it is hard to resist. When the Gospel message is presented in the porper way with the proper motives it is difficult to resist.
A Religion Professor named Dr. Christianson taught a required survey of Christianity course at small college. Every freshman was required to take the course regardless of his or her major. Although he tried hard to communicate the gospel, students viewed the class as nothing more than a waste of time. One particular year Dr. Christianson had a student named Steve. Steve was the Center for the college football team and also a strong Christian who intended on going to Seminary. One day Dr. Christianson had an idea and he asked Steve to stay after class. "How many push ups can you do?" He asked. Steve said, "I do 200 every night." The professor asked Steve if he could do 300. "I have never done 300 before" Steve said, "but I think I can do it." "Good," the professor said, and he proceeded to tell his plan to Steve. Friday came and Steve got to class early. Dr. Christianson came in with a large box of fluffy, cream filled doughnuts. The class was excited, it was Friday the last class of the day, and they could start their weekend early. Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the row and asked, "Cynthia would you like a donut?" "Yes," she said. Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?" "Sure." Steve jumped down out of his desk and counted off ten push ups. Dr. Christianson laid the donut on Cynthia’s desk. Joe was next. He asked Joe the same question and Joe said "yes." Steve did 10 more pushups and the professor laid the doughnut on Joe’s desk. And so it went all the way down the first row and half way down the second until it came to Scott. He was a basketball player and friendly to female companionship. Scott replied to the professor’s question by saying, "I want the doughnut if I can do my own push ups." Dr. Christianson said, "No Steve has to do the pushups." Then Scott said, "Well I don’t want one if I can’t do my own." Dr. Christian turned around and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push ups so Scoot can have a donut he doesn’t want." Scott said, "hey! I said I didn’t want one!" Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts, Just leave it on the desk if you don’t want it." And he put the donut on Scott’s desk. Steve had begun to slow down a little and sweat had began to form on his cheeks. Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?" Sternly, Jenny said, "NO!" Then Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve, would you do ten more push ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn’t want?" Steve did ten-Jenny got a doughnut. By now a sense of uneasiness had filled the room. The students were all beginning to say "no." There were uneaten donuts on every desk. Steve was now putting forth a lot of extra effort to get the pushups done for each doughnut. A small pool of sweat was on the floor, his face was red, and you could see the sweat soaking through his shirt. Dr. Christianson asked Robert, the most vocal unbeliever in class, to watch to make sure Steve did the full ten. Dr. Christianson started down the forth row. Students from other classes had came in and were sitting along the side of the room watching on. When the professor saw them he counted and saw that there were now 34 people in the room. He was worried about Steve, "Could he do that many push ups?" Jason, a recent transfer student, didn’t know what was going on and came in to see. The class yelled, "Go away! Don’t come in!" Steve picked up his head and said, "let him come in." Jason was asked and he said "yes." "Steve will you do ten push ups so Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great struggle. Jason, confused, was handed a donut and he sat down. Dr. Christianson then finished the fourth row and began on the visitors. Steves arms were shaking uncontrolably with each push up. By this time sweat was pouring off of his face and arms. The very last two students were cheerleaders. "Linda, do you want a donut?" Linda cried and said, "no thank you." Professor turned to Steve, "Steve would you do ten push ups so Linda can have a donut she doesn’t want?" Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push ups for Linda. The last girl was Susan. "Susan would you like a donut?" Susan was full of tears and did not answer. "Steve would you do ten push ups so Susan can have a donut?" Susan asked, "Dr. Christianson why can’t I help him?" Dr. Christianson had tears in his eyes also and replied, "I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party I looked at the grade book and found that Steve was the only person with a perfect grade. All of you had failed a test, skipped class, or turned in inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes." Steve slowly got up off the floor, he had done 350 push ups, his arms buckled beneath him as he started to get up. Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. "Well done good and faithful servant", said the professor, "not all sermons are preached in words class." Turning the the students the professor said, "My wish is that you may fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God did not spare His only Son but gave him up for all of us. Whether or not we accept His gift is our choice. The price has been paid. Wouldn’t you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?
As the musicians come forward this morning, won’t you take up your cross and follow Jesus? INVITATION
