Sermon Central
-
A People Of Devotion Series
Contributed by William Ellis on Nov 24, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: This is the sixth sermon in an 8 part sermon series on the vision of our church.
Mission Statement:
The Redeeming River Church is a family of believers committed to preaching the cross with conviction, reaching the lost with compassion, and equipping the saints with the Word!
Our Vison:
The Word tells us in Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. Therefore, we know that where there is a God breathed vision the people have life. It is because of God’s specific plan for us that we can clearly see where we are going.
7 We Will Be’s
· We will be a life giving church whose waters flow from the River of God through all cultures and generations!
· We will be a life sustaining church where the heartbeat of God will keep our families spiritually healthy.
· We will be a life birthing church where new ministries are conceived, delivered, nurtured, and sent out.
· We will be a people of faith and expectancy who are not moved by what we see, but stand in the God who we know!
· We will be a people of devotion who are committed to the work of the Lord through the local church!
· We will be a people of worship who honor the Lord for who He is and not what He will do for us!
· We will be a growing church whose walls will not contain us!
Devotion - commitment to a purpose, willingness to serve God
I. TODAY COMMITMENT IS AN UGLY WORD
A. YESTERDAY’S CULTURE
1. Acts 4:24-32
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
B. TODAY’S CULTURE
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2. How many of you know that we are in the last days
3. Barna Research :Faith Without Church
Barna Research reports that in the U.S:
10 million self-proclaimed, born-again Christians have not been to church in the last 6 months, apart from Christmas or Easter.
About a third of Americans are unchurched and 35% of those (approximately 23 million) claim they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.
C. BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
1. How many of you have heard the saying, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
2. Some of you all got picked by somebody who was blind
3. Somebody told me Beverly must have been on medication when she married me
4. They come to me and ask me, "How did you end up with such a beautiful woman?"
5. Cause you ugly!
6. Well my friend "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
7. Illustration: One man said, "God, why did you make women so soft and beautiful?" God said, "So you’d love them." Then the man asked, "Then, God, why did you make women so illogical and emotional?" God said, "So they’d love you!"
8. Illustration:
A girl knelt in the confessional and said, "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned."
"What is it, child?"
"Father, I have committed the sin of vanity. Twice a day I gaze at myself in the mirror and tell myself how beautiful I am."
