Church Anniversary Sunday

• He looked at her and said, “Of course I know what day it is!” and went back to reading his newspaper. He didn't have a clue.

• He thought to himself later, “Is it her birthday? That must be it.” So after he got to work he called the florist and had a bouquet of white roses sent to his wife.

• Then as the day went on, he began worrying that flowers may not be enough for such an important day. “What if it’s our anniversary?” So he went to the jewellery store down from his office, picked out a beautiful gold necklace and had it special delivered to his wife.

• As he started home from work he decided that maybe he should also stop and buy an expensive box of chocolates to bring to her - just in case.

• He pulls into the driveway and his wife runs out to greet him. As he gets out of the car he presents her with the box of chocolates, she throws her arms around him and says, “Oh, honey, this is the best ground hog day I've ever had!”

As you know this is a very special day here at Lykesland First Baptist. If you haven’t figured it out yet, today we are celebrating 31 years of God’s faithfulness to us as a church.

So how should we celebrate this special day here at the First Baptist!!!

I suggest we do some things that Paul talks about in our text in Pilippians 3:13-14.

Such as, this should be a time of…

I. EVALUATION

Look at the first part of 13a – “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended”

Illus: Often companies will call people in to do an evaluation of their performance as an employee. One man who was evaluated came out with this evaluation. It was not good, it went like this…

• “Since my last report, this employee has reached rock bottom and has started to dig.”

• “This associate is not so much of a has-been, but more of a definitely won’t be.”

• “When he opens his mouth, it seems that this is only to change whatever foot was previously in there.”

• “He would be out of his depth in a parking lot puddle.”

• “He sets low personal standards and consistently fails to meet them.”

• “This employee should go far! The sooner he starts, the better.”

• “This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an Idiot.”

Evaluations can be good and they can be bad.

As we evaluate First Baptist for the last thirty years we trust it will be a good evaluation.

Illus: They say that dogs age 7 times faster than their owners.

We hope in the sight of God for these 31 years we as a church have aged well in the sight of God.

Alot of folks have said some nice things about this church and for that we are thankful.

Illus: Makes me think of a famous comedian was asked when you die and people walk by your casket…

• What would you like for people to say about you.

• He said, “That is easy, when they walk by me and look at me in my casket I hope they will say, “Look, he is moving!”

As the Lord looks at this church we hope the Lord would say “As a church, 31 years of age, we look look pretty good for our age’”

As we look back over the past 31 years of this church…

• We cannot help but to look at the wonderful people who have served so faithfully down through the years. Many of these have gone to be with the Lord.

• We look at the spiritual victory that has been won around these altars...

• We look at the many successful marriages that have been made...

• We look at those who have come to know Christ as Their Savior…

• We look at the bad habits that have been broken by the power of Christ...

• We look at the babies we have dedicated to the Lord…

• We look at the many that has followed the Lord in Believer’s baptism…

• We look at the sacrifice of those Christians in the early days of our church...

As we look back over these 31 years we can only say, “To God be the Glory...Great Things He Has Done”!!!

One of the many things I say about this church often is some of the greatest Christians that you will find in Columbia are members of the First Baptist of Lykesland. I SAY THAT SINCERELY!!!

As we look back we have to admit...First Baptist looks pretty good for our age...all glory to God!!

But as we look at all that God has accomplish we have to recognize WE LIKE PAUL HAVE NOT YET ARRIVED!