TO THE GLORY OF GOD – COMMITMENT SUNDAY
1 Corinthians 10:31
INTRODUCTION:
A. This is a wonderful day in the life of First Baptist Church of Mascoutah.
1. We sit here this morning having paid off the 48 acres of land the Lord provided for us
2. He did it though us in a memorable fashion: $288,000 plus the interest of $27,381.58 came to a total of 315,381.58 in just three years!
3. Praise the Lord!
B. But this is just the beginning – he did not provide this land so we could rent it out to a farmer, indefinitely.
1. There is a greater purpose
2. It gives us the ability to expand our efforts for the kingdom of God.
3. One day we will erect a building that will be used to further God’s kingdom and bring glory to Him
4. Right this moment we do not know what that will look like but it is time to start gathering the means to build it.
C. I don’t know all of what David had in mind when he said See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. 2 Samuel 7:2
1. But I do know David felt the Lord deserved better – for His glory!
2. He felt God’s house ought to be something whereby He would get glory.
3. And in this particular instance David felt that God should not dwell in a tent – when he had a house of cedar.
4. So David wanted something better for God’s glory.
D. So as we consider this day of commitment, we need to consider it as an opportunity to
1. Be committed to the Lord’s House
2. And as a greater opportunity to be committed to the glory of God!
E. Let me stop right here and ask God to give us a desire to glorify Him and then we will look at
1. The Need
2. The Means
3. The Glory
PRAY
We will begin with
I. THE NEED
A. As we look at the enormous task of building a new facility there are a multitude of arguments that could be put forward for not doing so:
1. It will cost to much, is probably the first one that comes to mind
2. Another could be, we don’t need a new building, we can fix this one up – that would be cheaper
3. And a third could be, I don’t want to go somewhere else
4. But are these good reasons for not building?
B. Let’s check it out, we have been blessed to have this building for a little over 50 years.
1. It has served well, but there is much that is needed
2. To stay in it, long term, we would need to do quite a bit of refurbishment and upgrades, cheaper than building a new facility? Yes
3. But that would not fix the major problems we have to growth and ministry, of which there are mainly three:
a. We are out of room - no real room to expand – we are out of room to significantly expand our ministry capabilities on site and this limits our ability to minister to our community.
b. If we were to expand on what little space we have, we would incur astronomical cost, considering we would have to upgrade the rest of the facility to code, which would amount to almost having to tear down the existing structure to do so (ex. building a new worship facility on this empty space would increase our value by more than 50% requiring the necessary code up grades in this building)
- This would not be cost effective nor would it solve our space problem
c. And even if we did that, we would be lacking the required on site parking space. (One paved spot for every 3 people, requiring about 1 acre of land)
4. So we are left with only one real option – build anew.
C. So how big a task are we looking at?
1. Well, it really hard to tell
2. But I can tell you this the $315,000 we spent on the land is a drop in the bucket compared to this next task.
3. Realistically we are looking at between 1.5 million for the first stage to about 3 million for completion (all depending on what we build)
- Now don’t faint or die on me, this will be done in phases, but as you can see it is going to be a God sized task.
4. This is why it will be a glorious thing in the name of the Lord! He will get the glory, not us!
5. And it is to that end we want to commit ourselves today.
This brings us to
II. THE MEANS
A. How are we going to get what we need to do this God sized task? Well, lets look at history
1. The first worship center was the Tabernacle, spoken about in the book of Exodus.
a. Listen to God’s words found in Exodus 25:8-9 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
b. More importantly for our discussion this morning, listen to how it was going to be provided for, Exodus 25:1-2 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
2. The second worship center was in the day of Solomon
a. 1 Chron. 29:1 Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
b. And how was it provided for?
1) David gave – 1 Chronicles 22
2) The leaders gave, 1 Chron. 29:6-7 Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king’s work, offered willingly, And gave for the service of the house of God…
3) The people gave, 1 Chron. 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
B. Did you see a trend starting?
1. God’s people gave – and willingly so.
a. In the first case over a matter of weeks it was collected
b. In the second case over a matter of years
2. But there is another aspect to this giving found in the book of Haggai
3. We are to work to see it happen - Haggai 1:8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
And this brings us to the third point I want to make this morning concerning
III. THE GLORY
A. We are not building a new facility to make us look good – we are building it to glorify God – to bring glory to Him through it.
1. It will be put in place to minister to the people of our area and worship the Lord our God!
2. Hopefully, it will be a facility that will be in use the majority of the week, rather than sitting empty the majority of the week.
3. Ultimately, if it is to glorify God it will have to be used to express the love and sacrifice of our Savior – Jesus Christ!
B. So this morning we are asking you to make a one-year commitment to the Mission of Growth/Building fund to bring this about
1. Two quick things
a.) First, 2 Cor. 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. Please note here:
1) Everyone should give
2) Everyone should decide how much – from his heart
3) Everyone should give out of desire and love for God and His work – not feeling obligation or necessity
4) Everyone should offer it with joy
b) Secondly, it should be sacrificial, David said, 2 Samuel 24:24 Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing….
2. Ultimately we do it because of what Christ did for us, that we might glorify Him!
INVITATION
COMMITMENT
Each of you who are members I would ask that you take your card, it looks like this (hold up card) – what you pledge begins in Oct 2009 – Sept 2010
1. Write your names on the blank next to “NAME”
2. Fill-in the amount next to the “$” sign
3. Finally, as the offering plate is sent around place your commitment offering in the plate saying “To God’s Glory”
And that is why it is good that we celebrate the Lord’s Supper this morning.
LORD’S SUPPER
A. 1 Cor. 11:23-33 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
B. A few remarks
1. First, We partake of the Lord’s Supper to remember Him – His death and resurrection, what he has done for us to His glory
2. Second, all believer’s in Christ may partake
a. But we must examine ourselves as to our relationship with Christ
b. Sin needs to be confessed and consciences made clean
c. With our lives set right in Christ we may take of the supper with joy and hope to His glory
3. Finally, as we partake we look forward to His coming again for us, His church – in glory
4. All of this to His glory, for Paul said, 1 Cor. 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
OFFERING
CONCLUSION
