Sermon Central
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Service Series
Contributed by Rick Stacy on Nov 28, 2000 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon is based on the parable of Jesus. The Estate Owner.
What's In It for Me? - Service
When you work for God - you work for the best!
Excited about the youth here at MCC. They are involved in Ministry and Service. They are involved in Giving - several have made commitments to our "4a1k" Campaign
Wonderful when someone at a young age gives their heart to God. But what about a person who gives a heart to God that is hard and brittle. Not innocent and young but tough and worn.
Let me tell you about Oswald J. Smith & Karla Faye Tucker.
"His Heart Will Go On"
Oswald J. Smith lived from Nov. 8, 1889 - Jan 25, 1986. He was a PASTOR, EVANGELIST, MISSIONARY STATESMAN, author, hymn writer, world traveler, poet, editor--Oswald J. Smith is one of the most versatile Christian leaders in the history of the Christian church. Perhaps never has one man done so many different things well. It all centered in Toronto, Ontario, where Smith pastored from 1915 to 1959.
His congregation numbered about 3,500. As a missionary statesman, he led his church in a program that by the mid 1970s netted over $700,000.00 annually for foreign missions, more than any church on the face of the earth. As an author, he published some 35 books which have sold over a million copies. As an editor, he published a magazine, The People's Magazine, for 36 year. As a radio preacher, his church services were carried by as many as 42 stations at a time. As a world traveler, he toured 72 countries.
Over 7,000 were converted in South Africa. Nearly three- quarters of a century and some 12,000 sermons later, he preached his last sermon at the Peoples Church in December, 1981--at the age of 92. His funeral was Thursday, January 30, 1986, at the Peoples Church in Toronto.
It featured the singing of George Beverly Shea and the preaching of Billy Graham.
"Her Heart Will Go On"
"Born Again" on Oct. 29, 1983 our sister, Karla Faye Tucker, was born November 18, 1959 and was born again October 29, 1983. She died on this earth February 3, 1998, and went to be with Jesus.
Karla found the Lord, October 29, 1983 in the Harris County Jail where she was awaiting trial for two murders she helped commit. A mission team from our ministry was presenting a puppet show in the jail. Karla came to the puppet show to avoid being alone in her cell. It was there she found Jesus.
The Parable of the Estate Owner
20:1 "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
20:2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.
20:3 "At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.
20:4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.
20:5 At noon and again around three o'clock he did the same thing.
20:6 At five o'clock that evening he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, 'Why haven't you been working today?'
20:7 "They replied, 'Because no one hired us.'"The owner of the estate told them, 'Then go on out and join the others in my vineyard.'
20:8 "That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first.
20:9 When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage.
20:10 When those hired earlier came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage.
20:11 When they received their pay, they protested,
20:12 'Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.'
20:13 "He answered one of them, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage?
20:14 Take it and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.
20:15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be angry because I am kind?'
20:16 "And so it is, that many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now will be first then."
Jesus Christ's Top Ten Reasons You should work for God!
Top Ten Reasons to Work For God
He wants you to do His work!
"the owner of an estate…went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard." Matt 20:1.
It would be like being hired by Ford in Dearborn. Or, like being hired by GM in Lansing. Or, like being hired to work at MSU in East Lansing.