OUR FUTURE AS A CHURCH -- 3

Our Future As A Church -- 3

“Commitment and Dedication”

By Bill Denton

Introduction

A. For the last couple of weeks I’ve been addressing the subject of ‘our future as a church’

1. The reason for this series is because we’re at one of those critical junctures where

thing are beginning to come together and we’re either going to make a serious step

forward or we’ll crumble in the face of great challenges

2. We’ve looked at two things already, both of which are extremely important to

turning things around and growing a dynamic church

a. taking a positive approach

1) begins with a serious and sincere faith

2) growth thrives in an atmosphere of love and respect

3) believes that God has a purpose for us

b. dreams and hopes

1) dreams and hopes are where faith begins to touch where we live

2) dreams and hopes spring from fertile imaginations and a deep desire

to accomplish God’s will in the world

3) dreams and hopes are the seeds of every great work, so if we’re

ready to do more than just talk a good game, it’s time to put our

dreams and hopes into concrete plans and actions

B. To really accomplish something, dreams and hopes must move to actions, and action is

Always the realm of committed, dedicated people

1. Illustration

The story is told about a chicken and a pig who went on a long journey. They had walked for many miles, throughout a long, weary night. Early in the morning, they came to a little diner placed along the road. In the window, there was a sign that read, “Breakfast Special – Ham & Eggs.” The chicken said to the pig, “Let’s go in and get something to eat.” No replied the pig, for you, it’s merely a contribution, but for me it’s a complete sacrifice!”

2. When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the

captain of the ship sought to turn him back. "You will lose your life and the lives of

those with you if you go among such savages," he cried. Calvert only replied, "We

died before we came here." -- David Augsburger, Sticking My Neck Out

3. Today, we have a serious problem among Christians – too many are not dedicated,

they are uncommitted followers

a. the gospel is not a call to easy living or a comfortable Christianity

b. building a local church is not based on magic formulas, mystical methodology

or miserable malcontents who sit back and perform armchair quarterbacking

for the church

c. what we need today is the same thing God has always urged from his people

-- commit and dedicate yourselves to serve the Lord

I. Hindrances To Commitment And Dedication

A. Lack of faith

1. Num 13:30-33 -- Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, "We should

by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it." But the

men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for

they are too strong for us." So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the

land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone, in

spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in

it are men of great size. "There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part

of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were

in their sight." NASU

2. The problem wasn’t really in their view of themselves, the problem was their view of

God

a. God parted the Red Sea, caused water to flow from a rock, gave manna and

quail to satisfy their hunger, and had proven his power to them

b. God had given them a covenant, made promises, and had shown himself

faithful

3. Lack of faith causes people to look at their weaknesses instead of God’s strength

a. fear becomes overwhelming

b. doubt and insecurity become the standard for living

c. uninvolvement, irresponsibility, and inactivity are the inevitable results when

faith dies -- no such people are committed or dedicated

B. Negative thinking, criticizing and worthless grumbling

1. Neh 4:1-3 -- Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding

the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. He spoke in the

presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, "What are these

feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer

sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble

even the burned ones?" Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, "Even

what they are building -- if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall

down!" NASU

2. What the enemies implied in their comments

a. these people are feeble, they can’t do anything worthwhile

b. such lofty goals are useless; their efforts are useless

c. failure is sure because they can’t build anything like others could do

3. Negative thinking prevents or discourages commitment and dedication

a. “Why am I bothering? It’s all hopeless.”

b. “They’re probably right. I don’t want to look like a fool.”

C. I like Nehemiah’s solution

1. Neh 4:4-5 -- Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their

own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity. Do not forgive their

iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the

builders. NASU

2. I wonder what would happen if every time someone gets negative, starts talking down

efforts to grow or do great things, and demoralizing the church, we would get down

on our knees and pray a similar prayer

a. “Oh, God, do you hear how despised we are?”

b. “Don’t let this demoralizer get away it, God. Hold them responsible for such

sins. Let bad things happen to those who would try to discourage us from

doing great things for you.”

II. Things That Produce Commitment And Dedication

A. Illustration

A young man named Tim Dearborn had to share a cab with four other people in Bangkok, Thailand. One of the passengers was a Marxist revolutionary on his way to India.

The Marxist quizzed Dearborn at length about his faith. Finally, he said, "How can you be a Christian? Don't you realize there's no way your cause can win?"

"What do you mean there's no way my cause can win?" Tim asked.

The Marxist explained: "I am on my way to India to organize fishermen to overthrow their oppressors. And I am quite willing to lay down my life for the revolution. Your American Christianity is preoccupied with what your God can do for you. And dying for self-interest is a contradiction in terms!" -- World Vision

1. I think there are at least two things we could learn from such a comment

a. we should learn the power of commitment and dedication as stated by the

Marxist revolutionary – his cause might be wrong, but his commitment and

Dedication was right

b. we should learn the number one problem with modern Christianity – too many

see it as little more than a way to get God to do what we want

2. Commitment and dedication are fed by getting self out of the way, and seeing the

plans and purposes of God as worth giving ourselves to accomplish

B. Give yourself to God

1. Illustration

Years ago Eugene Ormandy dislocated a shoulder while leading the Philadelphia Orchestra. I do not know what they were playing. Certainly not Mozart. Perhaps Stravinsky. But at any rate, he was giving all of himself to it! And I have asked myself sadly, "Did I ever dislocate anything, even a necktie?" -- Halford Lucock

2. 2 Cor 8:1-5 -- Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which

has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their

abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.

For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their

own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support

of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the

Lord and to us by the will of God. NASU

3. Here’s something some of you need to deal with – you’ve never really given yourself

to God

a. I don’t mean, necessarily, that you haven’t obeyed the gospel, but as a

Christian, you’ve been satisfied to let God do all the giving

b. you’ve never committed yourself to his work, never dedicated yourself to

getting involved, getting down to work

c. you need to start at the point of giving yourself to God

C. Sacrifice yourself that God’s eternal work might succeed

1. Illustration

There is a story to the effect that a certain society in South Africa once wrote to David Livingstone, "Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to send other men to join you."

Livingstone replied, "If you have men who will come ONLY if they know there is a good road, I don't want them."

2. Here’s what we’re in need of today

a. lots of people are ready to join up with a great church, one where things are

already in place, and where they can comfortably find things that serve their

needs

b. what we need are people willing to help us blaze some trails, who are willing

to build where the ground is hard and difficult, and where the reward is in

service given, not service received

c. Mark 10:45 -- "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to

serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." NASU

3. Some of you need to put yourself on the line

Conclusion

A. When faced with opportunities, we always have several choices

1. We can throw our hands up in despair, claiming that nothing can be done

2. We can clap our hands as we cheer on others who are willing to take on the task

at hand

3. We can put our hands to the task ourselves and become the tool by which God

does great things in this world

B. We need more people with the attitude found in this popular little poem

I am only one, but I am one.

I cannot do everything, but I can do something.

What I can do, I ought to do.

And what I ought to do,

By the grace of God

I shall do!

-- Edward Evrett Hale

C. Invitation