The Church Moving Forward #4
Opportunities To Take
By Bill Denton


INTRODUCTION

  • A. Phil 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (NKJ)
  • B. In October, we've been talking about the church moving forward into the future, and things we must consider before we can effectively do God's will
  • 1. We've looked at
  • a. challenges to accept
  • b. enemies to defeat
  • c. dangers to avoid
  • 2. Today I want us to consider opportunities to take
  • C. As we move into the 21st century, the church should take note of the following: "The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious." -- The Marketing Imagination
  • D. Opportunities Missed (or The Curse of Permanent Potential)
    There was a very cautious man
    Who never laughed or played
    He never risked, he never tried
    He never sang or prayed
    And when he one day passed away
    His insurance was denied
    For since he never really lived
    They claimed he never died.
  • E. The fact of the matter is that the church has many, many opportunities before us -- we must take them and make something of them
  • 1. I want us to look at what the Bible tells us about opportunities
  • 2. I want us to think together about opportunities before us
I. THE ABILITY TO SEE OPPORTUNITIES IS A KEY TO ANY SUCCESS
  • A. Mark 1:16-18 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, ""Come after Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.'' And immediately they left their nets and followed Him. (NKJ)
  • B. Mark 6:2-3 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, ""Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed