My Brothers Keeper

This morning we are pausing in our series grit for a special emphasis weekend. This morning I had a guest scheduled to speak with us about a ministry called Church Rescue. His flights were cancelled due to poor weather, and he will not be able to be with us this morning. Things like this happen and that is ok. Yet today I believe that what I brought him here to speak on is still on God’s heart.

As we begin this morning I want to make this statement: I believe the kingdom message declared and lived out in the local church is God’s answer for the world. God has chosen the instrument of the local church to carry His message of Salvation in Christ and eternal life to the World.

Turn with me first to Genesis 4:6-9. Quick backstory of this text. Cain and Abel are brothers, they were to bring offerings to the Lord. Cain’s offering was rejected because He did not bring the first of His flock to God. He grew angry at His brother, and eventually allowed His anger to kill Him.

The question I want us to see comes from the Lord in Genesis 4:9 “Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?””

The response of Cain to the Lord’s question reveals a heart posture. Am I my brothers keeper? Like Cain many have allowed their anger at the world to close up their hearts.

Jesus says in Matthew 24:12 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

This morning we have two options:

1) We can carry the spirit of Cain towards the world. In anger closing up our hearts and allow people to experience death and destruction.

2) We can choose to reject the spirit of Cain, and extend our hands!

I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ stands between the living and the dead, and we are called to rescue as many as will hear. Luke 19:10 says, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

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Submit:

Turn with me to Luke 10:25-37. (Read it together)

A Few thoughts on this story.

Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.

The priest not only passed by but went to the other side of the street.

The levite came and looked at the man, and then passed on the other side of the street.

Take Notice of what is in front of you.

It is easy to be like the priest and simply ignore it what He saw. Its easy to be like the levite in the story who went up and looked at the man to get the scoop, and then walk away. Basically he read the facebook post about what happened to the man, thought how tragic and then moved on.

Did you know beginning in 2014, America has been closing more churches each year than it is opening? This the first time in the history of our nation that this is true.

Since 2014, America has been closing 5000-10000 churches per year.

Over 70% of churches in America are in Decline.

Church Membership in the U.S. has fallen below the Majority for the first time in nearly a century. —the Washington Times.

We ourselves my not have created the mess, but what are we going to about it?

I myself refuse to allow the Church of Jesus Christ to flounder and be ineffective. We may not have created the mess, but it is our Job to solve it!! One of the tools God is using in America to solve the problem is a ministry called Church Boom.

Church Boom provides coaching to pastors. There are varying levels of coaching, but one that I love the most is that because of generous partnership from churches pastors in Churches under 100 in attendance get the coaching for free.

Church Boom also does round table events all across the country. Our team has been apart of these.

Church Rescue an initiative of Church Boom asks healthy churches to invest in the local church across America.

Our personal Story: In 2016 I became pastor of Waymaker. I had never served in lead pastor role and wasn’t totally sure what to do. For a season everything felt like trial and error, and to be honest it was extremely frustrating. God had a vision for the house, but I wasn’t sure how to see the vision realized. Through the coaching and mentorship of Chris Sonksen founder of Southhills Church and Church Boom God began to unlock the potential of Waymaker Church.

As a result of what I have received from Church Boom, I along with Pastor Josh help to coach pastors across the nation. I don’t know about you, but I want the Church in America to win!!

To win we have to take notice of what is in front of us. We can’t afford to close our eyes and walk on the other side of the road. Our nation needs the message of the Gospel now more than ever! I personally refuse to let the Church die on our watch!

This is about more than just rescuing Churches, this about rescuing the future! There are future generations that are counting on us to carry the baton well! We can’t afford to drop the baton and let message of hope in Christ die.

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Apply & Closing:

The answer is simple.

2. Do what you can with what you have.

The good samaritan was His brothers Keeper. He chose to rescue his brother. He didn’t leave Him for dead. He bandaged up his wounds. He sacrificed and gave to rescue his brother from the clutches of death.

A Samaritan saw the man and had compassion on Him, bandaged His wounds, set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. When he departed on His journey he even paid ahead for the mans care along with the expectation that when he returned if there were any remaining expenses he would pay it.

Jesus Question: Which of these three was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? Answer: The one who showed mercy.

How can you and I show mercy?

My becoming our brothers keeper like the good samaritan. We may not have caused the wounds, but we can without question bind them up. The good samaritan may not have had everything at his disposal, but he did use what He had.

VIDEO: CHURCH BOOM

We have an opportunity to invest in the body of Christ! Our mission is to Encounter, Live for, and Advance the Kingdom. This is kingdom advancement. Its not just about Waymaker, its about the Kingdom.

God not only used Church Boom to Rescue Waymaker, He is continuing to use it through executive coaching to help us reach more people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

I not only believe, but know that Rescued Churches, Rescue people. This morning I am asking you for two things.

Will you commit to prayer this week to ask God what do you want me to do? What we have individually doesn’t always seem like much, but when we partner together God can do the miraculous.

Come prepared next Sunday with a special offering for Church Rescue. We will receive the offering during our worship set. My prayer is that we would be the good samaritan and have mercy on others so that they may know goodness of Jesus and enter into a relationship with Him!