Lesson 4 Throw out the Life
Throw out the Life-Line; NV 2/22/01 AM
After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church’s preacher slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening. In the introduction, the preacher told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak.
A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the pacific coast when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high, that even thought the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized. (The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. The aged minister continued with his story, Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy he would throw the other end of the life-line. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son’s friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, ‘I love you, son!’ He threw out the life-line to his son’s friend. By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered. By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister’s mouth. The father, he continued, knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thoguth of his son’s friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son’s friend. How great is the love of God that he should do the same for us. Our heavenly father sacrificed his only begotten son that we could be saved. I urge you to accept his ofer to rescue you and take a hold of the life-line he is throwing out to you in this service.
With that the old man turned and sat back down as silence filled the room. The preacher again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end. However, no one responded to the appeal. Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man’s side. “That was a nice story,” politely stated one of the boys, “but I don’t think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son’s life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian.” “Well, You’ve got a point there,” The old man replied, glancing down at his worn bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, he once again looked up at the boys and said, “It sure isn’t very realistic, is it? But I’m standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His son for me. You see---I was that father and you preacher here is my son’s friend.”
When we talk about building a great temple for God we’re talking about throwing out a life-line to people who are drowning in a world of sin.
All that we do, is design to be a part of throwing out that life-line.
If this ole sailor’s son didn’t stand in the way, what is to stand in our way?
Money? Time? Fear?
If God’s Son didn’t stand in the way, what is to stand in ours?
GOD WANTS ALL MEN TO BE SAVED.
1 Timothy 2 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
2 Peter 3 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
When we are talking about the budget, or talking about outreach efforts, or talking about ministries of this church, we are talking about how far we will be able to throw out the life-line.
How far we throw it, in relation to our ability, is in reality what we think about the cost of God to provide one to throw.
John 3 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
The Bible is very clear about how to reach out and grab that line.
Jesus said, He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.
Peter on the day of Pentecost instructed those listening on how to reach out and take hold of the life line that God had provided by making Jesus both Lord and Christ.
Then, as a Christian, we are to become the one’s who throw out the line to the world around us.
Welcome to Northview lunch following services this morning.
Drinks 79 cents at food line coupons are on the welcome center.
Children’s Worship is provided ---- we need volunteers!
This morning the budget is finalized and we will spend some time on that. Keith Boan will share some of that with us, and we have asked David Shuping to preside over the giving and speak to us concerning giving. My lesson this morning will have some to do with that as well.