Faithful in Moving Forward
Notes
Transcript
Recognize members — shortest to longest
Those who have been saved and baptized at TRBC
40 years—I don’t think there is any way we can fully grasp the kingdom impact that this church has made. The mission teams mobilized and sent to the nations. The MILLIONS—MILLIONS—of dollars this church has given to missions through the Cooperative Program, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and countless other mission endeavors to take the gospel to this city and to the ends of the earth.
40 years ago a group of people stepped out in faith. Now, this is a great church—but not a perfect church. If you have been visiting with us or maybe this is your first time with us today I want to tell you that we want you to be part of what God is doing here. If he’s leading you to take your step of obedience to join your life with ours here in membership…what are you waiting for? Why are you putting it off?
This is a church that God has done many awesome things through…and God is moving and working and changing lives.
The number “40” in scripture.
Joshua 1—background. Now, honestly, Israel’s 40 years leading up to this were much different than ours.
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
God has already prepared our future. Will we be faithful to step forward?
(vs. 1-6)
Look what God says in verse 3 — “every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I HAVE GIVEN TO YOU.”
God appeals to His past promises and His past faithfulness.
(verse 3) — “Just as I promised Moses”
(verse 5) — “Just as I was with Moses”
FOUR COMMITMENTS
The Gospel Above All
Do Whatever It Takes To Reach the Next Generation
People > Preference
Give Our Resources Completely To The Lord (Stewardship)
Some examples:
Wycliffe—next four summers // four gospels — go out there today! // year 5 — a team on the ground in India.
Czech Republic // Growing Ministry in Kenya
Schedule Change
Home Groups
Partnering with local ministries
4,741 Housing Units being built in the next couple of years between Taylor Road and Thorington Road.
Renovations to Children’s Ministry areas
God has already laid out His plan for us. Will we be faithful to obey?
(vs. 7-8)
Listen—the ultimate purpose for Israel was NOT to just inhabit a land. God’s ultimate purpose for Israel was that they would live in relationship with Him, live for His glory, and be a light of salvation to all nations.
God tells them, here, “You’ve got my Word. You’ve got my direction for who you are to be as a people and what you are to do as a people.” Don’t deviate from my word!
Our purpose: Glorify God, Introduce People to Jesus, Teach Them to Follow Him
Great Commission—WHY this church was started to begin with!
God will be with us as we move forward into the future. Will we be ruled by faith or by fear?
(vs. 9)
Israel was going to face obstacles. They were going to face opposition. God was preparing them for that.
You know, this passage of Scripture is, ultimately, what God used to call me to Taylor Road in 2015. And, here’s what God taught me. “I’m going before you. I’m sending you to this place that I have prepared you for.”
But…listen to me…THREE TIMES, God says to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” God would only tell him to be strong and courageous if there were going to be things that would tempt him to be weak and fearful.
They would encounter armies larger than them. They would be attacked. They would be faced with challenges.
CONCLUSION
This church has been built on the gospel.
Repent and Believe—Be born again
Join your life to what God is doing here.
Commit yourself to these things.