The Gospel 4 DI

In 1960, Davis Islands was thriving after four decades of development. This community was beginning to be considered a charm in the bay area.

During this time, there was actually a development happening on the island that few new about.

Some of the residents were investing in a future lighthouse for the islands.

The islands were positioned uniquely in Hillsborough Bay, near home to Tampa’s port and ship repair, making it a high traffic channel for incoming ships.

The lighthouse would not only serve as a land-marker for the community, but a visible representation of home for many looking to be guided back to their families and communities.

For a while, the residents were meeting in homes, discussing the future plan that would hopefully be impactful for the islands.

Once the funding was secured, the lighthouse was built in 1962.

Now if you are familiar with those that tend the lighthouse, it is a lonely job. The most effective opportunities for lighthouses are in the midst of storms.

The lighthouse had the potential to be used to save hundreds of people, guided them through the storms with light, offering the stability of hope and assurance, while also warning those in search for security.

Now just like many lighthouses around the world, some are hit with with storms that challenge it’s foundation, sometimes destroying it completely.

The Davis Islands lighthouse had it’s fair share of storms and even had been shut down in it’s past.

But in the worst of storms, it has been present, active, and purposeful for those looking to come home.

It is actually still standing today.

97 Biscayne Ave.

You’re sitting in it.

Of course, I’m not saying this sanctuary was the original Davis Islands lighthouse…

I am not even sure there was ever one!

But in some ways, many ways, we are the lighthouse on Davis Islands.

We have been built with a purpose. God has uniquely placed you and me right here.

We are to be the light of Jesus that shines forth from the islands to Tampa, Florida, the nation, and the world.

This morning, we are going to begin a four week series that I pray will excite you for the future ministry of this campus.

If you have your Bibles, turn to John 8 this morning.

One of the best attributes of this campus that I was told was “we have such an intimate, special community.”

You know better than me that the islands create a special place in of itself. It would make sense that the only church on the islands would have a similar feel.

What do you think makes our community here unique and special to you?

Some people in churches point to the history of the church, it’s beautiful building or sanctuary, others talk about the worship or gathering hour on Sunday…

No one can deny that this community is life-giving… but why?

Here is the reality of community.

Community is only life-changing when the mission of the community is to change lives.

This is what distinguishes itself from anything else!

Growing up our family was a part of a club.

You know what I mean by clubs. We played golf at the country club, here on Davis Islands we have a yacht club, there are tennis clubs, fitness clubs, knitting clubs…

My family was a part of a brand new one. It was so nice. It had it’s yearly fees and you have to have the pass to get in.

We thought we were big shots. Here we come, a middle class family hailing from a town of 3,000 headed into town to go grab lunch in our brand new club.

It may have not been as nice as some of the clubs you’ve been a part of or seen, but do your research and you’ll see this club had some serious benefits.

They had swimming pools, massive TV’s, foods of every kind…

You might have heard of it before? It known across the nation by many.

*Cue Sam’s Club Picture

Here is the difference between a community and a club.

Clubs are exclusive, only existing for those on the inside.

Communities are inclusive, seeking to provide a place of belonging for those on the outside.

The local church is a community, not a club.

Think of it this way, the church is an aircraft carrier, not a cruise.

The Davis Island campus gathers the troops for the battle against the world.

It doesn’t exist to provide you entertainment.

We live in a culture where people shop churches like they assess cruise-lines!

An aircraft carrier church sends out it’s members to enact change in the community and world.

So what makes this community life-giving?

Because we are broken influential people becoming authentic followers of Jesus..

We learn to become followers of Jesus and we actively follow Jesus by…

cultivating life-changing community on Davis Islands for Davis Islands.

When we are actively cultivating life-changing community on Davis Islands for Davis Islands, we are then functioning as the lighthouse on the island.

Because…

Where there is life, there is light.

Will we be the light on Davis Islands?

PRAY *Include language of “Gospel for DI”

John 8:12 (ESV)

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

If you were with us for our Christmas eve service, you heard Pastor Chris talk about Jesus as the light of the world.

As I watched the candles being lit around the room, I felt as if the Spirit was exposing me to what His power looks like when manifested in the lives of people who relentlessly follow Him.

There are two type of lights in the world.

Physical light

Spiritual light

John is using the physical light to explain the spiritual light.

Earlier in the book of John, He describes Jesus this way but gives a bit more detail in what it entails…

John 1:4–5 ESV

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

What does it mean when John says that Jesus’ life was the light of men?

His followers were “lights” in their dark communities because of their faith in the life of Jesus!

The word “life” is used 36 times in the book of John.

This is his key theme.

Do you remember what was the catalyst for when life was created? Before God created every living thing?

Genesis 1:3 ESV

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Just as God created light first to usher in life on on earth, so then was Jesus the light brought into the world to usher in a new life into the hearts of those who believe!

I believe there is a great opportunity on the islands that other church’s would love to experience.

Phone call with (Little League).

Believe it or not, not a lot of people know we exist… But honestly, not a lot of people know why they would need to know we exist!

When people on the islands start finding out that we are here for the islands and that we exist to serve, it will be their first impression to our life-changing community- one that we will pray and seek to include them in on.

But as we seek to reach this island with the the gospel, it will not be a smooth road.

In verse 5, we see opposition to the light- darkness.

Darkness has not “overcome” it.

This word is also translated as “comprehended.”

In other words, what we offer and seek to do will make people uncomfortable. It will infringe on their normal, expose their sin, and cause them to resist the gospel at all cost.

Why? Because those walking in darkness can’t even understand what it means to live in the light.

But remember…

Light is only a reality if darkness is too.

LIGHT

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

DARKNESS

John 3:19 ESV

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

There is a battle waging war around us between light and darkness. There are spiritual forces at work continually.

The darkness is led by Satan.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

When spending time in Africa, we took a safari to see the animals. We saw lions one time- they looked strong but harmless!

We were constantly warned to not leave the room at night though… Why?

When do lions eat? At night.

If we are to be effective and on guard against the enemies schemes, we must always live in the light, and never in darkness.

Satan strives to keep people in the darkness.

Are you seeking to live in the light?

If you are a member of this church, you have been baptized and proclaim to be a follower of Jesus, take seriously the life that is to be lived in the light…

In other words, pick up your cross and follow Him daily.

Die to yourself. Embrace the change in your life- surrender to God’s will in His word- study it.

Grow.

Satan doesn’t want Davis Islands to know truth.

The truth of God is the only weapon we’ve been given.

He surely doesn’t want this campus to be a light.

He is in opposition to life.

But…

Where there is life, there is light.

What does it look like when following Jesus as appose to living in darkness?

There is actually two promises in our passage this morning that help answer this question!

Jesus’ promises of a life with light.

John 8:12 ESV

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

We walk in confidence of our personal salvation.

“We will not walk in darkness”

When truly following Jesus and “living in the light,” we will never follow sinful ways or live in a continual state of sinning?

What is sin? Anything that is against God’s design for our lives seen in His word.

Now, until the day we step into eternal life, we will occasionally fall short due to our natural sinful state.

As we live to follow Jesus, we are sanctified, changed into becoming more like Jesus.

Therefore, although we may occasionally sin, we are no longer living a life that habitually sins!

1 John 1:5–7 ESV

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

We no longer stand guilty of our sin, but redeemed from our sin because of Jesus’ life.

Romans 6:14 ESV

14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Instead of sinning, we repent from our sin choosing to live in the light as we follow Jesus.

2. The second promise is that we will reflect this light.

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

The light we have in our lives is simply a reflection of the light (Jesus) Himself.

The moon has no light- it simply reflects the light that comes from the sun.

We are the same way!

We reflect this light by the way we live and serve on the basis of our faith and how it has changed our lives!

Where there is life, there is light!

Do you think if our church seized to exist that the island would be worse without us?

New Years Eve, last year, my phone was buzzing non-stop at about 11:30pm.

Now, I am not you party guy or night owl. My bed time is usually 9:30pm.

If I am feeling crazy, 10:15pm is a possibility.

My phone woke me up and as I read the text, I couldn’t believe what was happening.

A pastor in town, who I considered a brother and friend, was called that night by the fire department and was informed that their church was currently on fire and that he needed to come down to the church immediately.

I was brought into the loop to pray for this body of believers.

As he arrived on the scene, the stain glass was busted out, flames shooting out of every window, and the roof had already caved in.

This church of less than 100 people had just paid the building off and was beginning to look towards a future of renovations and updates.

New reporters were fighting for time with the pastor to hear his take on what happened and what their response would be.

It was an old heater in the basement that finally blew… They didn’t even know it existed. It was basically a ticking time bomb.

God’s sovereignty was actually seen in the fact that it didn’t happen while people were there… It could have been even more disastrous.

The pastor continued to preach that the church wasn’t the building itself, but the people that met inside of it.

The following morning, the church held a time of worship in the parking lot.

Many came in support. This is a small town so everyone new what had happened by the morning time.

What was even better were the questions that followed their service…

“Why do they seem so relaxed and chilled about this?”

“Why does the pastor seem confident that it can be fixed?”

He wasn’t confident in that. He was confident in who his church was- a church that existed to reach the lost.

That church was on the main road of this city… That service in the parking lot was seen by hundreds that day…

What the enemy meant for destruction in the middle of the night, God used as a testimony of His faithfulness through the following day.

It was in the dark destruction took place… But the darkness doesn’t overcome the light.

The light of life was in the men and women gathered the next day.

To this day, that church has not returned to the building for various reasons…

But to this day, that church has seen more growth in its time now than before….

You know that fire gave a lesson in of itself that night…

One of my favorite authors and preachers of all time, Leornard Ravehill said…

You never have to advertise a fire. Everyone comes running when there’s a fire. Likewise, if your church is on fire, you will not have to advertise it. The community will already know it. - Leonard Ravenhill

Does Davis Islands know we even exist?

Do the waitresses and waiters at the restaurants at the business district know where you’re coming from when you eat lunch on Sunday afternoons.

Does TGH know theres a church down the street ready to serve and meet the regular needs of caring for the sick and supporting those who serve others in the medical field.

Do your neighbors receive invites to our church in response to what God has done in your life through this community?

Are people in your realm of influence regularly getting invited to experience the life-changing community of God’s church on Davis Islands??

You don’t have to live on the island to have a heart for the islands.

Davis Islands needs Jesus.

It’s a community that may seem to have life on the weekends, but is actually dark and in need of light.

This church is a lighthouse for the island…

It’s not guiding ships in the night, it’s guiding people. It’s welcoming them to a life changing community.

You are called to be the light of the world… This campus is the lighthouse.

What does it look like when a church is the light in a dark world?

This is what Jesus meant in Matthew 28.

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So what is the light that changes life?

It’s Jesus. It is His life, death and resurrection.

it is the gospel. The gospel is light.

This is the gospel for Davis Islands.

Are you walking in the light?

Because…

Where there is life, there is light.

So who is South Tampa Fellowship? Who is the Davis Islands Campus?

We are broken influential people becoming authentic followers of Jesus by cultivating life-changing community on Davis Islands for Davis Islands…

How do we do that?

Acknowledging our brokenness.

Leveraging our influence.

All the while trusting Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

He is either Lord of all or not Lord at all.

He is either the light of your life, or you have no light at all.

Here are my final questions for you this morning…

Are you walking in the light?

*Gospel Invitation

Are you willing and ready to be a light on this island for Jesus.

Pray and Close.