Go: The Work is Ready

FIRST DAY OF COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION STORY

THE FIRST DAY I WENT TO THE MAIN OFFICE TO FILL OUT TAX AND EMPLOYEE FORMS

I HAD NEVER WORKED IN CONSTRUCTION

I DIDN’T EVEN OWN MY OWN TOOLS

I THOUGHT MAYBE THERE WOULD BE SOME BASIC TEST OF KNOWLEDGE OR A VIDEO FOR WHAT TO EXPECT

WHAT HAPPENED INSTEAD WAS I WAS TAKEN TO A JOB SITE AND DROPPED OFF WITH ANOTHER MAN WHO DID NOT KNOW ENGLISH BEYOND “YES AND NO.”

I WAS A GOPHER

I FELT LIKE I WAS SLOWING DOWN THE PROJECT BECAUSE MOST OF THE DAY I WAS STANDING AT THE BASE OF A LADDER WAITING FOR ALFREDO TO POINT AT WHAT HE NEEDED FOR ME TO GET FOR HIM.

I WAS PLACED ON A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO OR HOW TO DO IT AND I WAS NERVOUS AND INSECURE.

WHEN IT COMES TO LIVING A LIFE OF FAITH, I BELIEVE THIS IS HOW MANY OF US THINK BEING A CHRISTIAN ON MISSION WITH JESUS IS LIKE.

WE SAID A PRAYER, WE KEEP GOING TO CHURCH, WE TRY TO READ OUR BIBLE THAT WE OFTEN HAVE TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING, AND WHAT IS IT EXACTLY THAT I AM SUPPOSED TO BE DOING??

I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR US TODAY. JESUS HAS GIVEN US INSTRUCTION.

SLIDE: THE QUESTION IS NOT WHAT TO DO BUT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO IT

READ: MATTHEW 28: 18-20 ESV

SLIDE: DISCIPLES GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES

VISUAL ILLUSTRATION

MICROWAVE VS CROCKPOT

POPCORN JOKE: THE PEOPLE WHO WRITE INSTRUCTIONS FOR POPCORN TIMES MIGHT BE THE MOST IMPRECISE OF ALL TIME. IF WE GOT OUR JOBS WRONG AS OFTEN AS THOSE INSTRUCTIONS WE’D ALL BE OUT OF A JOB.

THE MICROWAVE IS MADE FOR IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

THE CROCKPOT IS MADE FOR A PROCESS THAT GETS THE MOST OUT OF THE INGREDIENTS OVER TIME.

SLIDE: MAKING DISCIPLES IS A SLOW PROCESS, NOT AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS.

SLIDE: PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THEY NEED DISCIPLESHIP UNTIL THEY MEET A DISCIPLE.

WHEN WE TAKE JESUS AT HIS WORD, WE WANT TO SHARE HIS WORD

SO MUCH OF DISCIPLESHIP IS CAUGHT AND TAUGHT

JOHN 16:4-15 REFERENCE DON’T READ*

WE MUST COMMIT OURSELVES FIRST TO CHRIST AND THEN TO HIS COMMISSION TO GO

WHEN WE ARE SERIOUS AND SINCERE IN OUR FAITH OTHERS NOTICE

THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO KNOW IF WE LIVE WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE IN OUR HOME

SLIDE: DISCIPLESHIP HAPPENS IN THE HOME

READ: 2 TIMOTHY 1:5-6 ESV

I’M NOT HERE TODAY TO MAKE YOU FEEL BAD, I’M HERE TO MAKE YOU FEEL EMPOWERED.

YOU AND I ARE NOT POWERLESS TO LEAD PEOPLE TO FAITH IN JESUS IN OUR HOMES.

I HAVE HEARD THIS WEEK STORIES OF PEOPLE FROM THIS CHURCH WHO ARE NOW WITH THE LORD

YOU WHO REMAIN TODAY TESTIFY OF THEIR FAITH

THAT CAN BE YOUR STORY TOO IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO, AND FOLLOW JESUS AND MAKE DISCIPLES

SLIDE: DISCIPLESHIP HAPPENS IN RELATIONSHIP

WHEN I WAS IN YOUTH GROUP WE HAD YOUTH SPONSORS

IF THEY ARE WATCHING, I’M SORRY

THEY CHOSE TO HELP BUILD THE STUDENT MINISTRY BY EXPANDING THE REACH OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS

THERE WERE TWO SPONSORS THAT WOULD REGULARLY PICK ME AND MY FRIENDS FROM CHURCH UP AND TAKE US OUT TO GET FOOD AND WALK AROUND THE MALL.

IT WAS RARELY A DEEP CONVERSATION BUT THEY WERE INVESTED IN OUR LIVES

WHEN A QUESTION CAME ABOUT, THEY WERE THERE

THIS IS WHAT DISCIPLESHIP LOOKS LIKE MOST DAYS

ITS TEXTING, HANGING OUT, CHECKING IN, SHARING THE THINGS THAT CHALLENGE YOU AND THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU LAUGH

SLIDE: THERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY IF YOU’RE WILLING

I’M GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO VOLUNTEER AT OUR CHURCH

I’M SUBMITTING A CALL AND A CHALLENGE TODAY

WE DON’T NEED WARM BODIES, WE NEED WILLING DISCIPLES WHO WANT TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE COME TO FAITH IN JESUS.

THERE IS A NEED AND AN OPPORTUNITY IN OUR CHURCH TO BECOME WHAT ITS MADE TO BE

THE CHURCH IS A PLACE OF CORPORATE WORSHIP, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND EQUIPPING

WE DO THE CORPORATE WORSHIP AND ENCOURAGEMENT REALLY WELL, IT’S TIME TO EQUIP AND SHARE WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN OUR LIVES WITH OTHERS HAVE NO FAITH OR NEW FAITH

SLIDE: VOLUNTEER INTEREST SIGN UP SLIDE

I’M NOT ASKING YOU TO COME FORWARD TO PRAY ABOUT IT, I’M ASKING YOU TO GO AND LET’S BE ABOUT IT

PRAY