Sermon Tone Analysis

*MY ROLE*

ASSIST THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

·         ADMINISTRATIVE AND MINISTRY OVERSIGHT

·         RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND COORDINATION

·         PERSONAL ADVISOR

 

*MY RESPONSIBILITIES*

* *

*CHURCH PLANTS*

* *

*PLANT DEVELOPMENT & MATURATION*

·         ASSIST IN DEVELOPMENT OF PLANT DOCUMENTS

o    CONSTITUTION

o    POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

o    OTHER

·         LAY LEADERSHIP TRAINING

·         CHURCH HEALTH ISSUES INCLUDING CONFLICT RESOLUTION

·         ENCOURAGEMENT, RESOURCE PERSON, AND SOUNDING BOARD FOR MISSION PASTORS

* *

* *

*GENERAL MISSION*

* *

*I.      **COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS*

 

*/INTERNAL (IN HOUSE) COMMUNICATIONS/*

·         MANAGE AND FACILITATE THE FLOW OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MCE OFFICE AND THOSE IN THE FIELD.

·         HANDLE INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE PERSONAL AND DIRECT INVOLVEMENT OF THE ED.

·         COMPILE INFORMATIONAL REPORTS BASED ON COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED FROM THE FIELD.

*/EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS/*

·         HANDLING SPECIFIC EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AS ARE ASSIGNED TO HIM.

 

*/EVENT PLANNING/*

·         ASSIST IN PLANNING FOR AND CARRYING OUT MCE REGULAR AND SPECIAL EVENTS; ANNUAL MEETING, MCE REGIONAL FELLOWSHIPS, BOARD MEETINGS ETC.

 

*II.

**PUBLICITY & LITERATURE*

 

*/PUBLICITY/*

·         DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN, PRODUCTION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL PIECES FOR MCE.

 

*/LITERATURE/*

·         DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN, PRODUCTION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCE LITERATURE AND TOOLS FOR USE BY MCE PERSONNEL AND OUR CHURCHES.

*III.

**WEB SITE*

* *

·         DEVELOPMENT & MAINTENANCE FOR MISSION AND MISSION CHURCHES

 

*IV.

** RESOURCE NETWORKING*

* *

·         DEVELOP, MAINTAIN, AND COORDINATE A NATION-WIDE, BROAD-SPECTRUM NETWORK OF MINISTRY AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES THAT CAN BE CALLED UPON TO ASSIST MCE IN THE PURSUIT OF ITS PURPOSES AND GOALS AS THE SITUATION MAY WARRANT.

·         ASSIST THE VARIOUS MCE COMMITTEES AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN THE FULFILLMENT OF THEIR ASSIGNMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

*V.

** PUBLIC RELATIONS & PROMOTION*

 

·         MINISTRY TO CHURCHES

o    PULPIT SUPPLY

o    CONFERENCE MINISTRY

·         REPRESENTATION AT CHRISTIAN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING

o    RECRUITING CHURCH PLANTERS

·         REPRESENTATION AT IFCA INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL MEETINGS AND OTHER IFCA FUNCTIONS

 

*LINDA AND I LIVE IN DUBUQUE WHERE I MINISTERED FOR 25 YEARS AT DUBUQUE BIBLE CHURCH BEFORE TAKING THE POSITION OF AD IN JUNE 2005.*

·         TECHNOLOGY OFFICE

o    INSTAND MESSAGING

o    E-CONFERENCING

o    E-COLLABORATION~/FILE SHARING

·         SUPPORT NEEDS

o    GRANT SUPPORT

o    THROUGH 2008

o    PRIMARY FOCUS WAS ON LL

o    CURRENTLY NEARLY 500.00

PER MONTH

* *

·         *PRAY:*

o    *SUPPORT NEEDS*

o    *SAFETY IN TRAVEL (18,000+ MILES LAST YEAR)*

Running the Race To Win – 1 Corinthians 9.24,25

*INTRODUCTION:  *

EARLY IN THE 20TH CENTURY, A CHINESE CHRISTIAN FILLED WITH COMPASSION FOR THE CHINESE COOLIES IN SOUTH AMERICAN MINES, SOLD HIMSELF FOR A TERM OF FIVE YEARS AS A COOLIE SLAVE THAT HE MIGHT CARRY THE GOSPEL TO HIS COUNTRYMEN.

·         HE TOILED IN THE MINES WITH THEM AND PREACHED JESUS.

·         IT WAS NOT LONG, HOWEVER BEFORE THE STRESS OF THE WORK IN THE MINES OVERCAME HIS RESOURCES AND HE DIED.

·         BEFORE HE DIED, HOWEVER, HE HAD BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINING MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE TO CHRIST AND HAD ESTABLISHED THEM IN A LOCAL CHURCH.

·         THIS CHINESE MISSIONARY PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF REACHING THE LOST FOR CHRIST.

·         HE SACRIFICED EVERYTHING FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST.

*THE WORD OF GOD PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON BECOMING EFFECTIVE SERVANTS OF CHRIST* AND IN THE PASSAGE I WANT TO LOOK AT WITH YOU IN THE REMAINDER OF OUR TIME THIS MORNING THE APOSTLE PAUL CALLS UPON HIS EXPERIENCES FROM LIFE TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT IS INVOLVED IN BEING A WINNER FOR GOD.

PLEASE TURN WITH ME TO 1 Corinthians 9.24-25

*/“DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT THOSE WHO RUN IN A RACE ALL RUN, BUT ONE RECEIVES THE PRIZE?

RUN IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU MAY OBTAIN IT.  AND EVERYONE WHO COMPETES FOR THE PRIZE IS TEMPERATE IN ALL THINGS.

NOW THEY DO IT TO OBTAIN A PERISHABLE CROWN, BUT WE FOR AN IMPERISHABLE CROWN.”/*

*THE APOSTLE PAUL HAD A FONDNESS FOR USING IMAGES FROM THE WORLD OF ATHLETIC EVENTS.*

IN THIS PASSAGE, HE USES IMAGERY THAT WAS SURE TO RESONATE WITH EACH OF HIS HEARERS.

·         THE ISTHMIAN GAMES WERE SECOND ONLY TO THE GREEK OLYMPIC GAMES.

·         *THEY WERE HELD EVERY THREE YEARS IN A STADIUM JUST 10 MILES FROM THE CITY OF CORINTH AND THEY* ATTRACTED ATHLETES FROM ALL OVER THE THEN POPULATED WORLD.

·         PAUL WAS IN CORINTH (AD 50-52) AND THESE GAMES WOULD HAVE BEEN HELD IN THE SPRING OF AD 51.

 

PAUL MAKES TWO KEY OBSERVATIONS IN THESE VERSES AND THE FIRST IS THIS:

 

*I.

LIFE IS A RACE - WE SHOULD LIVE LIKE WINNERS.*

* *

*THE LEADING EVENT AT THE ISTHMIAN GAMES WAS THE FOOT RACE AND SO PAUL FIRST DRAWS FROM THAT IN TEACHING US SOME IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT CHRISTIAN LIFE AND MINISTRY.*

* *

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE COMPETITION, IT WAS NECESSARY THAT CONTESTANTS CERTIFY THAT THEY WERE GREEK CITIZENS.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WERE QUALIFIED BY BIRTH.

·         BEFORE WE CAN ENTER THE SPIRITUAL RACE OUR CITIZENSHIP MUST BE CERTIFIED AS WELL.

·         WHEN WE TRUSTED CHRIST, THE CITIZENSHIP WE GAINED QUALIFIED US FOR THE SPIRITUAL RACE PAUL REFERS TO IN THESE VERSES.

·         *PHILIPPIANS 3:20* *“/FOR OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN, FROM WHICH WE ALSO EAGERLY WAIT FOR THE SAVIOR, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, …”/*

 

*AS WE LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE OF THE ATHLETES TO WHOM PAUL POINTS LET US NOTICE FIRST THE EXAMPLE*

* *

*THEY WERE PASSIONATE PARTICIPANTS*

BEFORE COMPETING IN THE ISTHMIAN GAMES, ATHLETES WENT THROUGH 10 MONTHS OF RIGOROUS TRAINING

·         NINE MONTHS OF THAT TRAINING TOOK PLACE IN THEIR HOMETOWNS AND THEN ANOTHER MONTH WAS DONE IN THE CITY OF CORINTH.

·         THE GREEK ATHLETES WERE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW A SET OF RULES, INCLUDING SOME DIETARY RESTRICTIONS DURING TRAINING.

·         ANY ATHELETES VIOLATING THE RULES WERE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED.

*NOW LET’S FIRST BE CLEAR ON THIS POINT:  WE ARE NOT RUNNING THE RACE TO GET TO HEAVEN.

*

·         *THE BELIEVER IS IN THE RACE BECAUSE HE HAS ALREADY BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.*

·         HE IS NOT RUNNING TO ACQUIRE ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN

·         *HE IS RUNNING THE RACE TO WIN THE PRIZE … RECEIVE A REWARD.*

·         THE DISQUALIFIED ATHLETE IN THE ISTHMIAN GAMES DID NOT LOSE HIS CITIZENSHIP; HE DID, HOWEVER LOSE LOST HIS OPPORTUNITY TO WIN THE PRIZE.

*SIMILAR TO THE ATHLETES IN OUR MODERN OLYMPIC GAMES, THOSE WHO WERE INVOLVED PURSUIED THE PRIZE WITH GREAT PASSION.*

·         THEY MADE GREAT SACRIFICES AND THEIR WHOLE LIFE REVOLVED AROUND THIS EVENT.