Commitment vs. Comfort

OPENING

In April 11, 1970, the Apollo 13 was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida

It was intended to land to the moon, but they aborted the lunar landing after it encountered some problems

Astronaut Jack Swigert called in and said, “Houston, we’ve had a problem”

BREATHE!

Today we also have a problem but of different nature

We have a problem on “commitment”

Every year, 1.2 M students drop out of highschool in US alone (show student slide)

That’s 1 student for every 26 seconds or 7,000 a day

According to Gallup, “Worldwide, only 13% of Employees are Engaged at work” (show work slide)

The rest of which is about 87% are those who do not last in their jobs

Though there’s no solid data, but some said that people will change jobs/careers 15 times over in their lifetime

More frequent to the younger generation called the “millennials”

About half of marriages will end up in divorce (show marriage slide)

Concerning the church, Barna said: (show church slide)

Fewer than one out of every five adults firmly believes that a congregational church is a critical element in their spiritual growth - That’s less than 20%

Only 17% of adults said that “a person’s faith is meant to be developed mainly by involvement in a local church.”

them to achieve their full potential.

Just as few as 18% embraced the idea that spiritual maturity requires involvement in a community of faith

While most Americans contend that they want their lives to matter, a minority (44%) strongly affirms their commitment to “personally make the world and other people’s lives better.”

Only 17% of adults said that “a person’s faith is meant to be developed mainly by involvement in a local church.” Eve

While most Americans contend that they want their lives to matter, a minority (44%) strongly affirms their commitment to “personally make the world and other people’s lives better.” One un

BREATHE!

As we continue our conversation concerning “church culture”, I’d like to talk to you today about “commitment” in a message that I dubbed as “COMMITMENT vs COMFORT”

Let this side of the church altogether, loudly say “COMMITMENT”

And this side, say “COMFORT”

TEXT: Commitment vs Comfort

The waters of Marah and Elim

Exodus 15:22–27 The Living Bible

22 Then Moses led the people of Israel on from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the wilderness of Shur and were there three days without water. 23 Arriving at Marah, they couldn’t drink the water because it was bitter (that is why the place was called Marah, meaning “bitter”). 24 Then the people turned against Moses. “Must we die of thirst?” they demanded. 25 Moses pleaded with the Lord to help them, and the Lord showed him a tree to throw into the water, and the water became sweet. It was there at Marah that the Lord laid before them the following conditions, to test their commitment to him: 26 “If you will listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and obey it, and do what is right, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.” 27 And they came to Elim where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees; and they camped there beside the springs.

Exodus

Exodus 15:22–27 The Living Bible

22 Then Moses led the people of Israel on from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the wilderness of Shur and were there three days without water. 23 Arriving at Marah, they couldn’t drink the water because it was bitter (that is why the place was called Marah, meaning “bitter”). 24 Then the people turned against Moses. “Must we die of thirst?” they demanded. 25 Moses pleaded with the Lord to help them, and the Lord showed him a tree to throw into the water, and the water became sweet. It was there at Marah that the Lord laid before them the following conditions, to test their commitment to him: 26 “If you will listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and obey it, and do what is right, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.” 27 And they came to Elim where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees; and they camped there beside the springs.

Can everybody please do me a quick favor?

Cross your arms the way how you normally would

And this time, cross them again using the opposite side

Did you feel a little bit of discomfort there?

BREATHE!

The Israelites had some greater discomfort

They were subjected to the harsh nature of their wilderness journey

Many of these events showed the Israelites unbelief in spite of their deliverance from Egypt

It showed their experience of God’s power over the forces of nature

Their “commitment” was put to test (v.25)

BREATHE!

If you take out the letters “C” & “M” (which stands for the word Christ and Maturity) (show slide COMMIT)

What is left is the word “OMIT”, in other words, to leave undone

Disregard

Opt out

You cannot commit, not unless you’re willing to give up some comfort

This applies not just to your commitment to the Christ and His Church

But also your commitment to your “marriage”, “work”, “school” and all other form of commitments in life

BREATHE!

Common to both COMMITMENT & COMFORT are the letters COM

Which stands for:

Christ | Church

Obedience to God’s Word

Membership | Maturity | Ministry | Mission

I’d like to spell out for the church the

CODE OF COMMITMENT

Commitment to Christ

Proverbs 16:3 NIV

3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Commitment to Obey God’s Word

1 Samuel 12:14 NCV

14 You must honor the Lord and serve him. You must obey his word and not turn against his commands. Both you and the king ruling over you must follow the Lord your God. If you do, it will be well with you.

Commitment to Membership | Maturity | Ministry | Mission

Membership

Ephesians 2:19 The Living Bible

19 Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.

Maturity

Ephesians 4:13 CEV

13 This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.

Ministry

Ephesians 4:11–12 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Mission

Acts 20:24 NCV

24 I don’t care about my own life. The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.

Illustration:

UNQUALIFIED COMMITMENT

A college man walked into a photography studio with a framed picture of his girlfriend. He wanted the picture duplicated. This involved removing it from the frame. In doing this, the studio owner noticed the inscription on the back of the photograph:

“My dearest Tom, I love you with all my heart. I love you more and more each day. I will love you forever and ever. I am yours for all eternity.”

It was signed "Helen,” and it contained a P.S.: “If we ever break up, I want this picture back.”

Helen was obviously no completely committed to that relationship.

Ruth was a young woman who understood total commitment. God also loves commitment. That’s why He included Ruth’s statement to her mother-in-law in your Bible:

"Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me."

That’s the kind of commitment God admires - unqualified commitment.

PRAYER

Commitment to Christ and His Church

Commitment to Obey His Word

Commitment to Membership | Maturity | Ministry | Mission