Remember to Not Forget!
Annual look back at the year • Sermon • Submitted
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· 22 viewsWe have a glorious responsibility to Remember!
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Title: Remember to NOT Forget!
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Introduction - I had a very disconcerting even happen to me recently, at least I think it happened to me. I absolutely, positively forgot a conversation that my wife adamantly claims we had. To this very minute, I still have no recollection of the conversation. It’s not that I don’t want to remember, honestly it was not a big deal. But the fact that she swears we had the conversation and I have no memory of it really bothers me! Am I losing my mind? I’ve shared this story with a few of my “older” friends and the response is always the same, “Well Mark, it’s only going to get worse!” Worse? Really? How disappointing!
It’s not good to forget. Forgetting can be innocent, but most of the time, when we forget something, it is because we other thoughts to crowd our “less important” memories out of the way. We tend to focus on the immediacy of the here and now, the ternary of the urgent takes over and we forget the important things that can save us from making unwise and even harmful choices.
As the writer and philosopher George Santayana wrote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Over and over throughout the Scriptures, God tells us to not forget but to remember...
remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,
The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.
The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
This morning, however I have a two-pronged purpose for our time together. First, I would like to share a chapter of the Bible that gives great warrant for God’s children to not forget but to purposely remember all that the Lord has done for them. The passage I am referring to is the one that Tim read for us just a while ago, .
Secondly, I would like to share with you some things that we, as a local church should be purposed in remembering so that we can give adequate praise and worship to our Heavenly Father. It is good for us to remember how God has worked in our midst. Remembering keeps us from becoming complacent curmudgeons...
Sometimes it’s hard to see God moving when we look forward. But it is far easier to look back and clearly see all that He has done.
Do you remember that old hymn written by Johnson Oatman wrote that challenges all Christians to catalog the blessings that God has bestowed on us?
Count Your Blessings
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
*Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
[*And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.]
It shouldn’t surprise us, but it often does. God delights to give His children good gifts. We should express our gratitude regularly as individuals as well as a local congregation. I will list off many of the things that God has done and then we can publicly thank him for His gracious and kind hand in our midst.
It shouldn’t surprise us, but it often does. God delights to give His children good gifts. We should express our gratitude regularly as individuals as well as a local congregation. I will list off many of the things that God has done and then we can publicly thank him for His gracious and kind hand in our midst.
So, before we get to our list, I’ll make some observations regarding that will help motivate us to be a people who always remember.
Observations from
Give brief Background of this book - Deuteronomy (literally the second law) was given by Moses as his Swan Song Sermon Series. He preached God’s Law to them one last time to that it would be impressed on their hearts. He desired for the children of Israel to renew the covenant they made with God at Sinai. He wanted them to make a fresh commitment to the Lord. Their fathers failed, they could not if they wanted to “take possession of the land...
See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their offspring after them.’
They were not to be afraid of their enemies like their fathers were...
See, the Lord your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’
Deut
This was their inheritance...
But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day.
D
God had given them an oath that it was theirs!
‘Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers,
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They were to remember what God had already done fo them and fear Him!
how on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’
Deut
Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!
To love Him
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
And hold fast to Him...
You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear.
Deut
God would never forget!
For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.
‘Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers,
Moses overarching goal with this grandiose, swan song sermon? He wanted them to never forget so that God could bless them with the promised land!
how on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’
This chapter deals with the Israelites pride and how God graciously deals with them
God demands obedience from His children. Their obedience becomes the conduit for their blessing
God challenged them in order to show them their heart...
Food: He allowed them to experience hunger that He might show them His amazing provision of mana (there is a spiritual significance to this provision as man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
- Clothing: (vs. 4)
Clothing: (vs. 4)
- Discipline: (vs. 5-6)
Discipline: (vs. 5-6)
- Land: (vs. 7-10)
Land: (vs. 7-10)
God was preparing His people for a major blessing (vs. 7-10).
But with this blessing comes a major warning.
Be careful to Remember To Not forget! Do not forget about the gracious, giving hand of the Lord.
How would they forget about their God?
Verse 11 tells us!
“Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today,
Remember what “Deuteronomy” means? “Second Law”
- Remember what “Deuteronomy” means? “Second Law”
What can cause the tragedy of not keeping God’s law?
Ironically, the gifts themselves. Well, not the gifts per se, but over reliance on the gifts and the lack of appreciation for the One who gave the gifts in the first place. God’s gracious gifts can, if we are not careful, become more important to us than the One who created that gift.
What can cause the tragedy of not keeping God’s law? Ironically, the gifts themselves. Well, not the gifts per se, but over reliance on the gifts and the lack of appreciation for the One who gave the gifts in the first place.
Food - They would be full of plenty of food
Shelter - They would have beautiful homes
- They would have beautiful homes
Employment - Their flocks of sheep would multiply
Resources - Their riches would multiply
But, even though these provision would come from the gracious hand of God, their sinful, prideful hearts would somehow construed that they were responsible for all the wealth, health and happiness they had accrued.
This is the warning we see in verse 14 - “…then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who…”
brought them out of slavery from Egypt…
led them through the “great and terrifying wilderness.”
delivered them from fiery serpents and scorpions.
quenched their thirst through a rock! (Who does that?)
provided food - bread from heaven! Mana = “what is this?”
God provided for His children in the wilderness for 40 years to show them His constant grace and mercy regardless of their faithlessness. This should have humbled them and caused them to have grateful hearts because they had a God called Jehovah Jireh! - their constant provider! This should have humbled them so they would pursue Him because they understood their need for His sustaining grace. There fathers blew it! Moses didn’t want this generation to as well.
Vs. 17 - They must beware “lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’”
- vs. 18-19
You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.
Forgetting God leads to foolishness (running after other Gods)
God through Moses speaks very solemnly. Forgetting Him leads to serious ramifications.
Listen to verse 20...
Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.
So what? What’s the point? What do these people who lived thousands of years ago have to do with you and me here in the 21 Century?
After all, we are not the Children of Israel are we? No, we are the Church of Jesus Christ. And we don’t receive all the promises, good or bad, that our Israeli friend have or will. However, I do think it is good for us to see the principle in this passage. And the principle is simple. We, even as church age saints, ought not to forget what God has done, not only throughout redemptive history, but even here in our own modern day midst. We ought not live as functional atheists. We must remember what James says...
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Folks, is God alive and well? Is He still working among His people? Yes! Amen and amen! And we have a privilege to give credit were credit is due. And there is none more worthy of our praise, worship and acknowledgment than God Himself who seems determined to work among us here at Allendale Baptist Church!
So, every year we take time out to “Remember to Not Forget” what God has done here at ABC. To thank and praise Him. This remembering causes us to increase in our faith and thus grow more and more like Christ.
So, What has God done for us this past year. Honestly, we could spend the next year talking about it. But instead, lets walk through some of the highlights!
So this is the second of my two pronged approach this morning. Let’s remember 2018…
I did get some help from the elders, deacons and Tim for the compilation of this list...
Jim Clay - The women's ministry has started with a woman's equipping class. New Elder and Deacon. Our first true church treasurer. A Saturday morning men's ministry.
The overall praise from the deacons and elders is that God has blessed us with a spirit of harmony and joy this past year.
In addition, one elder said this. “I think that in addition to all the more obvious things God has blessed ABC with (a faithful Gospel emphasis, great fellowship, increased growth both spiritually and numerically etc.), I have been impressed with the behind-the-scenes willingness and enthusiasm of the members to help make all things work together. God has been working in the hearts of the church to help us show the love of Christ in action.”
Dave VanEnk - I think that in addition to all the more obvious things God has blessed ABC with (a faithful Gospel emphasis, great fellowship, increased growth both spiritually and numerically etc.), I have been impressed with the behind-the-scenes willingness and enthusiasm of the members to help make all things work together. God has been working in the hearts of the church to help us show the love of Christ in action.
Thank you very much for your patience and faithfulness thru another year at ABC. I am looking forward to just how God will continue to use you in our church and am praying that God will lead you to serve us for many more years.
This is an answer to prayer. We never want to become a complacent and complaining people! There is much to be done in God’s church and He has blessed us with a super community of faith that is committed to do the work of the ministry.
Let’s look specifically how God has moved in various teams and settings...
Video Team - This year we began a video team and ministry at Allendale Baptist.
Every week we livestream our sermon on Facebook and publish the recorded video on YouTube
-Every week we livestream our sermon on Facebook and publish the recorded video on YouTube
We created nearly 200 videos this year which were shared on different platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, (and some videos just for our services)
-We created nearly 200 videos this year which were shared on different platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, (and some videos just for our services)
Over 100 hours of sermon videos were watched on our YouTube channel
-Over 100 hours of sermon videos were watched on our YouTube channel
The use of video helped to greatly improve our reach on Facebook and Instagram helping us share truth with many others beyond those who come to our church on Sundays
-The use of video helped to greatly improve our reach on Facebook and Instagram helping us share truth with many others beyond those who come to our church on Sundays
ABC Voices Blog
Our blog ministry has been running for a year and a half now and has received over 12,000 page views.
Our blog ministry has been running for a year and a half now and has received over 12,000 page views.
Our blog posts, on average, are read by 131 different people every week.
-Our blog posts, on average, are read by 131 different people every week.
Some of our articles are regularly viewed via Google searches. For example, when people Google search “Did God Have A Beginning?” Our article holds the top spot over ministries like the Billy Graham ministry and Ligonier.
-Some of our articles are regularly viewed via Google searches. For example, when people Google search “Did God Have A Beginning?” Our article holds the top spot over ministries like the Billy Graham ministry and Ligonier.
ABC Church Website
ABC Church Website
We overhauled our website this year and have seen big improvements.
We overhauled our website this year and have seen big improvements.
We now often rank #1 when searching for “Churches in Allendale” where in the past we didn’t even show up on the first page.
We now often rank #1 when searching for “Churches in Allendale” where in the past we didn’t even show up on the first page.
Social Media Presence
Social Media Presence
Our social media presence has continued to grow this year, especially on Instagram where our following has doubled in size.
Our social media presence has continued to grow this year, especially on Instagram where our following has doubled in size.
We are more effectively utilizing social media and reaching people in our community than any other church in the area.
We are more effectively utilizing social media and reaching people in our community than any other church in the area.
Online Prayer Group
Additionally, we began our “Allendale Baptist Church Prayer & Encouragement” group which has been very active and helpful to many.
True Life Video Cards
Many in our community have received these cards with invitations to our Church. I have seen people come that I have personally invited.
Special Events
Worship At The Park
10 Churches
Over 200 people
Praised Jesus publicly for one hour!
Loving Our Neighbors Sunday
Over 200 in attendance
This year we had many big events including Worship At The Park, Loving Our Neighbors Sunday,
Connected with many new people
Some came back!
They all heard the gospel!
The Grow Conference
Strong Attendance
The Grow Conference, and VBS [all of these would be worth mentioning individually].
Dr. Tony Beckett equipped us more thoroughly in discipleship and evangelism.
Added singing this year!
VBS
Awesome team
Canvased neighborhood
Attendance started slow but by the end of the week we had a bunch of kids that heard the clear gospel message.
Security Team
We had huge improvements in our security over the past year. So much happens behind the scenes to make sure our people and children are safe.
We had huge improvements in our security over the past year. So much happens behind the scenes to make sure our people and children are safe.
Nursery Ministry
Nursery Ministry
As we’ve seen growth in our church, we have also seen growth in our nursery ministry. We have expanded our nursery leadership team. They have done a great job improving our ministry and there are more improvements to come.
As we’ve seen growth in our church, we have also seen growth in our nursery ministry. We have expanded our nursery leadership team. They have done a great job improving our ministry and there are more improvements to come.
Children’s Ministry
New People serving
Amazing Christmas Program!
Scripture Readers
I think it’s amazing that every week this year we’ve had different people read scripture.
Financial / Giving
We had great giving this year. As of December 23 we are $91,000 over our general fund budget.
New Official Treasurer - Greg Yaklin!
We had great giving this year. As of December 23 we are $91,000 over our general fund budget.
Attendance
Our average attendance steadily grew throughout the year:
Our average attendance steadily grew throughout the year:
Q1: 153
Q2: 166
Q3: 177
Q4: 183*
*Q4 average does not include the Xmas program as it was an extreme outlier. It also does not include the last Sunday of the year.
*Q4 average does not include the Xmas program as it was an extreme outlier. It also does not include the last Sunday of the year.
Membership
We had a net gain of 21 members this year, a total of 117 members
We had a net gain of 21 members this year, a total of 117 members
(we lost the Dowells, Dennis Dufresne, the Nonnemachers, etc.)
(we lost the Dowells, Dennis Dufresne, the Nonnemachers, etc.)
New Leadership
We added new elders and deacons - Jim Gerakinis and Jim Grifthorst
We added new elders and deacons
Elder Group is Maturing
Deacon Team is maturing too.
Youth Group
Youth Group
New leaders: Curtis’
New leaders: Curtis’
D3 Youth Conference
D3 Youth Conference
Our Teen are Servants!
Good sized group
Equipping Classes
Equipping Classes
Most well attended year by far
Most well attended year by far
Child care during equipping classes played a big role
-Child care during equipping classes played a big role
New teachers
New teachers
New teachers
(Bob Curtis, Gloria Curtis, Matthew Cook)
(Bob Curtis, Gloria Curtis, Matthew Cook)
Audio & Visual teams
Growth in teams and volunteers
Music Team
Growth in teams and volunteers
Greeter & Usher ministry
Greeter & Usher ministry
New Leadership - Doug VandyBogurt
Growth in volunteers
Growth in volunteers and Doug VB helping lead those ministries
Connection Groups
Amstutz
Visser
VanEnk
Arndt
The Arndt Group has been a great community for college-aged people in our church has had new visitors from GVSU and elsewhere.
Men’s Ministry
Men’s Ministry
Men’s Ministry
Breakfasts started in January and has been well-attended
Breakfasts started in January (I believe) and has been well-attended
Women’s Ministry
Women’s Ministry
Several events throughout the past year
Forgotten Man Ministries
There are hundreds that have come to Christ through the jail ministry.
Discipleship
Be One Make One - 2018 Theme
Discipleship Manifesto
Building Program
Design complete
Siteplan complete
Plans submitted to Planning commission
$640,000 in the bank
God gave us the land
Free labor through Churchcare
We’ve seen God move and will continue to see Him move
New Births
And at least two that have trusted Christ here in our Church.
Conclusion
Moses, before he died wanted his people, the children of Israel to never forget what God had done for them so that they would have faith in what He was still to do in and through them.
This is just a true for us. God wants to accomplish amazing things in and through Allendale Baptist Church. But we must be careful to not think it is through the strenthgh of our hand or the cleverness of our strategies or strategic plans.
It is because of God and God along that He puts His hand of blessing on us. Not simply so we will be blessed but that He might position us to bring Him more and more glory as we serve him in this community.
God never forgets his own.
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.
(God Remembers)
And we should never forget Him or what he constantly does for us!
Will you stand and praise God with me this morning?
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above the heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!