Our Purpose
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 45:23
0 ratings
· 108 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
As youth pastor of South Charlotte Baptist Church, I took the opportunity to write down the goals that I had for the youth of South Charlotte Baptist Church. Each year at about this time, I would take the opportunity to remind our teenagers of those goals.
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. and Mrs. Peterson to discuss with them my goals - our goals - for the youth ministry of South Charlotte Baptist Church.
As I reflected upon those goals, I came to realize that those goals and the purpose of South Charlotte Baptist Church fit “hand in hand.”
Another way to state it is that these goals are another way to help us understand the practical application of the stated purpose of South Charlotte Baptist Church.
Do you know the stated purpose of South Charlotte Baptist Church?
The purpose of South Charlotte Baptist Church, simply put, is...
Proclaiming the Gospel and experiencing the miracle of changed lives!
Proclaiming the Gospel and experiencing the miracle of changed lives!
So, if these goals and our church’s stated purpose fit “hand in hand” then it only makes sense that these goals apply to every individual who makes up South Charlotte Baptist Church!
Over the next couple of Sunday nights, I want to take the opportunity to share these goals with our entire church family and ask each of you to consider them in relation to your own life.
I especially, though, want to direct these messages to the men - the husbands and fathers - of our church. Why?
If we are to have godly young people, then we must have godly husbands and fathers.
I will go a step further and state that we cannot have a godly church unless we have godly men!
Let’s jump into it...
Saved
Saved
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Timothy was a saved young man! Praise the Lord! And it should be our desire that every man, woman and child that comes into contact with South Charlotte Baptist Church would, at some point, come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and that they would get saved!
We must remember that this is the whole reason for which Christ came to this earth!
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
But, I want to turn that around right now and ask...
Men, do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior?
Dads, do your children know that you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior? Grandpas, do your grandchildren know that you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior? Have you shared your testimony with them?
For several years, before my father passed away, whenever I would have the opportunity to be with him, I would ask him about his salvation. In fact, when we celebrated his 80th birthday, several months before his death, I actually video recorded my dad’s testimony.
Dads & Moms, tell your children your salvation testimony.
Grandmas and Grandpas, tell your grandchildren your salvation testimony.
This is where it all starts; proclaiming the Gospel - seeing individuals, both young and old, get saved which then leads us to...
Experiencing the miracle of changed lives (the second part of the stated purpose of South Charlotte Baptist Church) That is what happens to the individual that has been saved; their life is changed! We see that in Mark chapter 5.
And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
This man’s life had been changed! There was no doubt about it! This man’s life had made a 180 degree turn.
The things I used to do, I don’t do them anymore!
The things I used to do, I don’t do them anymore!
The things I used to do, I don’t do them anymore!
There’s been a great change, Since I’ve been born again!
Chorus: There’s been a great (repeat) change (repeat), Since I’ve been born-
There’s been a great (repeat) change (repeat), Since I’ve been born-
There’s been a great change, Since I’ve been born again!
Other verses The places I used to go... The things I used to wear... The words I used to say...
Men, has your life been changed? Do your children see the change that Christ has made in your life? Can the following be seen in your life?
Seeking God
Seeking God
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, My flesh longeth for thee In a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
I love them that love me; And those that seek me early shall find me.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
While we want young people who are seeking after the Lord, we first need to have men and women - dads and moms - who are seeking after the Lord.
Men, if I want to know what it is that you are seeking after, all I need to o is ask your wife and children; they know!
Our church needs men and women who are seeking the Lord; who have such a thirst for God that they refuse to allow anything or anyone to stand in their way!
Our world - our society - needs Christians who are genuinely seeking after God! Your co-workers need to see you seeking after God. Your neighbors need to see you seeking after God.
Those in our world are seeking for peace; they are seeking for answers; they are seeking for comfort. We need to show them that through seeking God, all their needs can be satisfied.
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Studying God’s Word
Studying God’s Word
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The word Study that is used here means to be zealous; be eager. We should be eager and zealous to prove yourself to be a man of God who is able to proper handle and use the Word of Truth which is the Bible!
Men, do you have a good handle on the Word of God?
Men, do you remember when you were a teenager and you tried to prove to your father that you were a man? We should really have the same desire - spiritually - as it relates to God and His Word.
Why?
Back to 2 Timothy chapter 2. Turn to and read 2 Timothy 2:14-18. Notice the phrase in vs. 18: “Who concerning the truth have erred.” Paul was trying to warn and encourage Timothy to stay faithful to the truth of God’s Word.
The world mis-handles God’s Word all the time. On occasion, even Christians mis-handle and mis-represent God’s Word. The men of South Charlotte Baptist Church need to be able to properly handle God’s Word. Gentlemen, could I call on you to come and stand behind this pulpit and say, “Thus saith the Lord?” I believe that I should be able to do that. Men, are you ready? Are you prepared?
Later, in chapter 4, Paul warned Timothy:
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Young people are turning their ears away from the truth. We need men who can and will handle the Word of God in such a skillful way as to be able guide our young people back to the truth!
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Men, have you ever fired a handgun? To properly handle a handgun, you need all five fingers.
The same is true with God’s Word. You need to...
Read God’s Word.
Read God’s Word.
Men, you’ll never be able to properly handle God’s Word if you don’t even read it!
Study God’s Word.
Study God’s Word.
Men, it has never been easier to study and understand God’s Word. Technology has placed into our hands wonderful tools - many of them free - that can be used to help us get a good handle on God’s Word.
One such tool that I used to use is called E-Sword.
Memorize God’s Word.
Memorize God’s Word.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.
Men, the only way to hide God’s Word in your heart is to memorize it. You can memorize God’s Word. Now, get at it!
Again, because of technology, it’s never been easier to memorize God’s Word. Use the Bible Memory App. Join our group and memorize Colossians 3:1-17!
Meditate upon God’s Word.
Meditate upon God’s Word.
Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
I love this illustration…Give the illustration of a cow “chewing its cud.”
Finally...
Live God’s Word.
Live God’s Word.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
The whole purpose for reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating in God’s Word is so that you can live God’s Word out in your daily life.
“…that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein..”