For The Love Of God Is Sacrificial

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable to you, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."

"For The Love Of God Is Sacrificial"

(Matt 16:13-20; Matt 25:14-30)

INTRO:

            I love this parable.  Except for the last part.  Great story.  3 trusted employees called in by the boss.  5, 2, & 1 talent. Talents = money. We interpret it to mean more, too.  Abilities, etc.

    Two double their investment.  One buries.  Boss comes back.  Asks for a report. "Wow, great job. Well done, good and faithful servant."

            The last guy: hid, buried.   Boss angry.  Asks, why didn't you at least put it in the bank, where it could bear interest: "Why have you done less than the least."

            That's a hard passage.  I don't like that ending because I want God to look at me someday and say, "Well done."  I don't want God to look at me and ask "Why have you done less than the least."  God has given us all talents to invest - in life and faith.

            Jesus asked disciples - "Who do people say I am" 

            Then he asked them, "But who do YOU say that I am?"  That's the important question.  IF answer like Peter - has to make difference. IF Jesus IS Son of God, Messiah, Personal Savior; has to impact our lives.

            That's where Church comes in. Church is about giving. Giving and investing yourself out of gratitude because Jesus is your Savior. Stewardship campaign idea, invest in St. John's

            Promise to make an investment through our membership vows: "Support Church with Prayers, Presence, Gifts and Service."

1.  PRAYERS: 

            A.        Important to pray.  Little boy. Mom. Need new football. "I don't know whether to pray; write Santa or call Grandma."

Prayer is giving self to God.  Communication with God.  Listening.

            Jesus said, "When you pray..." (Luk 11:2) and then instructed how to pray.  He didn't say "If you pray."  Assumed we would pray.  That's part of being Christian and a disciple of Jesus.  It builds faith.

B.        Important what pray about:   Each Other!   Church as a whole!  Church's programs. Pastor!  Sunday School teachers.   Ministries of the Church! Your Enemies!  If we don't pray: "We've done less than the least."

2.  PRESENCE:

A.        Flip Wilson: "Jehovah's bystander. Wanted him be Jehovah's witness, didn't want to get involved."  Worship is involvement.  Not  spectator sport.  Not entertainment.  We come give self to God.  Open self to God.  Open self to inspiration from God.

B.        Presence not limited to worship.  Give self for others by being there when someone else leads or prepares.  Think how you felt?  Work, plan, prepare.  No one shows up.  When we don't support we like 1 talent man, bury it.  Invest in St. John's by your presence in Sunday School, Worship, Committees etc.

            If don't "We've done less than the least."

3.  SERVICE:

A.        Our 1st call is to Christian Action.  Called to be servants like Jesus.  Basin and towel, symbol of servanthood.  Jesus said, "Follow me..."  Also said, "No servant can be greater than their master."  The Son of God is our example and He came as a servant. 

            We would rather be served but there is great joy in serving.  Servant thinks of others first. Called to give selves to God through our service within God's Church.

B.        Ways to serve:  Volunteers in office.  In Evangelism.  Phone calls, visits to visitors.  Meals for sick, needy.  Care for inactives.  Greeters to welcome visitors.  Children's Church.  Choir.  Clean-up and work day.  Lawn mowing.  Nursery.  Night Shelter.  

            All called to serve.  If don't "We've done less than the least."

4.  GIFTS:

A.        Gifts = more than money but lets concentrate on that form of giving.  Jesus said, "When you give.." (Mat 6:3)  Not if but when.

            We give to God's work in the Church because that's how we are created.  Not fulfil who we are if don't give.  By Giving we Invest in God's work in South Arlington.  Invest in children's faith and future.  Invest in own future.

            There is no reason that we should be struggling financially like we are.  We give to what's important to us. 

            Disciples are building: attend = 750, offering average $20,000.

            Our attend = 340, offering average $4,600.  Are we doing "less than the least?"

            Positions need: Full-time Program Dir., Youth Dir., Custodian, Associate Pastor.  Minimum $75,000, if you combine some.  We need to over-subscribe the budget to make positions possible.

            We need a Sanctuary and more education space.  Whether we build Ed space first or build Sanctuary and convert this is immaterial at this point.  We can't afford to more debt payment at our level of giving.  The only way to get more is to give more.  Not giving is doing "less than the least?"      

            Challenge: I think we need 150 families to give a minimum of $2,000 each as a starting fund for our next building.  Can't undertake without

CONCLUSION:

            We all given gifts and talents.  All asked the same questions as members of Church.   Same question Jesus asked Peter, "Who do YOU say that I am."  How we answer makes all the difference in how we invest or hide the gifts and talents God has given us. 

            The one who gave His life so we could have life asks:                                  "Who do YOU say Jesus is?"

            "What will you do with what God has given you?"

            "How will you invest yuorself and your gifts?"

            Will you step out on faith, give yourself and invest yourself  in God's Kingdom and this Church or will you do less than the least?