2006-10-29 - That you might be - Eph 3 14-21 - anniversary
Message: 207th Anniversary Newport Baptist Church
Scr: Eph 3:14-21 Date: 2006-10-29
Intro: You Know You're Getting Old When...
You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it.
Your back goes out more than you do.
You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.
You sing along with elevator music.
You enjoy hearing about other people's operations.
You consider coffee one of the most important things in life.
You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
People call at 9 pm. And ask, "Did I wake you?"
You answer a question with "Because I said so!"
You can't remember the last time you laid on the floor to watch television.
Your ears are hairier than your head.
You got cable to watch the weather channel.
10 years before to 10 years after the founding of the church
8 years before – Mozart died
Rosetta stone was discovered in Egypt, Napoleon begins his journey to power! New york passed a law against slavery, Tignish PEI was founded J and George Washington died
1800 – world population reached 1 billion, US library of congress founded
next decade – Britain and Ireland become Great Britain
founded before the steam engine, the bicycle, the camera, records, the zipper! (the dryer!)
Explanation – People had a vision!
207 years – who’s been here the longest?
Story of faithfulness – God to his church – his church to God.
Wonder what good it does?
Ill Guy who decided he’d had enough church – old farmer – I still eat 3 meals a day ;)
what matters today? Celebrate what has happened, but where do we go from here? Anniversary is a time to Renew our vision
(sort of like renewing wedding vows – invite people to renew their commitment – As for me and my house…Joshua)
Prov 29:18 – without vision, the people perish – KJV
When there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint (NET)
Message – If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves
TS - Some people have been asking about changes to the church – why we do this or that differently now.
Answer – God has called us to change, to show compassion, to care about those around us, not ONLY the Christians, but all people… especially the lost!
- Why did we move the church building back from the road some years ago.
- Why did this church plant other churches
- Why do we have a youth ministry?
- why do we remember those faithful people who have gone before?
Because God has called us to know him and to tell others about his love.
He did NOT give us a tradition, he gave us a task, a purpose. He told us to love him and love others, and Jesus Christ told us to go and make disciples, to baptize them and teach them to obey what Jesus said…
Paul said that he would be all things to all people in order that some might be saved… his example is a model for us.
Paul’s prayer in Ephesians is that they would be able to understand all that God has done, and here in Ephesians 3 he prays that they would be able to do what God would have them to do.
1) Paul’s motivation for prayer(v 14)
a) For This Reason… (sort of like therefore J )
i) Blessings! – chapter 1
(1) He chose us, predestined us, gave us grace, forgiveness, wisdom and understanding, made known his will, put all things under Christ, works out everything in line with his will, sealed us with the HS, guaranteed our inheritance.
(2) 207 years! Church planting, baptisms, ministry of all kinds – children, youth, women, men, leadership, opportunities! Jamboree, turkey suppers, association, convention!
ii) Salvation! – chapter 2
(1) Lives a mess
(2) Saved us personally
(3) Saved us for a purpose!
b) Family (15) (nkjv – Father of our Lord Jesus Christ)
i) God is the original, best, father!
ii) Church as the family of God?
(1) Fathers… I have 3, and now I am one… not perfect!
(2) God is still our Father - Knows we need a family!
2) Paul’s Request (prayer!)
a) For power – v16
i) God’s riches
(1) Mercy
(a) Concern for someone – in spite of a moral offence
(b) Kindness or concern for someone in serious need
(c) Concern for those who deserve pity
(d) How far will we go to do this? God will go all the way
(2) Grace – unmerited favour
(a) Chosen by grace
(b) Justified by grace
(c) Pray at the throne of grace
ii) Power through his Spirit in your inner being
b) Christ’s presence – v17a
i) In our hearts – is that a comfortable place to be? Dutch word!
(1) Longest journey – 12 inches
ii) Through faith!
(1) Trust in God
(2) ACTIVE obedience – Abraham, Jeremiah, apostles – Peter & Paul!
(3) Grows through works! James!
c) Understanding – v17b-19a
i) Power to grasp – ability!
(1) Wide
(2) Long
(3) High
(4) Deep
ii) 207 years – do you understand Christ’s love?
d) Filling – v19b
3) Paul’s Purpose
a) Ill – Moses, Jesus and God golfing J
b) God’s power – v20a
c) Our limitations – v20b
d) Transformation – v20c
e) God’s Glory revealed in Christ – v21
Conclusion – We celebrate 207 years today
- Contemplate and appreciate the past, for it will never come again.
- Ask this simple question. If there were no church here, what would I do to share Christ with those who live in the region of Newport United Baptist Church?
- Look beyond these walls to the people God has used to share the love of Christ.
What can we do to reach them?
- Joshua – as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord
- Peter – we must obey God rather than men
- Jesus – deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow me
Sacrifice is required, change is required. Not easy, but NECESSARY
ILL - Imagine if my anniversary with my wife was the end… when we sit together, we are thankful for the previous 16 years, but we spend far more time talking about the future, what’s next? That’s what life is about… learn from the past, but focus on the future.
I cannot bear the thought that 207 years would end with me. Can You? I celebrate it not as the end of a run, but as an opportunity to move forward, trusting in Christ who promised us that we could do all things in him and through his name.
Because we were blessed and saved and made part of God’s family, I pray today even as Paul did (vs 16-21)
Prayer –