Investing For Eternity

INVESTING FOR ETERNITY.

SERIES:  My To Do List For 2008

1-13-08---SAM

EPHESIANS 5:15-17

TBC

INTRO:  How many of you make New Years resolutions this year?  How many of you have broken your New Years resolutions?

-1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends

-2. Fit in Fitness

-3. Tame the Bulge

-4. Quit Smoking

-5. Enjoy Life More

-6. Quit Drinking

-7. Get Out of Debt

-8. Learn Something New

-9. Help Others

-10. Get Organized

The good news is this sermon is not about making New Years resolutions.  My challenge to you this morning is not to make a resolution, but to make a commitment.  I have 8 things I want you to make a commitment to do in 2008.

We are going to spend the next five weeks looking at these 8 commitments and the four areas of life they will help us mature in.

----Remember our memory verse--- 1 Corinthians 10:31---31Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.(NKJV)  This is also our theme verse for our series.

Now I want to begin, however, by reading Ephesians 5:15-17.

Appointed once to die.

            Psalms tells us to number our days.

A divine mystery:  Our time in this world matters.  This is the way God has designed.

To help you invest for eternity, There are four areas by which to live life.

->.  Worship of God.---Worship.

->.  Walk with Jesus.---Discipleship.

->.  Witness to Others.---Missions

->.  Work with other Christians.---Fellowship

We are going to spend the next five weeks looking in detail at these areas, but today let’s look at some general principles for life.  We can sum up these four areas/these principles with two words. 

Faithful Steward. 

-I.  A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE ON BEING A FAITHFUL STEWARD.

            -A.  Scripture:  Matthew 25:14-30

-B.  I want you to think what the main point of this parable is---why did Jesus teach this parable to his followers.

            -1.  It is about being faithful to what He has given us.

                        -a.  One man had 5

                        -b.  One man had 2

                        -c.  One man had 1.

-2.  The owner went on a journey, and gave each slave some talents.  Things to take care of when he was gone.

            -a.  At his pleasure did not divide things evenly.

            -b.  Whatever the reason, the man gave some 5,2, and 1.

-3.  What we find is that 2 of the 3 were faithful to take care of what their owner had put them in charge of.  They went to work, and made a return for their master.

-4.  One slave wasn’t faithful.

-a.  listen carefully, the point is how BIG of a return the owner got on his investment.

-b.  The point is that the slave wasn’t faithful.  He didn’t trust the owner.  He didn’t love the owner.  He fear the master in an unhealthy way.  He didn’t why try.

-C.  Listen beloved, this applies to us today.  This is the point of my series, and my prayer is that you and I learn to grow in faithfulness. 

            -1.  God has a job for every person to do at TBC.

            -2.  There is no job to little in the eyes of the Lord.

            -3.  Every job is important. 

-4.  But my focus is going to be on 8 things I believe every body can do with God’s help.  So the question is will we grow in our faithfulness this year.

-D.  Just suppose the Lord came back this year---what would he say to you?  What would you say to him?

            -1.  Look at the rest of our parable.

            -2.  Verses 20-27

-E.  The biblical perspective on being a faithful stewards is be obedient to the things that God has called you to do.  Be faithful in that area.

-II.  A BIBLICAL PROGRAM FOR BEING A FAITHFUL STEWARD.

            -A.  Talk about the word “program.”  Don’t think of this as just another program.

                        -1.  PDL

                        -2.  Exper.  God.

                        -3.  This isn’t a program like that, but it is a way to live life.

            -B.  Let’s go back to the four areas again:

-1.  Put God 1st---that’s worship.

Matthew 22:36-39---36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and great commandment. (NKJV)

                        -2.  Live like Jesus---that’s discipleship.

Philippians 2:5--- 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,(NKJV)

                        -3.  Be a missionary you live---that’s evangelism.

Acts 1:8---8But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”(NKJV)

                        -4.  Encourage Bvlrs---that’s fellowship.

Romans 1:8-12--- 8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.(NKJV)

                        -5.  I think you can put all of life under those four areas. 

            -C.  I want to give you the 8 things I want you to do in 2008.

                        -1.  Tithe 10%.---worship

                        -2.  Invite 12 people to church---witnessing

                        -3.  Grow in Prayer.---worship

                                    -a.  Reading a book on prayer.

                                    -b.  Devote 5 good minutes to prayer.

                                    -c.  Find a prayer partner---fellowship

                        -4.  Discover your spiritual gift.---discipleship

                        -5.  Discover your witnessing style, and learn to witness.---witness

                        -6.  Cultivate one relationship with a lost person.witness

                        -7.  Develop a system for reading the Bible, or memorize bible verses.

-8.  Pray for other Christians and other Churches.  Get to know Ledell Bailey.

-D.  Now there maybe some other areas you want to make commitments in.  Why not write those now on your to-do list.

            -1.  each week daily devotionals.

-III.  A BIBLICAL PROMISE FOR BEING A FAITHFUL STEWARD.

-A.  My prayer is that you would arise to the challenge and make these commitments today.  But perhaps you wonder why?

            -1.  This isn’t about me or what I get out of as pastor.

-2.  I blv if you will strive with God’s help to honor these commitments you will be blessed, you will be a blessing.

-B.  I know sometimes you think I can’t.  The reality is you can’t, but with God’s help you can.

            -1.  The Holy Spirit directs our steps.

                        -2.  The Lord Jesus intercedes on our behalf.

                        -3.  The Father blesses us so we can be faithful.

If God is for you, who on earth, in earth, over the earth can be against you.

            -C.  If you happen to fail, what happens.

                        -1.  you get back on the horse.

-2.  I heard this sometime ago that we don’t quit eating when we miss a meal.

CONCLUSION:  This challenge is between you and the Lord.  I have no need to know, unless you want to share.  I want you to bow your head and close your eyes.