20th Pastoral Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Don’t Quit
Brother Walter Lewis
Psalm 127:1-2
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.”
Psalms 127:1-2 NIV
- Get your priorities straight.
Haggai 1:1-12
“In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest: This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’ ” Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.” Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord.”
2.Get back to God’s work.
3.Don’t be discouraged.
Haggai 2;3-4
“‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
4.God promises blessings.
Haggai 2:8-9, 18-19
“‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
“‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. “ ‘From this day on I will bless you.’
Application: Regroup, Recommit to God as the priority and remember whose team you are on.
20th Pastoral Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, November 10, 2024
Standing Firm In The Lord
Minister Tony Igwe
Key Words
Stand Firm – Be well seated or securely positioned
Immoveable – without movement or change of status
Love – “To will the good of another” – Dallas Willard
The Sermon in a Sentence: God who made us in His Image wants us to stand firm and immoveable like Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:58 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Why do we need to stand firm?
1. Your enemy is out there; not everything that glitters is gold
1 Peter 5:8-98 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
John 10:10 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
2. Because Jesus has given us the victory!
1 Corinthians 15:53 – 57 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
How do I stand firm like Jesus?
3. Please, don’t do what Saul did!
Acts 9:1-6 1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Deuteronomy 13:1-5 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. 5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you from the way the Lord your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you
4. Do everything in love, with the mindset of Christ
1 Corinthians 16:14 14 Let all that you do be done in love.
Ephesians 5:1-2 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 1If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Philippians 2:5-8 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
What is in it for me (WIIFM)?
5. No need to worry; do the work!
Matthew 6:28-30 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
John 6:26-29 26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
20th Pastoral Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, November 3, 2024
Elder Gary Nelson
“Is it a Job or Ministry?”
20th Anniversary Text:
1 Corinthians 15:58(NLT) 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
Key Text: Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT) 25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Sermon in a Sentence:
Excellence in exercising Kingdom Leadership requires having a “Service” versus a “Serve Us” mindset.
Key Terms:
Job - 2 a: something done for private advantage 3 a (1): something that has to be done : task (2): an undertaking requiring unusual exertion b: a specific duty, role, or function c: a regular remunerative position
Ministry – A person or thing through which something is accomplished, the office, duties, or functions of a minister, the period of service or office of a minister or ministry
Some members have jobs in the church and others involve themselves in ministry. Both require work.
Work – 1: activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something: a: sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result b: c: a specific task, duty, function, or assignment often being a part or phase of some larger activity.
Who in the church is called to ministry? – ALL OF US (SAT Word association question)
Minister = Servant, Ministry = Service
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) - 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT) 5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
JOB vs. MINISTRY DETECTOR (7 ATTRIBUTES)
1) Source of Motivation
o If you do it simply because no one else will – JOB
o If you do it to serve God - MINISTRY
I Corinthians 10:31 (Amplified) 31So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.
Romans 7:4 (Amplified) - 4Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.
2) Response to Hostile Work Environment
o If you quit due to criticism – JOB
o If you continue to serve despite criticism(persevere) - MINISTRY
I Peter 4:12 (NLT) 12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
II Timothy 4:5 (Amplified) 5 As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry.
3) Priority It Holds In Your Life
o If you do it as long as it does not interfere with other things – JOB
o If you are committed to staying with it even when it means letting other things go(sacrifice) - MINISTRY
Exodus 20:3-5a (NLT) 3 “You must not have any other god but me.
4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.
Matthew 6:33 (NLT) 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
4) Quality of the Recognition & Rewards
o If you quit because no one ever praises or thanks you – JOB
o If you stay even though no one notices your efforts - MINISTRY
John 12:43 (NLT) 43 For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.
5) Source of Assignments
o If you do it because someone else said it needs to be done or told you to - JOB
o If you do it because you sensed God saying it needs to be done – MINISTRY
Galatians 2:2 (NLT) I went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I met privately with those considered to be leaders of the church and shared with them the message I had been preaching to the Gentiles. I wanted to make sure that we were in agreement, for fear that all my efforts had been wasted and I was running the race for nothing.
The Lord uses his under shepherd, the Sr. Pastor, the sent, appointed and ordained by God leader to execute his instructions for his plan for the Church. God à Sr. Pastor à Other Leaders à Members
6) Level of Excitement
o If it is difficult for you to get excited – JOB
o If it is almost impossible NOT to get excited –MINISTRY
Ephesians 6:7 (NLT) 7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
I Corinthians 15:58 (NLT) So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
7) What Legacy Remains
o If the impact is Earthly / Temporary soon forgotten, not repeatable – JOB
o If the Kingdom of God is advanced on the earth (Heavenly / Eternal gain) - MINISTRY
Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT) 19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Philippians 2:16 (NLT) 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
Call to Action
Bible Center, our local church is a body of Christ followers.
I Corinthians 12:27 (NLT) 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
When a part of our physical body does not perform / function properly we become sick. When a member of our church does not serve in ministry, likewise, the body suffers.
Christ will soon return looking for a church with the following qualities:
Ephesians 5:27 (KJV)
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Spiritual maturity allows us to be excited about fulfilling God’s command on our lives to serve others and give our lives as Christ gave of himself for us by exercising our spiritual muscles- putting into practice the rich word imparted in our worship experiences and becoming more focused on Service vs. Serve Us
Disclaimer: Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We believe and teach that the Bible is God’s Word — His opinion — and provides His instruction for how to live life under His rule (i.e., the Kingdom of God).
