Don't Miss The Boat!

That is a simple question to ask, but often is far from simple to answer as individual believers simply for the fact that we can tend to be pretty selfish people...

We often don’t take the time to consider what God wants from us and we often make demands of God either directly or indirectly…it usually takes the form of “God if you do __________, then I will ___________”. And sadly, most people fail to follow through with their part of the “bargain”...

I would venture to say that many of you have this list of things you hope God will do for you…there is nothing wrong with expecting God to do something, we are told that He will...

But have you ever stopped to ask yourself is what you want from God something God wants you to have?

What should we want from God? Perhaps will give us some insight into what we should desire of God...

Psalm 67 NASB95

For the choir director; with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah. That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the peoples with uprightness And guide the nations on the earth. Selah. Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.

Janine and I love to cruise…if you’ve ever taken a cruise vacation, it kind of gets in your blood and you won’t want to take any other type of vacation…one of the rules when it comes to cruising is that when that whistle blows for the final boarding call, you better be on the ship, because they will leave you behind and then you have to fend for yourself to get home. They clearly tell you at each port when the final boarding call will come and when the ship plans to leave port…they wait for no one!

It should be our prayer that God will be gracious to us and bless us in the ways He wants, not what we want.

That happened just this past month…on February 15th Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Symphony of the Seas was in Nassau and signaled the final boarding call for all passengers at 3:30 p.m. At 4:15 p.m. a couple arrives at the dock only to find the gang plank was gone, the ship’s door was shut and it was pulling away from the dock. They were left stranded on the island dock and had to make their own arrangements to get home. This was the final port of call for the ship...

The rule of the cruise line is that if you are not on board when and where you are supposed to be, you will be left behind and you will have to find your own way to get back to the ship or home.

So if you have never cruised, let me tell you they are very serious about being on board at the appointed time…if you want to make it to the next destination, you better be on board when the ship sails...

What does this have to do with our time in the Word this morning?...

We could think about our life with God and the ministry of the church in some ways like that of a cruise ship…

God has charted out a course for us that will take us to marvelous places and the pleasure of the journey is something worth talking about and being excited about.

God has a similar rule to that of the cruise line…get on board with Him and enjoy the journey or be left behind…the only way to get your boarding pass on God’s cruise ship is to accept His wonderful gift of salvation…GOSPEL...

Once you’ve got your “boarding pass”, you enter the fleet of God’s vessels known simply as “the universal church” and God places each of the “passengers” on a specific vessel known as the local church, this one being called Maranatha Bible Church, she is designed and built to get us from one port of maturity to the next port of maturity until we finally make it home to heaven…God continues to build His fleet of ships and sets each one on a course...

God also gives everyone aboard each of His specific vessels a responsibility that will make the journey they are on that much more enjoyable…so I want to exhort you here this morning to

Accept God’s gracious gift of His Son and join the cruise…

get your boarding pass today or you will be left behind and the destination you will end up in I guarantee you will not be pleasant.

Once on board, enjoy the journey God sets out for us by placing us all in the same vessel...

Here’s one of the beauties of this whole thing…God allows you to determine which local vessel you want to cruise on…and just like a real cruise, before you select that ship, you want to know where it is headed...

So with all that in mind, it is my prayer here this morning to lay out the course, that with God’s help and approval we are going to take…and that you will say that is where I want to go…that is what I want to do…I can and will invest my time, talents and treasures into that vessel…I want to be on that boat…I don’t want to miss it...

Come On Board and Enjoy the Journey.

We want to answer some critical questions here this morning…who are we, where are we, where are we going and how are we going to get there, and how do you fit in…these are all questions that every organization needs to answer throughout the lifetime of their organization…we don’t want anyone to miss the boat...

We want to answer some critical questions here this morning…who are we, where are we, where are we going and how are we going to get there, how do you fit in…these are all questions that every organization needs to answer throughout the lifetime of their organization…let’s call this Gaining A 2020 Vision.

We want to answer some critical questions here this morning…who are we, where are we, where are we going and how are we going to get there…these are all questions that every organization needs to answer throughout the lifetime of their organization…let’s call this Gaining A 2020 Vision.

The first question to answer is...

Who Are We?

Before you say duh “we are a church”…we must examine how God describes us and then make sure we are taking steps to fulfill His description of us…God desires his entire fleet of ships to be like this...

Lets look at

In other words, for us to understand who we are, we must examine how God describes us and then make sure we are taking steps to fulfill His description of us...

Lets look at

We are the Family of God.

the word translated household in verse 15 has already been used several times in this chapter...

...speaking of the qualification of pastors...he must be one who manages his own household well...not keeping up with house maintenance---context clearly indicates the issue is his family.

when we get to the qualifications for deacons...same emphasis… – good managers of their children and their own households...

So one of the things we need to take very seriously is that we are to be a family of followers of Jesus Christ…just like your family, no family is perfect…there are a lot of imperfect sinners who make up your family…but somehow you still love your family and do what you can to stay connected…so that means we want to be a place where people can feel connected…it’s more than just an organization, it’s not a corporation...it’s a family

So one of the things we need to take very seriously is that we are family of followers of Jesus Christ…so that means we want to be a place where people can feel connected...that’s what families are...

- we take that seriously...

- we want to be a place where people can feel connected...that’s what families are...

.it’s not an organization, it’s not an entity, it’s not a corporation...it’s a family

- it’s not an organization, it’s not an entity, it’s not a corporation...it’s a family

The Church of the Living God.

the word church means “called out ones...”

- the Lord is the One doing this work...

Remember it is the Lord who is doing this work…

Matthew 16:18 NASB95

“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

the ultimate goal of every believer and every church ought to be the desire to glorify God...

Matthew 5:16 NASB95

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

2 Peter 3:18 NASB95

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

God uses us as individuals to glorify Himself and He uses us collectively as a corporate body to build His church…he gives us all the same mission…every believer is responsible to make disciples...

[if time, tie that to 2:3-4]…God wants all people to be saved and become part of His church.

God uses us as individuals to build His church…he uses us by giving us all the same mission…every believer is responsible to make disciples

every believer is responsible to make disciples

Matthew 28:19–20 NASB95

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The mission of Maranatha Bible Church is to lead people to Christ and equip them to think and act biblically.

That is something that I hope all of you can get on board with, because it comes directly from God to every believer and it will never change…our mission will never change, but the way we carry out the mission may change.

If all of us are focused on that mission, then together, we can do great things for God and expect great things from God because we are doing what He wants us to do.

God has given the church four specific avenues to focus on to help us fulfill that mission.

Exaltation — Worship God in spirit and in truth —

Evangelism — Make disciples who are learning to think and act like Jesus —

Edification — Maturing believers through biblical teaching —

Equipping — Every believer trained and active in ministry —

The Pillar and Support of the Truth.

Paul is calling up the picture of one of the great buildings in Ephesus...where they would have strong foundations and massive pillars to hold up the roof...

that’s what the church is like...the foundation has to be strong and secure, and the pillars have to be high...so the truth of God’s Word is held up high for everyone to see…our foundation is Christ....we believe that the Word of God is sufficient to provide all we need for life and godliness and equips us to avoid the corruption of the world.

2 Peter 1:3–4 NASB95

All of us have the same responsibility to be stewards of the truth…each of you is responsible to hold the teachers and preachers in this church accountable to the Word of God…you and I must take the stand that we will not allow anything to be taught or championed here that doesn’t fit within the parameters of Scripture…if you are not sure what is being taught measures up, then you are going to go after it, you are going to search the Scripture yourself and you are going to lovingly ask questions to gain clarity, etc.

All of us have the same responsibility to be stewards of the truth…each of you is responsible to hold the teachers and preachers in this church accountable to the Word of God…you must take the stand that you will not allow anything to be taught or championed here that doesn’t fit within the parameters of Scripture…if you are not sure what is being taught measures up, then you are going to go after it, you are going to search the Scripture yourself and you are going to lovingly ask questions to gain clarity, etc.

You are not going to accept the lack of knowledge of the truth in your own life and your going to make a commitment to grow deeper...

When people ask you questions about our church, one of the things you can stand on and tell them is that...

We are a family of followers of Christ united together in our belief in the absolute authority of God’s Word to direct our lives.

That’s who we are…now lets answer the next strategic question...

Where Are We?

turn to

We are at the place where unity is everyone’s responsibility.

Read

What is the reason Paul was driven to pray this prayer for them…UNITY of Christ and Unity of His people…think about what it means to be family of people who all come from different sets of sinful parents..and who are now gathered together and joined into one body…only God can do that!

Read …Paul makes it very clear that all of us have the responsibility to preserve the unity…meaning unity is present already…now do your job to preserve it...

We are at the place where we can all be strengthened by His Spirit together.

Read

you who?...you as an individual?...you apart from the family?...you as an island unto yourself with no friendships or relationships with other people of God?...of course not…that would deny the entire context of Ephesians…he is speaking to the church as a whole...

- of course not…that would deny the entire context we’ve taken the time to review…

When a group of God’s people enjoy being on the journey together and live together as a community, there exists a marvelous power within them that only God can provide.

If you are not signed up for the prayer chain…you need to give Kathy Zorn your cell phone number…when you need prayer, you text me and you text Kathy…rest assured your request will be prayed for...by the way here is my cell number…(give number and remind them to make sure they tell me who they are)

when you need prayer, you text me and you text Kathy... there were dozens of people praying…

We are at a place where we can give special attention to our hearts together.

- sure, we could have faced that as a family…and perhaps experienced God’s power in certain ways and certain levels…but there is something about living life together that helps you understand God’s power in an entirely different way…

We are at a place where we can give special attention to our hearts together.

Read

our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked Scripture says…one of the best ways to really learn what is happening in your heart is to live life together…Paul Tripp – People and situations do not determine our behavior; they provide the occasion where our behavior reveals our heart.

- one of the best ways to really learn what is happening in your heart is to live life together…

Paul Tripp – People and situations do not determine our behavior; they provide the occasion where our behavior reveals our heart.

The more you live in authentic community—especially when it’s with people who are different than you in all sorts of ways, the more likely it is that you are going to be able to see your profound need of Christ dwelling in your heart.

We are at a place where we can learn about love together.

Read ...see, whether we’re talking about love for God, or love for one another…that is a skill that is best learned in community…

see, whether we’re talking about love for God, or love for one another…that is a skill that is best learned in community…

the point of all of this is – the Christian life was never intended to be lived in isolation…God wants us to learn how to, and invest whatever resources are necessary, to live life together.

- the point of all of this is – the Christian life was never intended to be lived in isolation…God wants us to learn how to, and invest whatever resources are necessary, to live life together…

God wants us to learn how to, and invest whatever resources are necessary, to live life together.

We are at a place where we can and ought to expect God to do far more in us and with us than we could ever imagine.

Read

Power = the word we get dynamite from...works = the word we get energy from...

works = the word we get energy from...

Think about what Paul says here…only God can take a bunch of imperfect rascals and unite them into one powerful body that can face the fires of hell with squirt guns…because they recognize that...

God possesses a power that is beyond human reasoning and it is well within His ability to work in and through us in ways we never thought possible!

So where are we...

We are on the precipice of God displaying His power in us, for us, and with us as we unite together to accomplish His mission.

Now let’s answer the third strategic question…

Where are We Going?

Read and

These two texts form the basis for our philosophy of ministry...

We want to be faithful to proclaim Christ to every generation and teach them to think and act like Jesus, so that we all become fully equipped to speak the truth lovingly to each other as we all contribute to the spiritual health of the body.

That is where we want to go...I want to ask you to take a look at the Gaining a 2020 Vision document you received...

Answering this question takes a broad brush stroke that we don’t have time to fully develop here this morning…it is a wide net that encompasses many biblical principles and mandates for us as we strive to be followers of Christ who think and act like Him...I have prayed over this and thought through this and studied Scripture over this...

I have prayed over this and thought through this and studied Scripture over this and it

I don’t want this to be simply my vision, it is my desire that this becomes OUR vision…It is my prayer that we all take ownership of this…that we recognize this as what God wants us to be and do and that we are seeking His help and blessing in accomplishing this...

Our Vision...

This comes with an understanding that God alone holds the future of MBC in His hands…and that Jesus is going to build this church by the way He chooses to use us…and so it is with much prayer that after you consider this, you will lock in and determine this is where I want to be…this is what I want in a church…this is worth me investing my time, talents and treasures in...It is divided up into the four avenues I mentioned earlier...

It is divided up into the four avenues I mentioned earlier...

Exaltation…Evangelism…Edification…Equipping...

The next question we need to ask is...

How Are We Going to Get There?

The answer to this question lies within the specific strategies we hope to employ…this is where God gives us the freedom to decide how we desire to fulfill His mission for us...

This is where we need the Dream Team (so far only 2 people have stated their desire to dream with me)…only have specific initiatives laid out to cover us to the end of next year…what specific things can we seek to do with God’s help and approval in the years ahead as Jesus tarries...

With God’s help here are some specific things we can do...

Our Strategy

If time permits, read through the initiatives…some of which are already taking place...

One final question to answer...

How Do You Fit In?

Please notice the little graphic of The Process...

Gather…Grow…Give…Go

God never intended for you and me to live this side of heaven on an island…for us to be the church God desires, it takes us being a community, a family committed to the mission…so here is a simple process we all can follow...

GATHER faithfully for worship, fellowship and mutual encouragement.

Hebrews 10:24–25 NASB95

and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

GROW deeper in your relationship to Christ and others.

2 Peter 1:3–8 NASB95

seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

GROW deeper in your relationship to Christ and others.

1 Peter 1:3–8 NASB95

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

Philippians 2:1–2 NASB95

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Ephesians 4:16 NASB95

from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

GIVE sacrificially of your time, talents and treasures to service of your King.

Romans 12:1–2 NASB95

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

GO joyfully proclaiming Christ to every generation.

Colossians 1:28–29 NASB95

We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

GO joyfully proclaiming Christ to every generation.

Personal application

As you see yourself right now, prioritize your avenues of ministry from most desired to least desired. (ex Exaltation, Edification, Evangelism, Equipping)

What is your plan to take ownership of the ministry here at Maranatha Bible Church?

What steps will you take today?

We don’t want anyone to miss the journey God has for us because you missed the boat…we are plotting the course we believe God has set for us…will you join us on this journey?

1) this is exactly where we would want to be...and who we would want to be...

- what a great position in which to find ourselves...

2) if there was ever anything we would want to advance...to get from pulling 40 cars to 60...this is it...

- and if there was ever a time to do it...this is it...

3) there are 2 crucial ingredients now...

- specificity...

- this isn’t going to happen without a clear plan of identifiable steps...

- so if the theme of “gearing up” has an “engineering ring to it”, that’s because the process of “gearing up” has an engineering component to it...

- personal buy in...this can’t be, “well, we talked today about what they’re going to do over at the church this year...” – God deliver us from the curse of the “they”

- we realize that logos are personal things, and can provoke strong emotions all over the spectrum...but let me at least explain how we got here...

- we have had three primary ministry divisions that actually delivered ministry services to people...the church, the counseling ministry, and the school...

- each of them has grown far beyond what we ever expected, and in some ways have taken on a life of their own...

- we got to the place where they each had their own accounting software/systems/reporting...

- their own databases...

- their printed information was starting to move away from one another...

- and so the issue of continuity and seamlessness was becoming a real challenge...

- add to that the fact that we are preparing to develop 2 new ministries...

- so we said last summer, before we go any further...we have to go through a seamlessness process...and we have...

- we are investing in a completely upgraded and integrated technology system...

- everybody will be using the same accounting systems and software...

- we’ll be operating from the same database...

- our web site is being completely redone...

- this is a major investment of time and resources but it is being done in a way that will enable us to develop our new ministries in a way that it all works together when we’re done...

- part of that was our logo...since we have so many ministry emphases...it was very challenging to choose something that would work ministry wide...

- we were also advised by our consulting firm not to try to communicate heavy philosophy with our logo...

- what we believe and stand for is based on our name and our reputation...

- we were encouraged to find something that....

- up to date, unique...

- that was inviting [thus the “there’s room for one more” emphasis]

- could be used by all the ministries

- and that was joyful...

- but the overall idea that there is room for one more because the living God is still building His church is very important to us.

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