It's Worth It

Bill Sizemore

Thanks and Giving • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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Introduction:

In today’s world everything cost something. We all have a limited amount of resources. We all have 24 hours in a day, no more no less.

We all have a limited about of talents and abilities to share with others and to help others.

We all have a limited amount of treasure in which to provide, bless, and build. Some more than others but all of it shaky at best.

Everything we do in life has a cost attached to it. Because we are limited in our time, talent, and treasure, when you say, “yes” to something you are saying, “no” to something else. The wise man knows when to say yes and when to say no.

In order the make these “yes” and “no” calls, we establish priorities in our life. We do this either on accident or on purpose but everyone sets priorities.

In our discipleship path we guide people in their priority setting to maximize the return on their investment of time, talent, and treasure as we build the kingdom of God together.

Over my 30 years of ministry I have learned a very simple truth people spend their resources on whatever they want to. So it’s important that you choose wisely. If you are not wise and careful in your choses things will end up costing you more than you every imagined and steal the resources you needed for something else.

I want to share with you this morning one of the wises investments you can make in this life. One that will bring you the maximum amount of return through purpose, life fulfilment, and joy.

It’s the Local Church

I stand amazed at the beauty and wonder of the body of Christ. What a magnificent plan of God to indwell and empower believers all around the world to be Christ to our homes, our community, and our world.

When Christ resurrected from the dead and ascended to heaven he created the local church to be his hand and feet, he gave them his mind in the Word of God, and empowered them through his Spirit.

Christ then breaks down this amazing army into powerful units called the local church to carry out the mission in a real and tangible way. Each unit having the same mandate and the same Spirit to accomplish the task at hand.

These local churches, like Reliant, are filled with people that rally around a common cause; not for money or personal gain, but to pool our resources to bring about positive change to those around us.

When you gather this many people together it’s easy to forget the real mission and purpose of why we are here.

A people united under the banner of Christ to share his message of faith, hope, and love. Preparing the way of the Lord through the Word of God creating opportunities for people to find entrance into the Kingdom of God.

Like everything else, there is a cost associated with the local church. It’s going to cost you your time, talent, and your treasure. You have to decide if it is worth the cost to you.

You have to decide if it is worth the cost to you. I have given my life to the ministry because I believe in the cause and have counted the cost. I can’t do that for you.

I have given my life to the ministry because I believe in the cause and have counted the cost. I can’t make that decision for you. You must discover the value of the local church for yourself.

Message

The Cost of the Wedding

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, placed the highest value on the Local Church. It cost him no less than his life.

But Jesus wasn’t focused on the cost as much as he was on the return.

The cost of producing the bride of Christ came at a great price.

Jesus was

Ephesians 5:2 ESV

2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Jesus was willing to sacrifice so that you might be saved.

Jesus was willing to die for the ungodly.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 4:10 ESV

10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Romans 5:6 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

1 John 4:9 ESV

9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

1 John 4:

Romans 5:9 ESV

9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Rom 5:9

Rom

But Jesus wasn’t focused on the cost as much as he was on the return. He was willing to pay the cost for the joy of salvation. as we learned last week he became poor so that we might be made rich.

The Lord’s commitment should be our commitment to the relationship.

Let’s take a minute and focus on the cost in a real way. What does it cost to be a “Jesus follower of faith that expands God’s kingdom.”

The Cost of Personal Discipleship

Luke 14:25–26 ESV

25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:25

The cost of personal commitment to Christ.

Being a disciple of Christ demands our time and attention. A disciple is a state of being not an act of doing.

“Discipleship is not a class but a calling on your life. A true disciple is a disciple 24/7.”

It will cost some other dreams and ambitions.

It will cost you your life.

The cost of personal growth and change.

Luke 14:27 ESV

27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:27

Being a disciple of Christ demands self discipline of walking in the Spirit and making the changes necessary in your life to be above reproach.

A disciple of Christ lives in a state of repentance and subjection to others around them.

A disciple is not perfect but he seeks perfection.

1 John 3:3 ESV

3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

A disciple is not sinless but he is self-aware.

They know the difference between gossip and a prayer request.

They know the difference between devastation and edification.

They know when to speak and when to shut-up.

The cost of personal generosity

Luke 14:

Luke 14:28 ESV

28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

Being a disciple of Christ demand a mindset of stewardship and not ownership. God is the owner I am just the steward.

A disciple is a good steward of the time, talent, and treasure given by the Lord and for His glory.

In our self-centered, self-righteous world. People don’t want to pay that. “If I say yes to Jesus I have to say no to other things.”

But the cost of something should never be the determining factor in our lives but the return on investment. The question is not, “What does it cost? but, “What is the return on my investment.” Is it worth it?

The Cost is Worth It.

There is a cost associated with everything you do. You have to decide if it is worth the cost to you. I have given my life to the ministry because I believe in the cause and have counted the cost. I can’t do that for you.

If your going to spend your time, talent, and treasure on something, I know that Reliant is a good place to invest. I love this place. Peoples lives are changed because of this ministry.

People find God Here!

One of my greatest joys is watching people who where dead in their trespasses and sin brought to life through the power of the Spirit and the gospel.

One of the men of Reliant went to the auto parts store fixing a truck to give away to another man in the Church. He starts talking to the guy behind the counter about our Reliant. The man goes home and tells his wife they need to check out Reliant. Ron and Shiloah come to visit and feel loved and welcomed. They hear the word of God preached and two weeks ago Ron and Shiloah pledged their allegiance to Christ and are ready to be baptized.

Katie Guest reunited with an old friend, Sandy, from high school the other day and asked Sandy if she wanted to come to church with her. Sandy attends and hears the message of King Jesus and also gave her life to Christ and is ready to be baptized.

People find New Hope Here!

I love watching people that were without hope, and estranged from God, be renewed in their spirit and drawing close to God again.

Please welcome Danny Abell to the stage.

Questions for Danny:

If you don’t mind, share with us the tragedy that hit your family a few years back and the tole it took on all of you.

About six months ago you were not attending Reliant and your Dad had been attending for about 6 months. What changes did you see happening in Bubba?

I know your sister April recieved Christ at our Easter service this year and your mother also began to come regularly. How would you say your family is different now because of Reliant?

Your now serving as the youth intern with Jay. What drew you to Reliant?

People are equipped for ministry here!

Reliant was founded on equipping the saints for the work of the ministry.

91 people have begun our first level of Discipleship Path and 78 have completed it. That’s an 85% completion rate.

Now we have disciples training new disciples.

People are sent from here!

We have sent people around the world to share their faith and bring the light of the gospel into the darkness. We have seen salvations in:

Dallas, GA

Tiajuana

Cancun

Mombassa, Africa

Turkey

Iran

And soon in Armenia

This Church, Reliant, Is a special place. The people of Reliant are special people.

Reliant is worth the investment of time and commitment to produce Jesus followers of faith that expand God’s Kingdom.

Reliant is worth the investment of our talents to serve and grow others in kingdom work.

Reliant is worth the investment and giving as we expand the Kingdom of God by providing opportunities for people to enter the Kingdom of God.

Jesus said it this way:

Matthew 6:19–20 ESV

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Conclusion:

It doesn’t really matter what Jesus thinks about the Local Church.

It doesn’t really matter what I think about Reliant.

But here’s the real question is it worth it to you? You will either say “yes” this is a place that I can invest for the kingdom or “no” I choose to spend my time, talent, and treasure on other things.

If your answer is yes:

Give your heart to the Lord first.

Invest your time, your talents, and treasure into Reliant as we build people and build the Kingdom.

Sacrifice your time, your talents, and treasure to carry this vision from the Lord.

Let Reliant invest in you. Get in the process of Discipleship and get equipped to join the mission. Let us help you grow into your “yes.”

Turn the investment in you into compounding interest for the Lord.

If your answer is no:

Then you should go find a place where you can answer yes.

Jesus deserves your “yes” wether that be here or somewhere else.

If your answer is no, we need your seat.

I love this Place. I love the People of Reliant. My answer is Yes.

We are looking for people that will say yes to the Lord, yes to Reliant and yes to our community by giving their all to this place.

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