Sermon Tone Analysis

“Church On The Move”

“Charlie Mike”

Kristi and I have historically had a show that we watch together.

A show that we can sit back, follow a story line, and decompress from the drama of life.

Ironically enough, It is typically some kind of drama in and of itself.

For the most part we enjoy watching dramatically different types of TV, but we typically try to have a show that we can ENJOY watching together.

Our latest find is Navy Seals.

It’s a relatively clean show compared to most of the nonsense on TV today.

The language is pretty mild, I can’t think of a single episode or even hint at an LGBTQ situation.

It isn’t without problems, but overall, a pretty decent show.

As you can expect form a show about Navy Seals, each episode typically involves “Bravo team” going on some seemingly impossible mission to rescue someone or capture a “High Value Target.”

However, many of the episodes lead to some catastrophic mission failure or hiccup that leads to the question of whether to abort the mission or to carry on.

I think everytime that decision has been faced, the call comes back from Bravo 1 A.K.A. Jason Hayes, the leader of Bravo… “Charlie Mike” which means “Continue Mission.”

At the beginning of this year we started a series called “Church on the Move.”

I could have just as easily called this series, “Church on a Mission.”

The movement of the church is based on the mission of God for the People of God to build the Kingdom of God.

As we started this series I talked about the promise, purpose, and power of the church.

The Promise of the church involved Jesus asking the disciples the question, “Who do people say I am.”

The disciples answered, “Some say John the Baptist, Some say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Jesus asked, “but who do you say I am?”

You know the story, Peter steps up and says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

To that Jesus says, You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church and the GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT!!!

THAT’S THE MISSION CHURCH!

THAT’S THE MOVEMENT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN

WE ARE PART OF AN ELITE SPECIAL FORCE THAT IS ENGAGED IN A SPECIAL OPERATIONS MISSION TO RESCUE HOSTAGES FROM THE GRIPS OF AN UNRELENTING, CRUEL ENEMY THAT DESIRES TO KILL, STEAL AND DESTROY!

As I watch Navy Seals with my wife, those men all go out on a mission, but the reality is THE MISSION started long before they set foot in Afghanistan, or Malaysia, or Venezuela, or any other part of the world.

Their mission, that would lead to many missions over the course of their careers, started when they signed up.

Their mission started when they made the decision to join the Navy and then to start the BUDs Program.

As I stand here this morning talking about Navy Seals going on missions, there are some pretty strong correlations between the military (especially elite units that see higher than normal combat missions) and the Christian life.

Make no mistakes about it church, WE WILL SEE SPIRITUAL BATTLES.

WE WILL GET INJURED, BUT WE WILL WIN!!!

I am going to read form Luke 14 this morning.

The pericope directly before the one I am going to read this morning starting in v. 25 talks about a man that has a great banquet.

As part of the preparations for the feast he invited lots of people.

When the time came and everything was prepared, he sent his servant to let people know.

Unfortunately, the guests had excuses on why they couldn’t come.

The first had bought a new field and wanted to go see it.

The next bought some oxen and wanted to go examine them.

The last mentioned had just got married so he couldn’t come (maybe the only semi-legitimate excuse.)

The master was angry…OBVIOUSLY…and instructed the servant to go and invite the poor, crippled, blind, and lame.

Go into the highways and the hedges and bring as many as will come.

Fill my house with the sounds of celebration…

Obviously, Jesus was referencing the Kingdom of God, and the invitation to all that will come.

But that parable was followed with an even more difficult parable.

Jesus turns around, looks at this great crowd that has started following Him, and for the next 8 verses tells them, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE HARDEST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE!!!

Listen to this… every year roughly 40k people join the US Navy.

Because of the popularity of the SEALS, at least half of that 40k express some interest in the program.

In spite of that level of interest, approximately 1000 people are accepted and start the training and 75% of those quit.

I have told the story before, but it is worth telling again.

B.H. Clendenin said one time that God spoke to him in prayer and told him that if the rapture happened only 10% of his church would make it.

Bro.

Clendenin argued with him because he believed that the church was faithful.

God said, I’ll prove it to you…call a prayer meeting.

Clendenin said his heart sank when 40 of his 400 faithful attenders showed up for a Tuesday evening prayer meeting.

Hear me church, This is not a condemnation about showing up for prayer, or not.

This is WHOLLY about asking you to consider the cost, and Charlie Mike…CONTINUE THE MISSION!!!

I hope this morning that this stirs something in you and gets you excited to fight for Jesus.

Obviously I am no talking about throwing hands, grabbing a sword or a rifle, BUT I’m Talking about spiritual warfare.

I’m talking about the very real truth that you will come up against an enemy that has more experience, in many cases more desire to win, and we are playing on his battlefield.

I. Consider the Cost

a. Persecution

i. Matthew 5:10-12

ii. 2 Timothy 3:10-12

b.

Separation

i. Amos 3:3

ii. 1 John 2:15-17

c.

Loss of People you care about

i.