Missions “What do you think”
Practical Parables series #4
INTRO: Well as most of you know tonight we will be showing our mission video, pictures, and sharing our stories with you all. I really hope you will all come out tonight and be apart of that time. I think you will enjoy it, and learn from it, and all together love it.
This morning as we continue our series in Practical Parables I want us to approach the text of MATTHEW 21:28-32 If you have been with us over the past few weeks we have been talking about the prodigal son, his brother, and his father. This parable is similar in the characters. We have 2 sons, and a father to look at. However as I read this practical parable God showed me some practical things about missions. I will warn you the things he showed me may be hard for you to take, I know they were for me. But for those of you who know me, you know I preach the Bible, as strong, pure and true and I know how. And you also know that I preach what God tells me to preach. So if you feel like I am shooting at you this morning, I want to remind you that I am shooting at the Devil, don’t stand so close if you don’t want to get hit.
Before we start we need to see if we can all agree on something about missions, that is we need to agree on what it is. There are many scripture texts we could read that could define missions but for the sake of time lets just turn to the 28th chapter of Matthew, keep your finger in 21 we will be right back.
Matt 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.
Missions is GOING, TEACHING, BAPTIZING, TELLING, AND PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRIST.
Facts:
1)It is a command not a choice
2) it is a command for every Christian
3) It is rarely easy
4) it is always demanding
5) And it is being poorly carried out in the world today.
In 2000, nearly 97 percent of the entire income of all Christian organizations was spent on, and primarily benefited, other Christians at home or abroad: $261 billion spent on ministering to Christians, $7.8 billion on already-evangelized non-Christians, and $0.81 billion on unevangelized non-Christians.34 It is no wonder that “one of the reasons churches in North America have trouble guiding people about money is that the church’s economy is built on consumerism. If churches see themselves as suppliers of religious goods and services and their congregants as consumers, then offerings are ‘payment.’ ”29 Meanwhile, many churches say they don’t have enough money to support missionaries.27 http://www.generousgiving.org/page.asp?sec=4&page=504#Q10 Generousgiving.org So that is 8.61 billion on missions that is still a lot of money right?
Pet spending has more than doubled from $17 billion in 1994 to an estimated $38.4 billion in 2006. In 2006, Americans’ spending on pets is projected to be higher than ever:
$15.2 billion for food
$9.3 billion for supplies and over-the-counter medications
$9.4 billion for veterinarian care
$1.8 billion for live animal purchases
$2.7 billion for other services
This is another stat I found on a web site, it really made me think a different way about missions.
97% of the world has heard of coke-a-cola
72% of the world has seen a can of coke-a-cola
51% of the world has tasted a can of coke-a-cola
Coke has only been around 120 years (1886).
If God had given the task of world evangelization to the Coke company it would probably be done by now. Source Unknown.
Some wish to live within the sound of church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.
C.T. Studd.
I)Better late then never
A) Matt 21:29 I will not, he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
B) Have you ever been late to something?
1) Have you ever arrived late
(i)Some of you did this morning
2) Have you ever missed an opportunity because you were late?
3) Have you ever been late to a party or celebration?
4) Have you ever been late to a meeting?
5) Have you ever been late?
(i)Let me ask you this, have you ever been so late that you thought about not going, because you were late, but you went anyway?
(a) You were late to a party but you went anyway, and meet an old friend. And then where glad you went.
(b) You were late for a meeting with a client, and almost called to cancel but went and made the big sale.
(c) You were late getting into an investment opportunity, but got in anyway and it turned out great.
(d) You were late for a first date, and a year latter you married that girl?
¨ Often times in life it is better to be late then to never show up at all.
Þ In this case the first son was late, but he showed up for work.
C) Jesus says Matt 21:26 “What do you think?”
1) Was it better to show up late
2) Or not show up at all.
(i)They responded Matt 31 better late then never.
(a) Lets look at another scripture about working the fields
¨ Matt 9:37 The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
Þ Last week we had six people get saved right here 7 days ago.
Þ The week before that 3
Þ The week before that 5
Þ The week before that 2
a. 17 people in 4 weeks, but there are only about 3 or 4 people that are willing to help and disciple them.
i. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Þ We average about 800 people on Sunday mornings.
a. Last Sunday we had 3 stay and help, sweep, mop, clean the restrooms, take out the trash, turn off the lights, and lock the doors.
i. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Þ We average about 800 on Sunday Mornings.
a. Two weeks ago we had a work day inside the building and out at the arena.
i. We had about 30 people show up to help
ii. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Þ We have about 60 visitors a month come through our doors.
a. We have about 7 or 8 people who send letters, make phone calls, and do follow up with all the visitors each month.
i. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Þ We have about 120 children up stairs each week
a. Yet the same handful of people are struggling to reach and teach them week in and week out.
i. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
ii. I could go on and on.
3) I really believe that God has gifted you in a way to help build this church.
(i)I really believe that God has a purpose for you
(ii)I really believe that God wants to use you
(iii)I really believe that God has called you
(iv)I really believe that God has a mission for you
(a) I think you are just arriving late.
¨ But better late then never
Þ It is better to tell God no, then show up
Þ It is better to say I can’t, but go later anyway
Þ It is better by far to say not me, the come to the field later in the day.
a. My friend it is not to late.
i. Better late then never
D) Let me ask you the same question Jesus asked them that day.
1) What do you think?
II)Talk is cheap
A) Matt 21:30 Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, I will sir, but he did not go.
1) Two good things my dad taught me. Everyone has been giving me a hard time about running my dad down last week so I thought I should throw in something good about him. But don’t get used to it, because I don’t have a lot to work with.
(i)Two things my dad taught me
(a) Talk is cheap, and lookin is free.
¨ Many talk a good game
¨ Many have all the right word
¨ Many say yes sir I will do it
¨ Many say sure that’s no problem
Þ But never have any intention of doing it.
a. Talk it cheap.
i. Anyone can talk but who can get the job done?
ii. Anyone can talk about it, but who is willing to do it?
iii. Anyone can say yes sir, but who will get dirty, sweaty, and uncomfterbul, to get the job done?
iv. Anyone can talk about pretty much anything, but doing it is something else.
v. Talk is cheap.
vi. Prov. 14:23 (NLT) 23 Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! B) Do any of you know someone who is a good talker.
1) You know who I am talking about.
(i)Someone when they tell you something, it does not matter what it is,
(a) You trust them about as far as you can throw them
(b) You always have a plan B when this person is involved
(c) You always just plan on doing it yourself when they promise you it will get done
¨ We all know talk is cheap
Þ This second son talked and good game,
a. But he had no intention at all of ever steping out on to the field.
C) Sad thing is I wonder how many of us have done that when it comes to missions.
1) May I read you a very short true story?
2) A one-legged school teacher from Scotland came to J. Hudson Taylor to offer himself for service in China. "With only one leg, why do you think of going as a missionary?" Asked Taylor. Because "I do not see those with two legs going," replied George Scott. He was accepted. Pillar of Fire, January First, 1983.
(i) You wont find this George Scott in any Encyclopedia
(ii)You won’t find his name in the hall of fame
(iii)You won’t find a legacy of money or power associated with George Scott.
(a) But one day we shall all meet the thousands, and indeed the millions that have come to know Christ through the ministry of the one legged missionary to China.
¨ Talk is cheap, but only that which cost your life will bear eternal rewards.
Þ YES SIR I will go we say
Þ YES Sir across the street
Þ YES Sir to my friends house
Þ YES Sir to my co-workers desk
Þ YES Sir to my brother, sister, father, mother, son daughter.
Þ YES Sir, but we never seem to get there,
a. May I be the first to confess my guilt
b. May I be the first to repent
c. I shall be the first this day to admit in shame I have used cheap talk to my God
i. But I pray that I am not the last.
D) 1 Sam 2:3 (ESV) “Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
1) Talk is cheap
(i)God has plenty of talkers, but He needs more workers on the mission field.
(ii)Are actions speak louder then our words
2) Let me ask you the same question Jesus asked
(i)What do you think?
E) The third and final thing for today, that God taught me in this practical parable is this.
III)Respect is not a substitute for obedience
A) Matt 21:29-31 I will not, he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, I will sir, but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted? The first, the answered.
B) We have in our text one command Son, go and work today in the vineyard.
1) But we have two boys both with different responses.
(i)I WILL NOT
(ii)I WILL SIR
2) The first response I WILL NOT shows no respect for the fathers authority.
(i)It shows no respect for the fathers simply and reasonable request
(ii)It shows us that this sons heart is not in the right place
(iii)He has no respect for his father.
3) The second I WILL SIR
(i)Shows great respect, not only does he say he will go and fulfill the request, he says SIR.
(ii)Yes SIR I will go
(iii)I respect you enough to go and enough to say SIR.
C) But respect is not a substitute for obedience.
1) The first son I WILL NOT; obeys
2) The second, I WILL SIR; disobeys.
(i)Let me ask you as Jesus did to them What do you think? Who did what was right?
(a) The first, why? Because he obeyed.
D) This is what God told me
1) You may respect God
2) You may respect Jesus
3) You may respect the request
4) You may agree with and respect the mission and the purpose
5) You may respect it all in every way, but respect is no substitute for obedience.
(i)See at the end of the day, respect is good, but without obedience to the call, it is worthless.
(ii)If you respect the master but disobey the command,
(iii)If you respect the master but disobey the order
(iv)if you respect the master but disobey the call
(v)if you respect the master but disobey the Mission you are given
(a) Well then you have failed, because respect is no substitute for obedience.
¨ In the scope of eternity, respect is great, but obedience, is by which we will all be judged.
E) CT Studd once said Some wish to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.
(i) I think it is safe to say that many respect God, but far fewer are obeying his command to be apart of missions in these last days.
Closing: In closing this morning, let me remind you that I
I) it is never to late.
a. If God has called you to something and you did not do it, get r done.
II) Talk is cheap.
a. Who do you relate with more, the first or the second son?
i. Are you a cheap talker?
ii. Have you said yes sir with no intention of going anywhere?
iii. If so confess that and repent today and go.
III) Respect is no substitute for obedience.
a. You may respect God, but if you don’t obey at then end of the day all the respect in the world is useless.
Prayer of Salvation: Jesus I know that I have sinned, I invite you into my heart to be my Lord and Savior. Forgive me of my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. Thank you for your grace and goodness. Amen
