Toe Dipping – Sermon Summary

Joshua 3:7-17.

We have assembled many of our ideas and dreams as a church.  Some ideas may be spot on while others may be a bit off target.  If we look at things through the lens of target practice, we see the bulls-eye as the primary target.  When we shoot and miss, we don’t give up.  We don’t put our tools away, admit defeat, and quit without ever trying again.  When it comes to the church moving forward in seeking God’s will, our bulls-eye is what we would call the center of God’s will.  If we don’t hit the target with our first shot, we cannot allow ourselves to feel defeated and lose our desire to try again.

In other words, we must learn from our past if we plan to continue to move forward again.

Never Without Vision – Always Say Never, pt.6

Ephesians 3:14-21.

The words of Proverbs 29:18 can be rather daunting if you think long and hard about them.  “Where there is no vision, the people perish” is the way the King James translates these words.  While I love many translations I have to admit I appreciate how The Message states this verse, “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves.”

A church without a vision or dream from above loses its purpose.  God’s vision for the church is essential for forward motion as we strive to drive on into the center of His will.

Never Without Friends – Always Say Never pt. 5

Romans 12:4-8.

We will soon get to the subject of spiritual gifts and how to discern yours and such other topics that this text can also address.  But sometimes you just read a passage and a certain phrase just jumps off the page at you, commanding your attention.  As I was reading this, I had one of those phrases hit me; “…each member belongs to all the others.”

Never the Same – Always Say Never pt. 4

2 Corinthians 5:14-17.

Sometimes things are said or we experience events that make an incredible impression.  They have such an impact that they change our perspective or point of view.  I was told of a man who was pulled over for speeding even though he had just been passed by another motorist.  Complaining about how justice was not being served, the man quickly changed his tune when the officer asked him if he had ever gone fishing.  Thinking that conversing with a fellow good old boy would lead to the dismissal of a sure ticket, he acknowledged.  Everything changed when the officer asked the next question; “Ever catch ‘em all?”

Never Ashamed – Always Say Never pt. 3

2 Timothy 1:8-12.

A Christmas ministry in the association of my first pastorate was really a good idea.  We provided clothing and toys for the less fortunate in a setting where they “shopped” through our donated goods and were witnessed to and prayed with our local pastors while their gifts were being wrapped for Christmas.  This was the first intentional witnessing event of my life and I was quite nervous.  I think it was the 3rd person I spoke with that accepted Jesus into their hearts.  My life has not been the same since.