I Will Move...to I WILL
I WILL—9 Traits of an Outwardly Focused Christian • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 35:05
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(S1)
Emmaus—My Attitude
If your pastor can become tired, fatigued, emotionally drained, and yes even spiritually deficient, so can any follower of Jesus. Just as a full bucket of water with a pin hole size leak will eventually run dry, so will the energy and joy drain away in the life of the one who serves the church, and if we aren’t careful, this can affect our attitude.
The apostle Paul writing these words because there was some kind of discord among believers—Stinking thinking
Phil. 2:5 “5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”
ATTITUDE (Phroneo) — To think like…to be like-minded...set ones mind not the temporal but on things above
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (KJV)
Who in humility gave up his power and position…his wants and desires...to be of one mind and purpose—His right attitude took him to the cross…for us and our salvation.
Paul’s words were to show them the attitude they were to have in community of believers. To live in harmony with each other, being of the same mindset as that of Jesus. There unity with each other was crucial to the effectiveness of spreading the good news of Jesus...
Eph. 4:1-6
The church, its leaders, members, those who participate in the work of keeping the message of hope alive, as the body of Christ—together, we each play an important role in God’s purpose, given to us in the attitude of Christ
(S2)— The unhappy church member
BOOK(1-5)—Her Attitude shift—Spiritually sick
PROBLEM—We are all…Imperfect! Sometimes our attitude can get in the way of whats best for the church
The church can look too much like US and getting our needs met, and NOT enough like JESUS.
Paul’s concern for the church then…should be the concern for the church today. Unchecked attitudes can lead us to be, as the author points out, “more INWARDLY focused.” This attitude can affect the whole of the body both positively and negatively.
“When the mission of Jesus, “to seek and to save those who are lost” is no longer their mission, there is no vision, and as a result, a culture of conflict, apathy, and inward focus gains control.
Isn’t it better for the overall health of your car, to check the oil regularly, rather than waiting for the check engine light to tell you it’s time? The same for us; isn’t it better to do a daily self-check with God than wait till he sends you warning message?
Pg 6-9
Checkup question—What is your attitude about Hardy church?
(S3) — Mission/Vision—L.B.—Rod—Hard work—Change
We are to start and end with Jesus—It’s His church, not ours—If a church is growing, the attitude of its members will be tested and it needs every part of the body of Christ in its members...
SERIES — Moving us from I could, might, can, should, to I WILL followers of Jesus…for the benefit of this church and its mission
PRAY
(S4)—
I was a Church Member…happy and unhappy—I was on the field and sat on the sidelines—Looking back over my forty + years of being a church member; times I was GROWING in my faith and other times I DRIFTED away in my commitment. Yet, as I look back, I see where God’s grace was at work in me and can point to a series of specific moments when I said, “I WILL.”
FUMC
As a church member, I noticed that when I was drifting away, I wasn’t saying I will….because I was thinking about myself. What I was really saying, was….I want!
Attitudes are contagious, is yours worth catching?
Attitudes are contagious, is yours worth catching?
This message is not directed at anyone one person—No finger-pointing—But, no guarantees that the finger of the Holy Spirit will not convict...
It is healthy for us to look honestly look at our own attitude…but also to understand that all churches have the potential to become more inward than outward focused— Church participation is not club membership—We are all called to be players on the field.
It starts with our ATTITUDE —Why Paul instructs the church in this way…
(S5)
Ephesians 4:3 (NLT) Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Whether we are a long time member, this past year month or week, or even today make the decision that this is the place you want to belong, from time to time, we have to check the oil of our own spirit….so that the Holy Spirit can fills us.
Paul’s words, it is this spirit of unity that brings a bond of peace in the church—A RIGHT ATTITUDE, so it can serve as God has called it.
So, what does a right attitude about our church look like? (glad you asked)
— We recognize that no church is perfect…
—No pastor or church staff is perfect…
— We expect some church members will be irritants to us
— We serve anyway, not out of obligation, but out of an overflow of Christ’ love in us and the gratitude for God’s gift of grace in our lives
When we do, we become a fully functional member of the body of Christ — worshipping, serving, growing, going, giving generously, and one who stays...It’s about MOVING from I want, inward focused, to I will, outward focused...
Let’s get more specific and look at four biblical examples of right attitude.
(S6)—The right attitude means...
I. I WILL…be a UNIFYING church member
I. I WILL…be a UNIFYING church member
‘The health of any group is tied to its unity in working together toward a common goal—Sports teams—Business—Families—Churches
Disunity breeds discontentment—The importance of clarifying our MISSION—Lost people need Jesus
“Each individual in the group must decide to put the good of the group before his or her own needs.’ I want has to be removed from the conversation unless it benefits the common agreed upon mission.”
Good programs—Right projects—Clarity brings unity, benefits the mission and grows churches—It starts with a unifying attitude
Conversation after the meeting
What does it require to be a unifying church member?
(S7)
Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
— Always showing humility toward one another—Thinking of others before yourself
—Always, being gentle, in control of your emotions, your thinking, showing kindness to others even if they annoy you!
— Always being patient
— Always bear with one another, in love—willingness to carry another’s burdens
This means checking the level of your own spirit, the water in your own bucket, filled with the spirit of God and less driven by the flesh.
It means always doing your best to be like Jesus!
Philippians 2:1-2
Ok, let’s admit it……this take a lot of grace…..it takes the power of Christ in us! The same power that raised him from the dead, available to us so we can be a unifying spirit in the church
How I do it? By remembering how much Christ loves me—dying for me—How I don’t deserve it
The right attitude is—I WILL be a unifying Church member
(S8)—The right attitude means...
II. I WILL…be a SACRIFICIAL church member
II. I WILL…be a SACRIFICIAL church member
Ever been around someone who gives so much of themselves?
Veterans—Those who ran into the twin towers on 9-11—Firefighter going into a Burning building to save someone?
Thomas’ into a twisted pile of wreckage
Sacrificial serving—TIME—A joyfully church member gives sacrificially with the right attitude
Man on serves on Emmaus—lost count
Jesus shows us the greater sacrifice—giving up himself, his place and position for the greater good
Philippians 2:5-8
Being a sacrificial church member is selfless giving of your time and even your wants—means thinking of self less
Man/Niagara Falls—Trades a rope for a log
To grow God’s church, we are called to the same sacrificial attitude of Jesus—selfless giving that took him to the cross!
Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord...
Elderly man singing praise songs
The right attitude means…being an I Will sacrificial church member
(S9)—The right attitude means...
III. I WILL…be a PRAYERFUL church member
III. I WILL…be a PRAYERFUL church member
Philippians 2:1 “1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit?
(NIV) Common sharing in the spirit —
Acts 2:42 “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.”
Think of someone who has prayed for you? How did it make you feel? Encourage you?
Meeting with BOM— I remember feeling overwhelmed in the spirit, as people were praying for me!”
Paul knew of the power of praying for the church…
Colossians 1:9 “ So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
The church needs our prayers—Leaders need our prayers—People here need your prayers—Those not here need your prayers
Jesus prayed because he needed it...he taught it to his disciples cause he knew they would need it is too
John 17 — For himself—Disciples—Believers everywhere, then and now
Do we pray enough as a church, for each other?
A right attitude means praying for the church, not complaining about it—for its people and for the mission and vision to which it was called!
(S10) —The right attitude means...
IV. I WILL... be a JOY-FILLED church member
IV. I WILL... be a JOY-FILLED church member
Ever notice that grateful people are joyful people? Paul did!
Philippians 4:4 “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”
Who likes a GCM? Grumpy church member
— Most likely to gripe when things don’t go their way
— More of a critic than an encourager
—View the church as a country club- pay their dues, get their perks and privileges; they are grumpy and bring disunity to the church.
Contrast them with the JCM!
— A joyous church member counts their blessings-one by one
— They are grateful for opportunities to worship, serve, share Jesus
— A constant source of encouragement
— I bet they even live longer!
One is grateful, the other is always complaining and frustrated — One looks for opportunities and gives, the other nitpicks and finds fault—One is joy-filled, the other….needs prayer!
“Our attitudes are the foundations of our actions. If I am joyous, I will tend to be an encouraging person—If I’m angry I tend to be more critical.”
“Do you believe your thoughts can control your life? We are bombarded with an average of 60,000 thoughts a day. The scary thing is that 80% of these thoughts are negative!! No wonder 98% of the population is walking around negative, unhappy and miserable!
Being joyful is a choice—How do we do this?
(S11)—
Mind your head — Check your attitude at the door—Notice the focus of your thoughts.
Colossians 3:1-2 “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
Jesus’ joyous attitude—Focused on the will of hHis heavenly father—God’s greater purpose
(S12)
Philippians 2:9–11 (NLT) Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Work towards being a unifying, a sacrificial, a prayerful and a joyful church member—There is know I in team!
Leadership Board—Agree—Unity in purpose
It’s really a matter of attitude and that is how we bring unity to the body of Christ, the church! So, my prayer is that we can grow together over the next several weeks, as (FFJCM)—participant not only in the church, but in the mission of bringing people to Jesus.
What affect does a HAPPY church member this have on the church and its mission? “When we have the right heavenly directed attitude, we will experience joy in the church, as the body of Christ comes together to solve problems of injustice, to help the hurting, feed the hungry, teach children about God’s love and to bring people into a relationship with Christ.
When we look more like Jesus, we look less like ourselves!
Philippians 2:2 “2 Then make me truly happy by... working together with one mind and purpose.”
Paul wasn’t perfect—The first believers weren’t perfect— I am not perfect, and neither are you! But there was one who was! It begins with Christ! That is why we the church are to look more like Jesus and less like ourselves.
If we’re honest, there are times we all have check our attitude at the door—hang our wants and needs on the coat rack or repentance—and embrace God’s greater purpose, the mission of making Jesus known...
Truth is…at times this is more about us than we would like to admit! Change is difficult...Moving is difficult work especially when it requires us to check our bucket for leaks, to look within!
— It takes moving ourselves from I want to I will…Then we can move the church so its filled with unifying, sacrificial, joyful, and prayerful Christians with (right attitude) to I will (right action)
(S13)
A Commitment to ‘I Will’
I WILL…have the attitude of Christ, putting others, the church and its mission before my wants and desires.
I WILL…have the attitude of Christ, putting others, the church and its mission before my wants and desires.
Jesus didn’t say to his father in heaven; I could, I might, I can, I should…he said I will!
(S14)
Will you move with me from I want to I WILL…? When we do, we then can move from a I am (right thinking), to I will...