A Fresh Vision “A Church That Does It’s Best”

 A Fresh Vision

“A Church That Does It’s Best”

Introduction:

Good morning church family. Today we are in our second week of a new series entitled “A Fresh Vision”. This series is 6 weeks long. Last week’s message was entitled “A Fresh Vision: A Church That Put’s God First”. We heard Jesus’ words captured in Matthew 22. Jesus tells His followers that, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Basically, loving God means loving your neighbor and loving your neighbor means loving God. We discussed what it means to actually love God and we talked about the definition of the word neighbor. If you remember I gave you a bit of a history lesson. I told you why this church, Eastern Shore Baptist Church, was planted. I told you how we came into existence. We started as a mission of Daphne Baptist Church. Our creation as a body was to reach the neighborhood of the Lake Forest neighborhood. I actually made the comment that our new fresh vision is really not that new or fresh. I told you that moving forward, starting with last week, that we would be getting back to that vision. As your pastor I want you to remember that the doorway to the nations is through the Lake Forest neighborhood. If we cannot reach Lake Forest for Christ, what hope do we have to reach our globe for God?

Let’s read together our fresh vision this morning. 

ESBC is on mission to share Christ with every family in the community of Lake Forest and the greater Eastern Shore.

Our Fresh Vision:

ESBC is on mission to share Christ with every family in the community of Lake Forest and the greater Eastern Shore.

Friends, do me a favor this morning and fill in the blanks under “Today’s Thought”. The Lord demands dedication and devotion. 

That statement is the thesis of the message today. The Lord demands dedication and devotion. The Lord expects our very best. He looks to us to do our very best in all that we do. Whatever we do, no matter how big or small, no matter the perceived significance, no matter if what we do is appreciated or ignored, we should do everything to the best of our physical and spiritual abilities, all for the glory of God. 

In fact friends, that is our second value. Our second value as a church is that Eastern Shore Baptist Church does its best. We do our best for God, for His Kingdom, for His glory. We do our best because anything less, anything short of our best, brings shame upon the Lord. 

Illustration:

Speaking of doing your best, how many of you have heard of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi? Not many of you have. You may not know the name but you know his work. How many of you know who this is (Statue of Liberty 1)? 

That’s right, this is the Statue of Liberty. She stands proudly in the Harbor of New York City. She was a gift from the nation of France and constructed in Colmar, France. She greeted all of the immigrants coming to the United States by way of New York. Bartholdi took great pride in Ole Lady Liberty. He spent many months pouring over her design, making her strong and beautiful. A story is told that one of the local artists from Colmar who came to visit Bartholdi. He happened to be on top of a scaffolding that gave him a view of Lady Liberty’s head. Bartholdi, along with numerous craftsman were spending and inordinate amount of time working on the outline of the Statue’s hair. You can see from this picture the detail of her hair (Stature of Liberty 2). 

The local artist chastised Bartholdi for wasting his time on something that no one would ever see. He joked that only the seagulls would ever see the top of Lady Liberty’s head. Bartholdi looked at the visiting artist with disdain and said that “God would see the top of Lady Liberty’s head and if it was something that God would see, then it needed to be done well…with excellence”

Bartholdi knew that his Lord demanded dedication and devotion. That is what is looks like to do something with excellence. That is the attitude that our church needs to possess. 

Today’s Thought:

The Lord Demands Dedication and Devotion!

R. Kent Hughs is a former pastor, professor, and prolific writer. He has written two of my all time favorite books, “The Pastor’s Book: A Comprehensive and Practical Guide to Pastoral Ministry” and “Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome”. Dr. Hughs’ certainly understood a thing or two about doing everything in ministry and everything in life with excellence. Listen to this quote from Dr. Hughs, “Genesis 1 logs God's commitment to excellence when it says, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (v. 31). Christians should always do good work. Christians ought to be the best workers wherever they are. They ought to have the best attitude, the best integrity, and be the best in dependability.”

Today’s Quote:

“Genesis 1 logs God's commitment to excellence when it says, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (v. 31). Christians should always do good work. Christians ought to be the best workers wherever they are. They ought to have the best attitude, the best integrity, and be the best in dependability.”

R. Kent Hughes

Background and Context:

Today we are reading form Colossians. Colossians 3 to be exact. Colossians is a letter written by Paul, likely during his imprisonment in Rome around 60-62 AD.

In Colossians 3, Paul addresses the believers in the city of Colossae, a region in ancient Turkey. His focus was on Christian living and he encourages believers to set their minds on heavenly things rather than earthly desires.

The third chapter provides instructions for living a life that glorifies Christ in everything that we do, such as putting to death sinful behaviors, being more compassionate, showing kindness, and granting forgiveness. Paul also knew that the disciples of Christ were a community and as a community they should commit themselves to doing everything with God’s glory in mind. Paul also encourages believers to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts and to be thankful and grateful.

Statement of Belief:

Before we read Colossians 3:23-24 this morning, I want to remind you that…

We believe the Bible to be inspired, God breathed, infallible, and authoritative. We believe the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training believer’s in righteousness. God’s Word gives life. It provides peace in trouble and protection in tribulation. It is alive, active, and cuts to the core of the human soul. Since there is no other book like it, let us stand to show our reverence and respect.  

Today’s Scripture:

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

You can be seated.

How Can We Serve The Lord With Excellence?

1. Understand the Relationship Between Work and Worship

Since the passage of Scripture is so short this morning. I want to repeat it for you.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

The other day I heard a quote. You have probably heard it as well. “Do what you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life”. Some of the happiest, most joy filled people that I know are people that do what they love. When you do what you love you don’t really feel that you are working. When you have discovered what your purpose is, why God has you here, life becomes more fulfilled and more meaningful. 

I get asked from time to time the following, “Pastor, don’t you ever get tired? Dont you ever feel burdened? Don’t you ever get tired of writing sermons every week?”

The answer is “of course”. Even Jesus got tired and needed rest. Just because I get tired doesn’t mean that I want to quit. A better question is why don’t I quit when I get tired? The answer to that is simple. The reason I don’t quit is because my work is my worship. My worship is my work. 

I have been tired plenty of times but Ive never experienced burn out. The reason I don’t burn out is because my worship is my work and my work is my worship.

How do we serve the Lord with excellence as individuals and as a church? Easy. We must understand the relationship between worship and work. Paul clearly tells us that whatever it is we are doing, we are not doing it for men or women. We are doing it for God. Our work should be our spiritual act of worship. No matter if you are a CPA, in the FBI, or if you are working on your PHD, we are all enrolled in God’s army. 

Let me reveal a deep truth for you this morning. I want to tell you about the Hebrew word “avodah”. The word has three distinct meanings but the meanings are all intertwined together. “Avodah” means worship, work, and service. For example in Exodus 8:1, Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, "Let my people go, that they may worship (avodah) me. Another example comes from Exodus 34:21, "Six days you shall work (avodah), but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.” Another example comes from Joshua 25:15, “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve (avodah)…but as for me and my house, we will serve  (avodah) the LORD." What Joshua meant was that he and his household pledged loyalty to God by worshipping Him through work and service. 

It’s a unique image to ponder that the word used for “working in the fields” is the same word used for worshipping God. What this communicates to me and you is that God’s original design, His desire for our lives is that our work and our worship would be continually tied together, a seamless way of living. In other words, your work is your worship. 

The direct application for this point is pretty simple, you are not really worshipping unless you are working. Our ultimate expression of worship is using both the physical and spiritual gifts to grow His Kingdom through the local church. Many of us have been raised to think that worship is relegated to 30 minutes on Sunday morning. That is not untrue but clearly God has a deeper meaning, a grander expression of worship, and that is working for His Kingdom. 

If working and serving God here at the church is not bringing joy to your life, you are probably serving outside of your giftedness. You said “yes” to something where you should have probably said “no”. However, when you find the area in the church that demands your service, and that service matches with your giftedness, you will find joy. 

So let you worship be your work and let your work be your worship. I love Paul’s words in Romans 12, 

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

How Can We Serve The Lord With Excellence?

1. Understand the Relationship Between Work and Worship

2. Understand Everyone and Everything Is Important  

Let’s go back to Colossians. 

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

How can we serve the Lord with excellence? Understand everyone and everything is important. 

There are no small jobs or small people in God’s economy. 

I love the stores about Jesus when He took time with children, with women, with the diseased, with the Gentile. I love stories about Jesus when spent time with tax collectors. I love those stories about Jesus when He would spend time with the blind, the deaf, the mute, and the lame. 

I love those stories because Jesus clearly displays that there is no such thing as a person that doesn’t matter. Everyone matters to Jesus. Back in those days, children were to not only be not seen, but they were also not to be heard. Women had no rights. People who were sick and diseased were thought to be receiving their just punishment for the sins of their parents or for their own secret transgressions. These were the cast offs, the people that no one cared for. Jesus however, He proved that they too mattered. If they matter to Jesus they should matter to us. 

Sadly, we live in a world where we gauge the value of our work and we even gauge the worth of a person on how much they are paid. If you aren’t paid a massive salary, have a big title, or work in a fancy office, then it must not be valuable work. That’s not how God sees it. 

Brothers and sisters, there are not small jobs or small people in the church either. Everyone matters and everyone has value. 

Let me ask you as a church a question this morning. 

Do you feel unappreciated? Do you feel that you are not being thanked enough? Are you jaded? Do you think that no one cares about your ministry? Do you get frustrated because you feel that other people should be as passionate about your ministry as you do? Do you think about quitting so that the church will recognize your value and beg you to return?

Let’s be honest, we have all had those emotions. Those are human thoughts and human emotions. Chances are most of us raise our hands and say “yes, Ive felt that way before”. 

Let me tell you something that I have learned, if you are serving and you feel that way today, you are serving in the wrong head space. You are serving for the applause of people and not for the applause of God. When people operate in that headspace, they become bitter, jaded and jilted. They have taken their eyes off of what really matter and placed it on themselves. In some ways, they have made their own need for human approval an idol, a false god demanding to be worshipped. 

Let me encourage you this morning, you do matter. Your ministry does matter. You are making a difference. It doesn’t matter who joins you or doesn’t join you. Put your eyes on Christ and you will receive your just fulfillment. 

God sees the same value in changing dirty diapers as teaching and adult Life Group Class. He sees no distinction in the man who shows up early to unlock all the doors as me standing behind this very pulpit. In heaven, they receive the same spotlight. God sees them as the same act of love and service. God sees the tutor who shows up week after week with no fanfare, He sees the woman rocking the baby in the nursery, He sees the man running the cameras in the booth, He sees the prayer team member who shows up by herself to pray in the prayer room. He sees it all. He sees what some may say is small but declares it as big. 

Remember, there are no small jobs, no small people here at this church. Everyone and everything has value. 

Remember Paul’s words captured in I Corinthians, 

1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

How Can We Serve The Lord With Excellence?

1. Understand the Relationship Between Work and Worship

2. Understand Everyone and Everything Is Important  

3. Understand That God Rewards Deeds Done With Excellence and Enthusiasm 

How can we serve the Lord with excellence, understand the relationship between work and worship? Understand that everyone and everything is important. Lastly, understand that God rewards deeds done with excellence and enthusiasm. 

At the end of all of our days, it should be the goal of every Christian to hear the words “well done my good and faithful servant.” Let’s read our passage one last time this morning. Colossians 3:23-24. 

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

What does it mean to work heartily? We don’t really use that word anymore. We say that we work hard, we work joyfully, we work diligently, but we don’t really say that we work heartily. What does that mean? 

The Greek word for “heartily” is the word “psyche” pronounced pose-khay. It is where we get our English word “psyche”. The word actually means breath. It means soul. It means feelings, desire, affections and heart. Basically Paul is saying that when we work, we work with all of ourselves. We literally pour all of ourselves into what we are doing. We give whatever it is our very soul, our breath, our soul. Im not talking about and upside down way of working mind you. Im not talking about living an unbalanced life where your career takes precedence over your walk with God or the love you have for your family. Really, this is just a support of my last point. What it means is that we work with all of our heart and soul knowing and understanding that God is watching. It means that if you are Jason Collins, you operate your roofing company with passion and enthusiasm because doing so glorifies God. It means that if you are James Counselman, you pour your heart and soul into Counselman Automotive Recycling because anything less would be an affront to God. It means that if you are Michaelyn Gober, you study and prepare for the next case as if your very life depended on it because anything less would shame the very nature of who God is and the talents that He has given to her. 

What it means is that every single member of this church looks to Lake Forest with hungry eyes. It means that every single member of this church has a responsibility to do whatever they can to reach out to every single man, woman and child in that community for the good of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. 

It means that everything we do here, no matter the size, no matter what event should be attended well, we should never lack for help, it means that we do everything at the highest level possible. 

Why? Because there is a reward. God will absolutely reward those who give Him their best. Hebrews 6:10 says, “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.”

It means doing your best when no one is looking because God is always looking. 

It means that Eastern Shore Baptist Church is a church that does its best so that we can reach Lake Forest. 

By the way friends, just because we do our best doesn’t mean that we can’t do it better. We cannot be afraid of criticism and critiques. That includes me. I know that I can do better, be better, communicate better. 

Are you giving God your best? Are you giving God your best at home, at work? Are you giving God your very best here at Eastern Shore Baptist Church?

If the answer is “no”, you are only depriving yourself of an amazing reward. 

Friends, I will leave you on this last remark, Eastern Shore Baptist Church cannot be at her best if individually we are not committed to be at our best for Christ. 

Hebrews 6:10 ESV

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Turn This Information Into Your Inspiration!