Ready To Take a Chance?

Reformation Sunday!

 

Introduction:

A.        As kids we try just about anything; we don't seem to know the meaning of fear.

When I was young, I rode my bike a lot.  I'd ride it up and down our street.  I'd

ride it in our backyard.  I'd race neighborhood kids on it and usually won believe

it or not. Sometimes, I was quite a dare-devil.  Across the back of our yard, there

was a concrete block wall about three blocks high; it was the retainer wall for fill

dirt in the yard behind us.  I can remember riding my bike toward that and at the

last minute slaming on my brakes to see now close I could get. I can remember

one time getting too close.  Well, I plowed into it, and that pretty well put an end

to that contest! All of this without a helmet.  We didn’t wear them back then!  But

as kids, we were willing to take chances. Because of that, we learned to walk and

a lot of things!

 

B.        How many of you have ever taken a chance in life?

 

C.        Have you ever had someone take a chance on you?

 

D.        Where God and Church are concerned, are you Ready To Take A Chance???

                                                                         Prayer

                                                                     Matt. 8:1-3

                                                                     Matt. 28:19

                                                                   Rev. 3: 14-22

 

I.          Some Examples Of Those Who Would Not Take A Chance.

 

A.             In Numbers chapter 13 & 14, the children of Israel are afraid to go up against

what they called "Giants."

 

1.         They could have had a land of plenty.

 

2.         But because they would not take the chance, they

ended up wandering in the wilderness for forty

years.

 

B.        Rev. 3 tells us of a satisfied church: The Church at

            Laodicia. (Rev. 3:14-22)

 

1.         They took no chances.

 

2.         They were self-secure.

 

1.              Doing something else would require adjustment which would rock the

boat.

 

4.         They had many chances to be "hot" for God.

 

2.              If they did not change, and take their chances, God would "spew them

out."

 

II.        Some Examples of Those Who Dared To Take a Chance.

 

A.        Abraham took the chance at leaving his homeland to follow

God. Gen. 12:1-9

1.         He did not know what he would find.

 

2.         Because he dared to follow, he became the father of                    

            the Hebrew people and brought many to God.

 

B.        The Leper of Matt. 8:1-3 took a chance.

1.         He could have been stoned to death for coming near                

            people.

 

2.         But because he took a chance, he was made a whole             

            person: he was healed!

 

D.             This is Reformation Sunday! The reformers dared to take a chance!

 

1.              Martin Luther nailed his thesis to the door of the  church in Germany to try to get the church back to a more Biblical way and was kicked out of the church, starting the protestant reformation!

 

2.              John Wesley dared to take a chance in starting Bible Study groups to get people to do something with their faith and to reach those who were not being reached by the church, starting what would be called the Methodist movement that would later become the Methodist Church in America!

 

III.       We Must Be Willing To Keep Taking Chances.

 

A.        Churches that do not try: DIE.

 

1.              If they are afraid to do new things, they alienate their world.  Their world

changes, but they do not.

2.              They curl up in past accomplishments and forget to reach their world of

today.

 

B.        Let us always be willing to take a chance to help people.

 

1.         We have been willing in:

a.         Embracing the Safe Gatherings process to be able

to minister to children in the world in which we live!

 

b.         Having regular Potluck brunches and other

fellowships to invite others to.

 

c.         Starting the Thrift Store and the free food

shelf. Working at the Thrift Store!

 

d.         Starting the Mozambique Covenant with our

church and pastor in Africa!

 

                                    e.         Supporting other missional works: Options,

Gideons, and Heifer International.

 

f.          Building our current facility and lately

updating it to reach people in Forsyth!

 

g.         Paying full support on our Conference

apportionments even when it is hard.

 

                                    h.         Trimming our budget, using volunteers for

cleaning and working in the office and changing

our insurance to actual cost!

 

i.               All of this required some degree of chance!          

 

3.              We must now, NOT GET SATISFIED, but ask God what we              

can try now!!!  What will we do for God now? What is

the next step?

 

C.        In Matt. 28:19, Christ told us to reach the world.

 

1.         HE PROMISED to be there with us always.

 

2.         So let's be on the look out for new ways and

            opportunities to reach out.

 

a.         Never Say:  "It won't work."  "We've tried that

            before and it fizzled."  "That's not the way we                                   

            used to do it!"

 

b.         If we are willing to open up and keep trying,

            God will help us, God will use us!

 

c.         Let's take the chance: to get involved, to

            commit, to care, to do what we can for God.

 

d.         Let’s have the positive attitude that if we are

willing God will use us!

Conclusion:

 

A.        It will be easy to become satisfied with how things are going and the number of

people that we have coming.

 

B.        Are we willing and do we honestly want to keep growing?

 

C.        There are people out there who need to hear the message

that we proclaim!  Are we willing to take the chance, to

give the invitation?

 

            D.        As we encounter Christ at the table today, surrender and

say here I am use me.  Help me to be willing to take the

chance!

 

                                                             Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion