Mission
Lev 26:1-12; Ruth 1:16
Intro: What is a
Legacy?
Webster: 1: a gift by will especially of money or other personal
property: bequest
2: something transmitted by or
received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past
“Sandwich
Generation” (see slide issues)
Ruth between Naomi
& Obed -> David “a man after God’s own heart”
Different Kind of
Invitation: Call to Families (Individuals Accepted) But has HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
I.
Legacy
of WORSHIP (26:1-2)
Ill. Last 17 years stats: CT article 1/6/2016- “Waning of
the Worship Wars”-
Overall, organs, bulletins & choirs - -10%
Saying “amen” +6%
Hearing testimony from members +7%
Jumping and shouting +8%
Applause +10%
Raising hands & using drums +14%
Overhead projectors +23%
Churches w 100+ attendance – Choir -36%
90% larger congregations have multiple worship
services & less like to divide trad
& contemp.
Denom unaffiliated congregations +18% (mainly white evang)
A Testimony of Time
& Space- “You shall keep MY SABBATHS
and reverence MY SANCTUARY; I am the Lord.”
A. Sabbaths – Lord over the Calendar: Do
you remember when Sunday used to be honored?
ILL. Chick Fil A- Truett Cathy – “Closed on Sunday” Policy:
From Chick Fil A Website: "Cathy answers challengers by saying closing on Sunday is one of the best
business decisions he has ever made. Cathy’s practice of closing his
restaurants on Sunday is unique to the restaurant business and a testament to
his faith in God. Within the first week of business at his Dwarf Grill
restaurant in Hapeville, Ga. more than 60 years ago, Cathy knew that he would
not deal with money on the “Lord’s Day.” Today, the Closed-on-Sunday policy is
reflected in the company’s Corporate Purpose:
To glorify God by being a faithful steward to all that is
entrusted to us.
To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with
Chick-fil-A.
Cathy believes that being closed on Sunday says two important
things to people: One, that there must be something special about the way
Chick-fil-A people view their spiritual life; and, two, that there must be
something special about how Chick-fil-A feels about its people."
B. Sanctuary – Lord over the Map : Do you
remember when the gathering of the church used to be honored?
Tithing: CT Article: Larger the church, the less people give
each.
100 members – avg $1750/yr
400 - $1480/yr
1000- $1140/yr
Ill. Why they Stay by Dr. Steve Parr & Dr. Tom Crites: Teenagers that don’t find a
congregation to attend by Thanksgiving during their first year of college will
most likely never return to church
-66% of the college students that grew up in church will
disconnect by the time they finish college.
-80% of young adults that grew up in church will leave by
the time they are 30.
Mission: Pass On- This is When & Where We Meet; How we
Give, How we Worship God; It’s not about a legalistic empty ritual of meeting;
it’s why we worship God, where and when.
II.
Legacy
of LIFESTYLE (26:3-10)
A Testimony of Human Behavior- “If you walk in MY STATUTES and keep MY COMMANDMENTS so as to carry
them out, then I shall give you…”
A.
Lord over Culturality
(STATUTES) – perverted sexual idolatry & lies about origins; media
promotion of these views
B.
Lord over Legality
(COMMANDS)– perverted laws about
life & liberty
Haggai 1:5 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts,
"Consider your ways! 6"You have sown much, but harvest little;
you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not
enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he
who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." 7Thus says
the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways!
Deuteronomy 28:38 You will sow much seed in the field but
you will harvest little, because locusts will devour it.
Isaiah 5:10 A ten-acre vineyard will produce only a bath of
wine; a homer of seed will yield only an ephah of grain."
Jeremiah 12:13 They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they
will wear themselves out but gain nothing. They will bear the shame of their
harvest because of the LORD's fierce anger."
Hosea 8:7 "They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.
The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain,
foreigners would swallow it up.
Amos 4:8 People staggered from town to town for water but
did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me," declares
the LORD
IT WON’T BE POLITICS THAT SAVES US THIS TIME- IT WILL BE
PRAYERFUL OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S STATUTES AND COMMANDS; IT WON’T BE REPUBLICAN PARTY- IT WILL BE REPENTANCE & REVIVAL
Mission: Pass On This is What We Do- Why? We Follow God’s
Ways
III.
Legacy
– Results of Covenant (26:3-9)
Does
God really make covenants? Promises? “I
will confirm MY COVENANT with you” – Corporate Promise for His people:
rains in their season – Rightly Timed Revival
land will yield its produce – Successful Production
trees of the field will bear their fruit – Fruit
Threshing & gathering will last – Longevity
eat your food to the full – Satisfaction
live securely; grant peace; no fear – Security
eliminate harmful beasts and no sword – Peace
your enemies will fall before you – Victory
fruitful and multiply – Family Reproduction
IV.
Legacy
of COMMUNITY (26:11-12)
A Testimony of Corporate Identification: Moreover, I will make MY DWELLING among
you; and you shall be MY PEOPLE.
A.
Lord over
His Shared Presence – His Dwelling among us. John 1:1-2 “word became flesh and
dwelt among us”
B.
Lord over Our
Shared Identity – We are the People of God (at home, at school, at work) – laws
won’t be able to deal with us when we identify who we really are.
Mission: Pass on- This is Who We Are; Doesn't negate individuality, but it gives a foundation of corporate
identity that secures that arrow’s launch
Conclusion: Invitation that starts here
& goes home with you
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