Sermons

Strong Together/Looking Forward

11-01-2020 • FBC Pastoral Staff

We can be Strong because God is strong. We can Look Forward because God shows us the way.

STRONG TOGETHER . . . LOOKING FORWARD

We can be Strong because God is strong. We can Look Forward because God shows us the way.
“The Lord Himself goes before (ahead) of us and will be with us. He will never leave us nor forsake (abandon) us. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
He will not fail to give us Counsel and Direction. He will give us strength!

OUR RESPONSE
1) Place our Hope in God
“If God be for us, who can be against us.” Romans 8:31b (NLT)
2) Devote ourselves Wholeheartedly to God
“And you must . . . Love the Lord with all your heart . . . your soul . . . your strength” Deut. 6:5 (NLT)
3) Keep Our Focus on
a. Renew your relationship to God . . . Re-secure Him as your first love
b. Focus NOT on that our Shepherd, Pastor Steve is no longer with us
c. Our Purpose as a Christian
i. Be Holy as He is Holy
ii. Share the Good News of Jesus with Others

KEEP ATTENDING

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:23-25

1) God is faithful.
2) He calls us to be faithful in…
a. Loving each other.
b. Living right.
c. Staying together as a fellowship.
d. Encouraging each other.
Because Jesus is coming soon, we must remain faithful to be here.

KEEP MINISTERING
Romans 12:4-8 and Ephesians 4:11-13

God has given EVERY believer a gift to be used for ministry.
1) Our gift should serve and strengthen the church.
2) We belong to each other.
3) We NEED each other.

KEEP REACHING
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
31 “The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”
Mark 12:30-31 30

1) Love Big, Live Bold is our wedding vow to the community.
2) We may not perfectly reach our community, but we will strive to do better each day.
3) Consider renewing this vow today

KEEP PRAYING

At a time like this it would be easy to lose focus on maintaining the spiritual discipline of prayer but Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
1) The Bible is called a book of prayer and for good reason.
a. Bible Gateway lists 180 passages that mention prayer.
i. From Genesis to Revelation there are examples of prayer, instructions on how to pray, what to pray, even how not to pray.
ii. These prayers and intercessions are spoken by men and women from every conceivable strata of society;
iii. Peasants, prophets, shepherds, Kings all pouring out praises and petitions seeking God’s blessing and direction.
2) Jesus, God’s own Son, One who had perfect fellowship with the Father, was such a man of prayer that:
a. His disciples noticed his power and asked Him to teach them to pray.
b. Every major event in His life and ministry; He bathed in prayer. As he entered into his public ministry
i. He spent 40 days and nights fasting and praying. After praying all night he chose the twelve disciples (Luke 6:12),
ii. He prayed that his followers would be unified at the Last Supper (John 17:20-21)
iii. His final moments before His arrest and crucifixion were in prayer (Mark 14:32).
iv. When The Church was established In (Acts 1:14) the disciples prayed.
v. When they chose Matthias to replace Judas as an apostle they prayed (1:24).
vi. The early church devoted themselves to prayer (acts 2:42).
3) Prayer is one of the five foundations of our faith along with bible study, fellowship, witnessing, and worship.
4) Prayer is something that we, as Baptists, talk about, analyze, study, write books about, have prayer meetings for but rarely will we stop doing things and quiet our hearts before the Lord and spend time in prayer.
5) If our Lord needed long hours in prayer how much more do we?
6) During the weeks and months to come we need to lift up our church, our transition team, our interim pastor, our staff and God’s new pastor for FBC.
7) Will you commit to bring these before God’s throne each day?
8) Will you consider joining with others at the church to lay these needs before our Lord?
9) Will you pray with me now that God would keep His hand on our fellowship as we minister together in Pflugerville?
Pray With Me Please.

KEEP GIVING
I know what you’re thinking. He’s going to talk about Money. Yes I am but that’s not all that we Give.

1) Your Treasure – gives Support and Funding to our Focus on God but even more . . . we need –
2) Your Time – Attending, Serving and Praying
3) Your Talent – Ministering and Reaching those who do not know Jesus as Savior and Lord
4) Your Focus – Our Mission
“I have given all authority in Heaven and on Earth (to you). Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Then) Teach these new Disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Matthew28:18-20 (NLT)

How can we even come close to accomplishing this Mission without?
1) You – attending
2) Your Time – ministering and praying
3) Your Talents – reaching
4) Your Treasure – supportive resources
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them to serve one another.”
I Peter 4:10 (NLT)
“Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Romans 12:11 (NLT)

Let’s continue to do the Good Work of Sharing the Good News that we accomplished under Pastor Steve.

 

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