Sermon 1-7-07 Joshua 1:1-9 Wesley Covenant Service1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea [a] on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Wesleyan covenant service
Wesley found the service rich and meaningful, as expressed in hisJournal: "Many mourned before God, and many were comforted" (April1756); "It was, as usual, a time of remarkable blessing" (October1765); "It was an occasion for a variety of spiritual experiences ... I donot know that ever we had a greater blessing. Afterwards many desiredto return thanks, either for a sense of pardon, for full salvation, or for afresh manifestation of His graces, healing all their backslidings"
Today I would like to visit with you about 2007
Things that will be, things that may be
I have always been fascinated with this scripture. Moses has died and they have a new leader. They are getting ready to go into the promised land.
Let me make a few points from this passage:
1. The israelites have a new leader
I Don’t plan to go anywhere
Very important that we
Ø Understand this issue and prepare for the future
Ø build a church that is bigger than who the leaders are
Imagine your church with a completely different set of leaders……
Who are the leaders in your church……they are gone…new ones in their place
Will the place stay operational? I hope so
The purpose of God is bigger than any one of us
The israelites are going places…
places of promise-places God has called them to
There is a difference between being a good church and being a great church.
Anyone can be a church……
We have a building, we have ss, we have worship, we are a church. True
Extraordinary churches
a. the people believe what they are talking about
The belief that the people have in Gods ability to lead them and act thru them
b. they exhibit extraordinary graces
c. they act on their faith and make the impossible, possible
Eph 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
How big is your God? How big are your dreams?
What is on line for our chuirchA. more programs……
More choirs, more classes, more recreational programs, more missions
Need to work together…..appreciate every program
Invest in the ministry of others
Friends of upward, be also a friend of music? Friend of music, be a friend of upward. Friend of we care, be also a friend of Sunday school
I invite every small group, every class, every ministry, every team, every reunion group, to see your place in the rainbow of colors in the ministries of this church.
All the colors together make a beautiful rainbow.
B more people
Ø 6% growth in 2006
Ø The bottle neck is opened up in the narthex
Ø I could be wrong but I think we are going to see some growth in 2007
Ø I am not interested in a bigger church, but I do want to win every person that we can.
More programs and more people mean change and discomfort
3. the Israelites are asked to not be afraid
To wade in and to face the challenge before them
There are giants in the land
what does this mean? It means that our comfort has to come behind how I may feel about the changes that take place
There is a deep need to be outwardly focuses
In the middle of this, we must be very aware to careAware to care about each other
What do I see for the new year?
I see more people make strides in the spirit. trading an “its all about me life” for a chance to be a part of the kingdom. more people coming alive…..more self-less, more generous, more Christ centered.
Wesleyan covenant service
:I am no longer my own, but thine.:Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.:Put me to doing, put me to suffering.:Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,:exalted for thee or brought low for thee.:Let me be full, let me be empty.:Let me have all things, let me have nothing.:I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.:And now, O glorious and blessed God,::thou art mine, and I am thine.:So be it.:And the covenant which I have made on earth,:let it be ratified in heaven.:Amen
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Wesleyan covenant service
Wesley found the service rich and meaningful, as expressed in hisJournal: "Many mourned before God, and many were comforted" (April1756); "It was, as usual, a time of remarkable blessing" (October1765); "It was an occasion for a variety of spiritual experiences ... I donot know that ever we had a greater blessing. Afterwards many desiredto return thanks, either for a sense of pardon, for full salvation, or for afresh manifestation of His graces, healing all their backslidings"
Today I would like to visit with you about 2007
Things that will be, things that may be
I have always been fascinated with this scripture. Moses has died and they have a new leader. They are getting ready to go into the promised land.
Let me make a few points from this passage:
1. The israelites have a new leader
I Don’t plan to go anywhere
Very important that we
Ø Understand this issue and prepare for the future
Ø build a church that is bigger than who the leaders are
Imagine your church with a completely different set of leaders……
Who are the leaders in your church……they are gone…new ones in their place
Will the place stay operational? I hope so
The purpose of God is bigger than any one of us
The israelites are going places…
places of promise-places God has called them to
There is a difference between being a good church and being a great church.
Anyone can be a church……
We have a building, we have ss, we have worship, we are a church. True
Extraordinary churches
a. the people believe what they are talking about
The belief that the people have in Gods ability to lead them and act thru them
b. they exhibit extraordinary graces
c. they act on their faith and make the impossible, possible
Eph 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
How big is your God? How big are your dreams?
What is on line for our chuirchA. more programs……
More choirs, more classes, more recreational programs, more missions
Need to work together…..appreciate every program
Invest in the ministry of others
Friends of upward, be also a friend of music? Friend of music, be a friend of upward. Friend of we care, be also a friend of Sunday school
I invite every small group, every class, every ministry, every team, every reunion group, to see your place in the rainbow of colors in the ministries of this church.
All the colors together make a beautiful rainbow.
B more people
Ø 6% growth in 2006
Ø The bottle neck is opened up in the narthex
Ø I could be wrong but I think we are going to see some growth in 2007
Ø I am not interested in a bigger church, but I do want to win every person that we can.
More programs and more people mean change and discomfort
3. the Israelites are asked to not be afraid
To wade in and to face the challenge before them
There are giants in the land
what does this mean? It means that our comfort has to come behind how I may feel about the changes that take place
There is a deep need to be outwardly focuses
In the middle of this, we must be very aware to careAware to care about each other
What do I see for the new year?
I see more people make strides in the spirit. trading an “its all about me life” for a chance to be a part of the kingdom. more people coming alive…..more self-less, more generous, more Christ centered.
Wesleyan covenant service
:I am no longer my own, but thine.:Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.:Put me to doing, put me to suffering.:Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,:exalted for thee or brought low for thee.:Let me be full, let me be empty.:Let me have all things, let me have nothing.:I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.:And now, O glorious and blessed God,::thou art mine, and I am thine.:So be it.:And the covenant which I have made on earth,:let it be ratified in heaven.:Amen
