The Life-Saving Station
AV First
Pastor Ed Carlson
11/12/23
Churches in America have gone from being Battleships to becoming Cruise Ships.
Many Churches lose sight of their original mission
Many Churches gradually evolve into something different than what Christ intended.
1. THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS TO TELL OTHERS OF GOD’S
Ephesians 3:8 (CSB)
8 This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ.
Ephesians 3:10-11 (CSB)
10 This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. 11 This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS TO TELL OTHERS THAT
Ephesians 3:12 (CSB) 12 In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him.
-You want your life to succeed…keep Jesus the center of your life
-You want your business to succeed…keep Jesus the center of your business
-You want your family to succeed…keep Jesus the center of your family
-You want your relationships to succeed…keep Jesus the center of your relationships
-You want your finances to succeed…keep Jesus the center of your finances
Mark 16:15 (CSB) 15 Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
3. THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS TO
1 Peter 2:9 (CSB)
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:10 (CSB)
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
HOW WE CAN FAIL OUR MISSION
1. WE CAN FAIL OUR MISSION BY HAVING MISPLACED
Revelation 3:14-19 (CSB)
14 “Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent.
2. WE CAN FAIL OUR MISSION BY SHOWING PREFERENTIAL
1 Timothy 2:3-6 (CSB)
3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
Acts 10:27-28, 34-35 (CSB)
27 While talking with him, he went in and found a large gathering of people. 28 Peter said to them, “You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner, but God has shown me that I must not call any person impure or unclean. 34 Peter began to speak: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, 35 but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
James 2:1-9 (NIV)
My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 2 For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, 3 if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” 4 haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?
6 Yet you have dishonored the poor.Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court?
7 Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you?
8 Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. 9 If, however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Romans 1:16 (CSB)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.