L-R: Treasures Past, Present, and Future
Treasures Past"The LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes." Ps 118:23 NIV
Yesterday, I was invited back to Ellsworth Assembly of God to celebrate with the congregation their 25th Anniversary of the church's existance. It is hard to believe that 25 years ago, Jeanne and I drove into Ellsworth to plant a church. It has been quite a journey. It was fun to be among old friends and and make new acquaintances. Not only did we celebrate the past, we celebrated the present , and are looking to the future for this congregation. The verse above was used at our building dedication in 1986 and it still is true today. The establishing of the church was truely the work of God.
I preached a message titled "New Treasures and Old: Navigating and Transitioning Through Change." I used as my introductory text, Matthew 13:51-52:
"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied. He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
I then transitioned to my central text found in Luke 5:1-11.
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
My points were this: (1) Preliminary step: Our full attention is needed; Get in the right position and right place and get in the boat with Jesus, (2) Hear God's direction, (3) God's direction may seem unreasonable, (4) His direction requires our faithfulness, (5) God's direction brings fulfillment, (6) God's direction includes others (cooperation), (7) Give God the glory, (8) Leave the past behind (Get out of the boat with Jesus).
I preached a message titled "New Treasures and Old: Navigating and Transitioning Through Change." I used as my introductory text, Matthew 13:51-52:
"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied. He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
I then transitioned to my central text found in Luke 5:1-11.
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
My points were this: (1) Preliminary step: Our full attention is needed; Get in the right position and right place and get in the boat with Jesus, (2) Hear God's direction, (3) God's direction may seem unreasonable, (4) His direction requires our faithfulness, (5) God's direction brings fulfillment, (6) God's direction includes others (cooperation), (7) Give God the glory, (8) Leave the past behind (Get out of the boat with Jesus).
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