|
December 11, 2005
“ARE YOU A CRUISE SHIP CHRISTIAN OR A BATTLE
CRUISER CHRISTIAN?”
SCRIPTURE READING: ROMANS 12:1-8
ECCLESIASTES 9:10 (NIV)
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave,
where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor
wisdom.
NOTE:
Have you ever been on a cruise ship or do you long to go on one?
What is it about taking a trip on a cruise
ship that makes it so attractive?
-
The scenery
-
The accommodations
-
The food
-
Everything is done for you
-
The only responsibilities you have is to
enjoy yourself
-
Its all about self, being happy and content
The whole purpose of the cruise line is to
make you so happy and content that you will want to come again and tell others
about your wonderful trip.
ILL:
David Williams and his steak not cooked
properly.
What is it about taking a trip on a battle
cruiser that makes it so un-attractive?
-
The scenery
-
The accommodations
-
The food
-
Very little is done for you
-
The only responsibilities you have is to
obey the captain
-
Its all about service to and for others
-
There are no passengers on a Battle Cruiser
The whole purpose of a Battle Cruiser is to defeat the enemy and bring
victory at any cost.
How does the question, “Are you a cruise ship
Christian or a battle cruiser Christian” have anything to do with our
Christianity?
It has everything.
When we answer this question truthfully, it
reveals what kind of Christian we are.
-
A Christian that is on a Cruise Ship is one
who is only seeking to satisfy their own selfish desires, “The Bless Me”
Christian
-
A Christian that is on a Cruiser is one who
is seeking to fulfill the call of God in their lives
On
a cruise ship, it is the responsibility of the Captain and the entire staff to
satisfy your every legitimate desire.
On the cruiser, it is our responsibility to
fulfill every desire of the Captain’s and to obey his orders.
I. THE CRUISE SHIP CHRISTIAN’S MENTALITY.
INTRO:
We often find these kinds of Christian in the
large Mega Churches.
-
Not all who attend a Mega Church is a Cruise
Ship Christian.
-
Not all Cruise Ship Christian attend a Mega
Church.
NOTE:
The Cruise Ship Christian is only concerned with
themselves and how their needs are met.
A. THE SCENERY
NOTE:
They want everything to go smoothly.
The sun is always shinning.
Everything is positive the sea is calm and
only a gentle breeze is blowing.
B. THE ACCOMMODATIONS
NOTE:
They want the church to look really nice, but
it’s not for the glory of God, it is for their own ego.
C. THE FOOD
NOTE: They want positive sermons telling them
how God is going to bless them with material blessings.
They want the latest programs to meet their
personal needs.
They only want food they like.
NUMBERS 21:5
And the people spake against God, and against
Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?
for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this
light bread.
D. EVERYTHING IS DONE FOR YOU.
NOTE:
You don’t have to anything but enjoy all the
things that others have prepared for your pleasure.
E. THERE IS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR A CRUISE
SHIP CHRISTIAN.
NOTE:
No one expects them to do anything and they
don’t want to do anything.
F. IT’S ALL ABOUT SELF, BEING HAPPY AND
CONTENT.
NOTE:
A Cruise Ship Christian is totally self-centered
and has no real concern for the needs of others if it doesn’t affect them
personally.
On a Cruise Ship you can leave at any port if
you wish too.
II. A BATTLE CRUISER CHRISTIAN
NOTE:
A Battle Cruise Christian is all about service.
They are constantly seeking way to please the
Captain of the ship.
That Battle Cruiser Christian is involved in
war with the enemy.
A. THE SCENERY
NOTE:
The scenery from and around the Battle Cruiser
is filled with war scenes.
B. THE ACCOMMODATIONS
NOTE:
They are cramped and meager.
You live in close proximity with other
crewmembers and you must learn to get along.
For the Battle Cruiser to function properly
each must do their part.
C. THE FOOD
NOTE:
You feed on the Word of God and drink from the
Living Fountain.
JEREMIAH 15:16
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy
and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.
JOHN 6:53-58
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the
flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso
eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him
up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth
me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven:
not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread
shall live for ever.
D. VERY LITTLE IS DONE FOR YOU
NOTE:
On a Battle Cruiser everyone has to carry their
own load.
PROVERBS 6:6-11
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no
guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her
food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise
out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the
hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy
want as an armed man.
E. THE ONLY RESPONSIBILITIES YOU HAVE IS TO
OBEY THE CAPTAIN
NOTE:
The Captain receives His orders from
headquarters (Heaven) and than gives out the orders that when fulfilled with
complete the mission that headquarters has sent the Battle Cruiser on.
JOHN 6:38
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him
that sent me.
F. IT’S ALL ABOUT SERVICE TO AND FOR OTHERS
PHILIPPIANS 2:1-4
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if
any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that
ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let
nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each
esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but
every man also on the things of others.
NOTE:
The battles we fight are no always for
ourselves, they are often for the needs of others.
G.
THERE ARE NO PASSENGERS ON A BATTLE CRUISER.
MARK 8:34-38
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said
unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but
whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save
it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever
therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful
generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the
glory of his Father with the holy angels.
CONCLUSION:
On a Cruise Ship you can leave the ship at any
port you and get on another, on a Battle Cruiser there are only three ways to
leave the ship:
-
Desertion
-
Mutiny
-
With the blessings of the Captain
December 18,
2005
“THE
WORLD NEEDS A SAVIOR”
SCRIPTURE
READING: LUKE 2:1-20
SCRIPTURE
TEXT: LUKE 2:10-11
And
the angel said unto them, Fear not: for,
behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people. For unto
you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
INTRO:
The Geico bad news and good news,
insurance ad.
I.
THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THE WORLD IS IN A
MESS AND NEEDS A SAVIOR.
NOTE:
There are two kinds of people in this world
who need a Savior:
-
THERE
ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO FAIL TO REALIZE
THEIR NEED FOR A SAVIOR.
ISAIAH
53:6
All we like
sheep have gone astray; we have turned every
one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid
on him the iniquity of us all.
ROMANS
3:23
For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
1 JOHN
1:8
If we say
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us.
PROVERBS
20:9
Who can say, I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin?
ISAIAH
64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and
all our righteousness's are as filthy rags;
and we all do fade as a leaf; and our
iniquities, like the wind, have taken us
away.
-
THERE
ARE THOSE WHO KNOW THEY NEED A SAVIOR.
NOTE:
This group is broken down in to two
different groups.
·
Those who
know they need a Savior but don’t know where
to find a Savior.
ACTS 2:37
Now when they heard this, they were
pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter
and to the rest of the apostles, Men and
brethren, what shall we do?
ACTS
16:30
And brought
them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to
be saved?
NOTE:
They seek to find salvation in many
different ways and in many different things
but they fail to find it.
o
Possessions
o
Fame
o
Power
o
Education
o
Religion
·
Those who
know they need a Savior but reject the only
one who is capable of being their Savior.
NOTE:
They would rather remain in their sins.
JOHN
3:19-20
And this is the condemnation, that light
is come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil. For every one that doeth
evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the
light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
ILL:
When the Wise Men came searching for Jesus,
none of the religious leaders went to
Bethlehem to see the Messiah.
II.
THERE IS A SAVIOR FOR THIS SIN DARKENED
WORLD.
LUKE
2:10-11
And the
angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people. For unto you is
born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
ISAIAH
9:2
The people
that walked in darkness have seen a great
light: they that dwell in the land of the
shadow of death, upon them hath the light
shined.
ISAIAH
60:1-4
Arise,
shine; for thy light is come, and the glory
of the Lord is risen upon thee. For,
behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
and gross darkness the people: but the Lord
shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall
be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall
come to thy light, and kings to the
brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine
eyes round about, and see: all they gather
themselves together, they come to thee: thy
sons shall come from far, and thy daughters
shall be nursed at thy side.
ROMANS
10:13-15
For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved. How then shall they
call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom
they have not heard? and how shall they hear
without a preacher? And how shall they
preach, except they be sent? as it is
written, How beautiful are the feet of them
that preach the gospel of peace, and bring
glad tidings of good things!
NOTE:
It is our responsibility and privilege as
Christians and as God’s Church to reveal to
the world that the Savior has come and that
all who call on Him shall be saved.
This must
be done in a spirit of love, acceptance and
forgiveness with the soul purpose of
bringing them into a right relationship with
God.
PROVERBS
24:11-12
If thou
forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto
death, and those that are ready to be slain;
If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth
not he that pondereth the heart consider it?
and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he
know it? and shall not he render to every
man according to his works?
LUKE
2:17-18, 20
And when they had seen it, they made
known abroad the saying which was told them
concerning this child. And all they that
heard it wondered at those things which were
told them by the shepherds…And the shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for
all the things that they had heard and seen,
as it was told unto them.
MATTHEW
28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I
am with you always, even unto the end of the
world. Amen.
MARK
16:15-16
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned.
|
