Called, Chosen and Faithful
September 2, 2007 1:14 pmPreached by Chris Broom, 9/2/2007
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| Tracy Shelbrack gets baptized |
Called, Chosen and Faithful - Outline
A year and a half ago in March 2006, a few of us gathered in a place that has become very dear to us, the basement of the Travelodge. It was the cheapest spot downtown. We needed to catch a vision. It was our retreat to talk about planting the Chicago International Christian Church. I taught a lesson there that I am going to reteach today for our Fall Congregational Devotional.
Revelation 12:7-12
We will overcome…
1. by the blood of the Lamb
2. and by the word of their testimony;
Jesus will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings–
We will overcome because we are with Him.
…and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
Called, Chosen and Faithful!
1. Called to a Vision
Mark 1:16 / 3:14 / Luke 10:1-3 / Matthew 28:18-20
Midwest Vision / Chiappettas / Shelbracks
We got ready at once.
What precedes Vision? Seeing and feeling the pain God sees and feels.
The 3rd Killer among teens is suicide. There are websites that help proof the suicide notes of teens and don’t inform their parents.
1 in 5 teen girls get into an abusive relationship.
There are 1700 drinking related deaths on campus in the U.S. every year. Forty percent of all college students binge drink. (5 in a row for men and 4 in a row for women.)
I am so proud of our campus and teen ministry and have heard incredible things about their prayers at the Church Prayer Night on Friday.
2. Chosen for Change.
Acts 16 Lydia
Dave Cadell began his journey to restore his faith at the retreat in the Travelodge before we ever moved to Chicago. Roger called out his sin and brought him back to God.
Some don’t want change. We’re going to Disturb Peace of world. We will be Persecuted because we call people to a vision that requires change. We call everyone everywhere to be sold out. To love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22) Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. (Matthew 6)
We call…
a. every member to be in a discipling relationship that is functioning and effective. (you choose) When we have issues… We need to love like there are no issues and deal with the issues. If you’re not doing those two things, part of the issue is-you.
b. every member to be in an evangelistic Bible talk that is functioning and effective. (you choose)
c. every member to come to all the meetings of the body. Leslie Dawson had not been to a midweek or Bible talk in years and as soon as she was given vision and challenged with the scriptures she repented and hasn’t missed any meetings of the body.
d. every member to give sacrificially. (the Leadership has given every member the goal of a tithe, but sacrificial giving could be above or below a tithe.)
Malachi 3:6 People give to something they believe in. God sees if we believe in Him and His plan partly by our giving. Here, the LORD called those who were being restored to restore their concern for His house and bring in the whole tithe. If we are’nt giving sacrificially and wholeheartedly, the question is “are we truly restored?”
3. Faithful to the End.
Faithful in tough times? When mistreated? Faithful to end? It’s a marathon. It gets tougher in the latter miles. There is not more to do in the latter miles, just more miles!
Maturity in Christ means we are as committed to God the day we die as the day we were baptized. We can all have someone to study with when we die as when we were baptized. Every individual can be a disciple till he dies.
Maturity is something “Joe disciple,” who failed high school, can do.
God has answered our prayers here in Chicago by adding 45 souls to our number (with Tracy’s baptism today). Many that are not on our roles throughout the Midwest come for refuge, and now, with 61 sold out disciples, our attendance is around 110 every Sunday …124 last week. In just a few months our new movement has grown to be 12 churches in the U.S. and 11 internationally.
We are truly “Blown Away” by what God has done and all the glory goes to Him.
The Mission Team is not done until the city’s been won.
Only a church that implements God’s plan of discipleship will reach the 9 million lost souls of the Chicago area + Midwest + World.
Jesus will overcome cause He’s Lord of Lords and King of Kings. We need to make sure He is Lord of us.
We will overcome by Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.
We will overcome because we are with him.
HIS CALLED, CHOSEN AND FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS.
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