What Can I Do?

Dr. Marty Baker | March 7, 2010 | Matthew 28:18-20

Good morning and welcome to Stevens Creek Church! I would like to welcome those watching by television and all the incredible folks in our Grovetown Campus! We are glad that you are here.
Today we are beginning a brand new series called, Do Something! Have you ever had an opportunity that was staring you right in the face, one that was crying out for your attention, one that was calling your name? Yes, all of us have, but what do with do with it?
So many times, opportunity knocks and we act as if no one is at home. Or maybe opportunity calls and no one answers the phone. On occasion at our house, the phone will ring and everyone in family assumes that someone else is taking the call and no one does.
A couple of weeks ago, I was working on an antique bed upstairs. The phone rang and rang and no one answered. I went out and leaned over the upstairs banister and said, “Did you not hear the phone?”
Then, I walked back into the bedroom and noticed a telephone on the night stand right beside me. It was like, “Did you not see that phone?” I was right beside it and was so focused on what I was doing that I failed to see it.
I believe that God is calling you and me. Yes, He has your number. But, some of us are so focused on what we are doing that we can’t see his activity. We don’t hear His call. Or maybe we hear it, but we fail to do anything about it.
Over the next few weeks, I am going to challenge you to do something, to take action … to take your next step to make your life, your church and this world a better place.
We are going answer the call. We are going to Do Something.
Today’s talk comes from the closing days of Jesus’ ministry on this earth. He gathered his disciples together and told them what to do.
Matthew 28:18-20
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
This section of scripture is known as The Great Commission. It’s the Magna Carta of the church or simply put …it’s marching orders or our purpose. This is what we are to do.
I grew up in a church that was very good at telling me what to do. It was inspiring and encouraging, but often times it was not very practical. I gained a lot of information, but at times I just did not know what to do with it.
Over the next few minutes I not only want to tell you what you can do, but how to do it.
You see I believe that most of us want to be part of something that’s bigger than we are. We want to be a part of a winning team. A few weeks ago when South Carolina beat Kentucky, I made the statement that with that win we just made the NIT, I knew that this was a rebuilding year so in a weird way, I was pleased the consolation prize.
Recently we have played our way out of the NIT…losing to last place Georgia, losing to Alabama, Mississippi State and so forth. It’s so frustrating to be a part of a losing team. Some of you, like me, have been there.
What’s worse is when you feel like you are on a losing team in the game of life. You feel as though everything you touch comes up short. You feel like the best that you can expect is the consolation prize.
It’s time to do something about that. It’s time to make a change; it’s time to get on the right team.
In Matthew 28, Jesus was talking to his disciples in the closing moments of his ministry on this earth. You need to remember that these guys were not always on the winning team. In fact, some of these guys that Jesus was leading had bad reputations and had lived less than stellar lives. They had made some bad choices, but not all of them were bad people; some of them were good people but their lives were empty, their hearts were hard.
Jesus called them to a better way. He called them to follow Him and live like He did. When they responded to his call, their lives were changed. The eyes were opened up and they discovered their purpose.
Have you ever discovered your purpose? Do you know why you have been placed on this earth?
You see, the purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment. It's far greater than your own happiness, even your own peace of mind. You were made by God and you were made for God and you were put here for His purposes. Until you understand that, life is not going to make sense.
Today, I want to challenge you to do something with your life. Give your life to God and then get involved in what God is doing in the world.
For three years, Jesus had poured his life into twelve men. When he left this earth, he told these guys to take his message to their friends and families, to their communities and ultimately across their world. He wanted them to do something. He wanted them to make a difference.
For years when I read his words, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,” I thought that’s good, but that is not for me. I am not going anywhere. I am a home boy. I was raised in a small town about an hour from here. I used to play rec league football. One of the cheers that they use to use went like this: Born in Abbeville; Raised in Abbeville; and when I die I will be Abbeville dead, so hooray for Abbeville, hooray for Abbeville, hooray for Abbeville.
We were focused on the home-team, but in high school verses like today’s passage challenged me. I read the words, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” At that point, I thought, “Well I don’t think that I will do that, so maybe I will just give some money so other people could go.” As a high school senior, I sent twenty dollars a month to Church of God World Missions. This eased my conscience and made me feel like I was part of a bigger vision.
I still believe in world missions, but what I have learned through the years is that our mission does not begin in a distant land, but our mission begins here at home.
Acts 1:8
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Jesus told his disciples to start at home. He wants you to start where you are. Jesus wants you to bloom where you are planted. He wants you to let your light shine into the darkness.
Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” He simple said, “Take what you have been given and give it to other people.” It’s not rocket science. Freely you have received so freely give.
Jesus was very clear in what he wanted us to do, but honestly I simply did not know how to do it. I knew the what but I did not know the how.
Then in 1992 I was at a conference and my eyes were opened to the how. For the first time in my life, I got it. I understood how I could be involved in God’s plan to change the world.
Over the next few minutes, I am going to share with you some simple steps. If you do these steps, then you will change your world. If you do these steps, you will make a difference and you leave a legacy. When I tell you how to do it, you are going to laugh and say, “That’s too easy. There’s got to be more.” Don’t discount what I am saying. Just try it. In fact, over the next ninety days, just do it.
Here’s what I want you to do:
1. Include an unchurched person in your life.
Build a relationship with someone outside the faith. You may not realize this but lost people really matter to God and if they matter to God, then they ought to matter to me and you.
Relationships begin by simply being nice to people. If you do not walk away with anything else today, please remember to be nice to people that you meet.
You just may be the only Christ-follower that this person knows, so treat this relationship with integrity. Our most effective means of reaching our community is to develop relationships with the people that God brings our way. God will use these relationships to spark questions which may lead to spiritual conversations which may open the door of faith. This is our calling. This is our purpose.
Too many of us have convinced ourselves that everyone in America is a Christian. This is not the case. Yes, in the South, most people are tied to a church through their parents or maybe their grandparents. But just because someone has a little church in the past does not mean that they are experiencing a life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ.
We have thousands of un-churched people who are headed for a Christ-less eternity living within driving distance of this auditorium. We have thousands of un-churched people who are headed for a Christ-less eternity living within driving distance of our Grovetown auditorium.
These folks live in America, but they are insulated from Christianity. You see, your un-churched friends do not listen to Christian radio; they do not watch Christian television; their lives are not touched by bill board and bumper-sticker evangelism.
We are their connection to Christ. It is important for us, as Christ followers, to be nice to people outside the faith. Not only that, but we need to develop friendships with unchurched people. How do we do it? Let’s be practical. Ask yourself some basic questions.
 Where do you shop?
All of us buy groceries, go to restaurants, dry cleaners, clothing stores, and other places for the necessities of life. With just a little forethought, those mundane errands can become opportunities for you to speak life and encouragement into people. Make it a point to be nice to the check-out clerk at Kroger. Get to know your server at the restaurant. Your smile, your words of encouragement, your tip may help someone open their minds to faith.
 What do you do for fun?
Think about your recreational activities: You may play golf; be a part of a bowling league, Dixie Youth or Little League Baseball league or be a member of a hunting club or a fishing club. Use these as avenues to create friendships. I believe that you can be a light in your community.
When our kids were younger, I coached basketball and baseball in the Columbia County Recreation Department for ten years. I've had some good years and bad ones. Here’s the point, there are several families that have come to Christ and to The Creek as a result of that connection. That’s step one: Be nice to people. Here’s step two.
2. Be willing to talk to your friends about spiritual issues when they ask.
I realize that people tell you to never talk about religion or politics, but would you consider listening to someone? I believe that your new friend will eventually have some spiritual questions. They are going to open the door and allow you to walk into a spiritual conversation. I know that overall church attendance is down in America but there is a keen interest in spiritual matters. People have questions.
When they ask … and they will…don’t tell them how they should live. Instead, tell them your story. Tell them how following Christ has changed your life. Make it personal and make it short. Don’t be weird. Don’t be overly-mystical. Don’t use insider language … talk normal.
This is the time that God is going to give you the words to say. This is the message of Matthew 10:20.
Matthew 10:20
For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
God has a heart for people who have lost their way and He wants you to be open to their spiritual questions. He is going to give you the words to say. Just tell them what happened to you.
Remember Acts 1:8: “You will be my witnesses…” A witness just tells them what they have seen. In a minute or so, tell them what has happened in your life. Plant a seed into their lives. Over time, that seed may germinate and their spiritual lives will grow.
Look at the people God brings your way. You never know when that seed that you planted in someone’s life will begin to grow.
Let’s be real honest. I realize that some of you get real nervous when it comes to talking about spiritual matters. So, how about this? Let’s work together on this. Here’s the point:
3. Invite your friend to Stevens Creek Church.
Take the risk. Ask them to come with you. I will do my best to answer their questions in a way that they can understand it. Here’s the bottom line: I need you do what I can’t do and I will do what you can’t do.
I can’t invite your friends to church, but I can explain the message of Christ in a way that they can understand it. If you will get them here, I will do my best to communicate God’s Word in a way that captures their heart.
Here at The Creek, we value your lost friends. We respect them. We pray for them. We plan for them. We want them to experience life in the power of God’s Spirit.
Through the years, we have been mis-understood in some church circles because of our deep passion to reach people far from God. Some folks don’t understand why we will do a Relationslips series or a Satan’s Sex Ed Series. Some folks don’t’ understand why we may not always give you the Greek word for this or the Hebrew translation for that.
Here’s what we know: when someone is drowning they don’t need the Greek word for lifesaver; they just need one.
If you will invite your unchurched friends, I will work hard to communicate the message of Christ in a way that they understand.
If you will invite your unchurched friends, Todd will work hard to create memorable services that will make them say: “WOW, I did not know that church could be like that.”
We need to partner together. I need you to do what I cannot do and I will do what you cannot do. Together we will touch this community for Jesus Christ.
This is our responsibility. The Bible encourages us to go and compel people to come to God’s house.
Luke 14:23
"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.
We all have been commissioned by God to invite our friends to church. If the members of your congregation don’t share the Good News, who will? We must do something.
God loves lost people. Parents, have you ever mis-placed a child? No, seriously, have you ever been to a department store and turn-around and realize that your elementary-aged child is not where you thought they were. You have this nervous feeling come over you, but then there comes a moment when you realize that they are lost that the nervous feelings turns into a desperate feeling. God is desperately looking for his lost children. He wants us to join the search team.
He wants us to go into the roads and country lanes and make them to come in. This week … take a risk. Make the ask. Invite your friends to church. Easter is only weeks away. This is a great time to encourage your friends to come to church.
Start praying for them. Put their names on these walls and let’s join together in prayer.
Over the last several months, you have responded to the challenge. You have invited your friends and your friends have come to faith. A few days ago, we had baptism service where thirty-five people went public with their faith.
Take a look at this.

Video: Baptism February 2010

Closing Thoughts

"Is anybody going to be in Heaven because of you?"

Closing Prayer