Ministries:
Adult | Teens | Children

Pastor's Pen's:
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

Sermon Series:
Following Jesus
Earthly Cross
His Name Is
Apostles Creed
Dealing with Feelings
Jonah
Get Real
Promised Land Living

Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

Email:
Pastor Scott Carson

Secretary Patti Hall

PASTOR'S PENS 2003

Grace Church of Burlington October 12, 2003  “What are your kids learning about selfishness?”                                                             As you drive in to nearly every community across America, on the city welcome sign, you will see a list of “service clubs” or organizations like Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, etc. What you may not know is that these organizations are in serious trouble. On a national level their memberships are declining. While there are several factors, one of the most obvious is that problematic word service. The average American is consumed with selfishness with little time for service. Sadly, the thousands points of light are pretty dim. It’s the “what’s in it for me” attitude? Volunteerism is also out. Studies have shown that most Americans feel that if you don’t ask them for help, then you must not need it. Put it another way, if you wait for folk to volunteer today, you will do a lot of waiting. It’s just not the way things are done by this generation.             And while we should not be surprised when lost people have this attitude, we have a serious problem when this spirit invades the church...and it has. As believers, we are to be different. We are to live by God’s values, not our own. The words serve, service, slave, and servant are used nearly 200 times in the New Testament. Almost as many times as the word love. Service is to be a major part of the Christian life but too often it is not.             Be very honest with yourself. How many hours did you spend this last week in focused Christian service? Please do not count church attendance or attending some form of Bible study, (unless you were preparing and teaching it). To count attendance as “service” is like a husband taking credit for helping out with dinner just because he ate. And please do not count your job or family. Though those can be areas of service, they are primarily self-beneficial. So how many hours? Now compare that to how many you spent watching TV or doing your hobby or some other interest that you have.             By observing your example, what are your children learning about serving the Lord? Often the next generation will do half of what the current one does. If your children are half as involved in local church ministry as you are, does the future bode well for the church? Will the church be able to have a nursery or Sunday School or even someone to mow the lawns, if your children are involved as you are? (Please do not rationalize, “I don’t have kids” or “my kids are grown.” All of us are examples to someone. And we all have a responsibility to serve the Lord with the gifts and time He has given us.)             We are all busy and we all make choices on how to use our time. When we fail to be a regular participant in the work of ministry, we can be deceived into thinking that we are not really needed. The fact is, each of us is a part of the body of Christ and has an invaluable contribution to make. While your contribution may vary with your gifts and the seasons of your life, we each need to be praying and asking the Lord where He would have us serve Him. We need to be sensitive to ministry opportunities and doors that open. Although we are all working with different passions, gifts, styles, maturity levels, and seasons of life, each of us has the same amount of time each day–twenty‑four hours. No amount of spiritual maturity, education or experience can change that. Usually, having time really means making time. Each of us is constantly making time choices. When we say yes to one opportunity, we are saying no to many other possibilities. Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Just as your checkbook reveals your financial priorities and life values, your date book will indicate your spiritual priorities and life values. What kind of time does the most significant relationship in your life require? Are you spending time with God, and are you really available to serve Him as He has called you to do?             I’m just a tad busy, but if you called with some tickets to the World Series, you’d be amazed at how quickly my schedule could be freed up. Many men and women say that in their hearts they would like to serve, but they really don’t have much time. The fact is that it’s enthusiasm that is lacking. “Sorry, I don’t have time” is a typical response from someone who does not have a vision of what God has called them to do or of how He can use them. While we all do not have the same amount of money and some of us cannot financially give as much as others, interestingly all of us have the same amount of time. When it comes to giving our time (which is not really ours, but the Lord’s), it is not a matter of limited resources, but a matter of personal choice. So what choices are you making? And what example are you giving to the next generation about the importance of serving the Lord?